Sydney, Australia – Day 5 of the VW State Classic 2026 brought the biggest conditions of the event so far. Contest directors and water safety crews worked through the day to find the right windows, and when they did, the surfers delivered.
JUNIOR STATE TITLES | Park Beach
Wild and woolly from the start. The kind of morning that sorts out who wants it and who doesn’t.
The Under 14 Boys were up first and the conditions didn’t ease up for anyone. Hayden Mee from Newcastle had everything working against him and dealt with it anyway. Adapted, managed his heat and moved through. That kind of performance under pressure is harder than it looks.
Jaggar Phillips went into the Under 16s as the clear favourite and nearly let it slip. The Narrabeen local found himself in trouble mid-heat before producing a buzzer beater to advance. Class does that. It finds a way when the pressure is highest.
When the Under 18s finally got their window, Ben Zanatta made the most of every second of it. An 8.87 followed by a 9.5. He got so excited after that second score he couldn’t hold it together on the beach. That’s what a 9.5 in serious surf does to you. That’s the kind of surfing that makes people take notice ahead of Margaret River.
Rio Luther-Barr from Sawtell was one of the harder losses of the day, going out of the event on his home stretch. Local favourite Hamish Harrigan picked up the slack and the crowd responded. Home ground advantage is real.
STATE MASTERS | Sawtell
Day 5 started at Sawtell before conditions forced a move to the Jetty as the wind picked up through the morning. Two venues, one day, and the field handled the shift without missing a beat.
Baxter Hurt was the standout across multiple divisions. He posted a 7.33 and an 8.33 in the Open Men’s, then backed it up with a 7-point ride in the Under 21s. Consistent, committed and surfing across divisions with the same level of intent.
Dean Bowen, head of water safety for the event, locked in a 6.33 in the Over 30 Men’s. Good to see the people keeping everyone safe getting their own time in the water.
Once competition moved to the Jetty, Leihani Zoric took over as the surfer to watch. A 7.83 and a 7-point ride in the first Open Women’s final, then an 8-point ride in the second. Back to back quality performances as conditions got tougher.
Talina was the standout throughout her division, posting a 7.33 and looking composed throughout. Emily Falconi from the Central Coast took a solid win in the first Under 21 Women’s final.
Day 6 is tomorrow. More titles to be decided.
Masters Results
Over 30 Women
- Talina Christensen
- Alice Mood
- Lou Simpson
Open Women
- Leihani Zoric
- Bonnie Hills
- Arabella Tarpey
- Alice Mood
- Leyla Blue
Over 21 Women
- Isla Schomberg
- Emily Falconi
- Jasmine Iredale
- Leyla Blue
LONGBOARDS | Arrawarra
Jason Livingston won the Over 50 Men’s Final with a heat total of 13.17. It is, by his count, at least his 15th NSW State Title. That number deserves to sit on its own for a second. Fifteen. Livingstone is in a category of his own in NSW longboarding and today was another chapter in a career that keeps adding to itself.
Wendy Stevenson won the Over 50 Women’s Final after the division surfed twice to determine the result. Stevenson posted 12.60 and 9.60 across both heats to take the title ahead of Anne Duncan and Di Smith.
Nick Zippy Pearson won the Over 65 Men’s Final with a 9.0, getting the better of Craig Jones in second and Paul Guthrie in third.
Mathew Hall took the Over 40 Men’s Final with a 9.13, edging out Rhan Goddard on 8.53 and Luke Redmond on 8.00. Sonorylin Adlawan won the Over 40 Women’s Final with a 10.27 ahead of Amy Main and Laura Piggott.
Louise Tiernan took the Over 60 Women’s Final with a 9.66, with Anne Duncan second and Julia Magliano third.
Freya Abbott won the first Under 18 Junior Women’s Final with a 10.50, ahead of Heidi Van Leest and Olive Morriss.
A huge effort from every competitor and official who stuck it out through a genuinely testing day at Arrawarra.
Longboard Results
Over 40 Men Final
- Mathew Hall 9.13
- Rahn Goddard 8.53
- Luke Redmond 8.00
- Ben Proudfoot 5.97
Over 40 Women Final
- Sonorylin Adlawan 10.27
- Amy Main 7.90
- Laura Piggott 7.16
- Wendy Stevenson 5.10
Over 50 Men Final
- Jason Livingstone 13.17
- Daniel Miles 9.93
- Jacob Pritchett 8.00
- Mark Lamphee 5.96
Over 50 Women Final
- Wendy Stevenson 12.60 / 9.60
- Anne Duncan 8.23 / 8.00
- Di Smith 5.93 / 5.93
Over 60 Women Final
- Louise Tiernan 9.66
- Anne Duncan 7.33
- Julia Magliano 2.66
- Di Smith 2.07
Over 65 Men Final
- Nick Zippy Pearson 9.00
- Craig Jones 7.94
- Paul Guthrie 6.83
- Tony Abood 6.27
Full event details, daily galleries, and updates via the VW State Classic 2026 microsite.
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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