Sydney, Australia – Day 3 of the VW State Classic 2026 spread across three event sites and delivered something different at each one. Saxon King posted a 9.67 at Park Beach. Matt Nolan hadn’t competed in 25 years and came back with a 9-point ride at Diggers Beach. Jason Livingston opened the Longboards at Arrawarra with a 9.5 in the Over 55s. Three venues, three surfers, and more, in the nines.
JUNIOR STATE TITLES | Park Beach
Low tide and leftover east swell greeted the field at Park Beach first thing. It wasn’t pretty early. But as the sun came up and the tide pushed, the waves improved and the surfing followed.
Penny Fletcher was the story of the morning. Commentator Ian Bell was blown away watching her work through solid surf, and it showed in the scores. Two rides over 8 points. Fletcher is surfing with a confidence and commitment in the Under 16 Girls that makes her the one to beat. Kade Kelly also posted one of the highest scores of the day early on in the Under 16 Boys, with a 17.84 heat total.
Zeke Woolum backed up a strong result at the Surf Reflections Junior event at Urunga with a slick 7.5 in the Under 16s to advance to the next round. Fresh form carrying into the right event at the right time.
Harry Stephens found some form in the afternoon. The former Under 16 Australian Title runner-up has had a tough run recently but looked gritty and ready today. The edge is back.
Mali Adam kept her composure when it counted. With five minutes left on the clock and one wave on the board, she posted an 8.17 and cruised into the next round without breaking a sweat. That kind of read on a heat is not easy to teach.
Then there was Saxon King. If you’re not already watching this kid, start now. His performance today drew comparisons to a young Matt Banting from the commentary panel, and it wasn’t hard to see why. A near-perfect 9.67 backed up by an 8.83. Technique, composure, speed and a surfing brain that doesn’t match his age. One of those performances that stays with you.
The athletes and families wrapped the afternoon with a debrief at Aanuka for happy hour and 20% off food and drink, before settling in for NOW DAYS surf film by the firepits. Exactly the right way to end a day like that.
STATE MASTERS | Diggers Beach
Competition moved to Diggers Beach for Day 3 of the State Masters and the venue delivered. Three-to-five foot surf, offshore winds and clean conditions gave the Over 50 and Over 40 Men’s divisions exactly what they needed.
Matt Nolan was the standout of the day and it wasn’t particularly close. Back in competition after a 25-year absence, Nolan announced his return with a barrage of powerful backhand re-entries on a long-running lefthander that earned him a near-perfect 9-point ride. Twenty-five years away from competition and that’s what he produces. Woonona’s finest.
Paul Parks, the current Australian Over 50 Champion, left no doubt about his intentions for the rest of the event. Scores of 8.0 and 8.77 in Round 3 put the field on notice. Parks is surfing with the kind of authority you’d expect from a National Champion and looks the one to beat heading into the back half of the draw.
Newcastle’s Paul Parks set the tone early in heat one with sweeping power turns that showed exactly why he’s a title contender. Matt Mooney and Paul Snow also put in polished performances throughout the day.
In the Over 40 Men, Hayden Blair and Tim Davy were dominant in their respective heats and both advanced to the quarterfinals in strong form. A big southerly swell is tracking up the coastline and tomorrow’s forecast at Diggers Beach looks like it could produce the best conditions of the event. The timing couldn’t be better.
LONGBOARDS | Arrawarra
The Longboard divisions kicked off today at Arrawarra in three-to-five foot surf with a light offshore breeze. The wind picked up to around 20 knots through the day but the surf stayed contestable and the standard of surfing matched the conditions.
Jason Livingston set the tone from the first heat of the day. The multiple State and Australian Title holder posted an excellent score in the opening minutes of the Over 50 Men, making it clear to everyone around him that he means business . A couple of heats later in the Over 55s he backed it up with a 9.5 which was one of the highest scoring waves of the day.
Laura Pigott posted a heat score of 7.83 to take the Over 40 Women’s heat in what looked like ideal conditions for her approach. Clean, offshore, room to move.
Craig Jones got things going in the Over 65 Men with a 6.67 to take the first heat. Byron’s Zippy Pearson followed in the second with a 7.17 that blitzed his heat from the front.
Tony Rae posted a 7.67 in the Over 60 Men to get the nod in his heat. John Fraser took the following heat with a 7.50.
Wendy Stevenson won the Over 50 Women heat with a 6.93, getting the decision over Anne Duncan and Di Smith.
In the Over 40 Men, Stephen Barton locked in a 6.27 to take his heat. Matthew Hall went one better in the next, posting an 8.33 to move into the next round.
A strong day of surfing across a well-run set of heats. Day 2 of the Longboards is back tomorrow and with the southerly swell building, the forecast is looking very good.
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Beyond the Waves
The competition takes the centre, but the six-day event sits inside a wider program of activations across the Coffs Coast.
- Coopers Surf, Australia’s largest in-stock surfboard range, has every competitor covered with a $20 voucher in their pack and 20 percent off accessories with any board purchase. The team will run a shaper demo day across the week and host a movie night at Aanuka Beach House.
- Surfline returns as the event’s forecast partner, delivering daily reports and a 30 percent member discount on Premium and Premium+. URBN Surf is putting unlimited surfing day passes up for grabs at competition sites.
- Surfing NSW’s own programs are on-site all week.
The central event hub will once again be Aanuka Beach House, with the post-beach schedule coming to life across its fire pits and outdoor spaces to relax, dine and connect. Competitors can redeem 20% off food and beverage at the Aanuka Beach House Restaurant by presenting their event wristband at the counter.
“We’re excited to welcome the VW State Classic back for another year. Events like this create a great atmosphere across the Coffs region when competitors and their families are in town. We love hosting everyone at Aanuka Beach House for the activations and encourage the community to come down and get amongst it throughout the week,”
Keron McDermott, General Manager, Aanuka Beach House
The Coffs Coast Welcome
The 2026 event renews its partnership with Coffs Council and Coffs Coast Events, with three competition sites activated across the region for five surfing disciplines. City of Coffs Harbour Mayor Nikki Williams welcomed the event’s return.
“As a destination of choice, Coffs Harbour is always up for massive events and it doesn’t get any better than the Surfing NSW State Classic, Mayor Nikki Williams said. It’s a spectacular showpiece that stokes surfing culture and best of all, it embraces the grassroots community aspect of the sport.
Local competitors and fans will be wrapped to see athletes ranging in age from groms to seasoned veterans tackle the waves in a City renowned for its beach culture and warm welcome.”
VW State Classic 2026
Six days. Five titles. Year two. 18.05.2026.
- What: VW State Classic 2026
- When: Monday 18 to Sunday 24 May 2026
- Where: Coffs Coast, NSW
- On the line: Five NSW State Titles (Junior, Masters, Longboard, SUP, High School) and progressions to the 2026 Australian Titles
- Host venue: Aanuka Beach House
- Major partner: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
- Supporting partners: Coffs Council, Coffs Events, Coopers Surf, Aanuka Beach House, Surfline, URBN Surf, Liveheats
- Surfing NSW programs on-site: LAB, Her Wave, Surfers Rescue