Australian Junior Surfing Titles heading to Wollongong, NSW

Surfing Australia is thrilled to announce that the 2024 Australian Junior Surfing Titles (AJST) are heading to Wollongong, NSW from November 24 to December 1, 2024.

More than 250 surfers are set to compete in the AJST, the final major counting event on the Surfing Australia National Junior Series, awarding 12,000 points to every age division winner.

Wollongong, situated in the heart of the south coast of NSW, is home to some of the best surf spots south of Sydney from Stanwell Park in the north to Wollongong City Beach in the south.

Surfing Australia Chief of Sport – Events, Participation & Community, Luke Madden, said: “Just 90 minutes drive south of Sydney, Wollongong is home to world class waves. With the best junior talent in Australia set to descend on the region for the Australian Junior Surfing Titles, we’re expecting an epic week of surfing and world-class competition. We appreciate the support from the Wollongong City Council, Destination Wollongong and Destination NSW to host this prestigious event and look forward to seeing the best junior talent battle it out as they vie for valuable rankings points in their quest for a spot on the Irukandjis team heading to next year’s ISA World Junior Surfing Championship.”

Every winner will also join a prestigious honour roll alongside 8x World Champion Steph Gilmore, Molly Picklum, Sally Fitzgibbons, Laura Enever, Tyler Wright, Nikki Van Dijk, Coco Cairns, Owen Wright, 2012 World Champion Joel Parkinson, 3x World Champion Mick Fanning and Reef Heazlewood, just to name a few.

Wollongong City Council General Manager, Greg Doyle, said: “In recent years, there has been a concerted effort to cement Wollongong as a city that can deliver high quality national and international sporting events. Today’s announcement continues our city’s evolution.

“Not only is this agreement a coup for the city in terms of its broader reputation, but it’s also an exciting moment for our proud and passionate surfing and beach-loving community. We’re fortunate to have 17 patrolled beaches in our city and this event will celebrate their beauty, while also promoting some of the city’s best surf breaks across the country. Whether you’re a surfer or not, this is an event everyone can really get behind.”

Wollongong City Lord Mayor, Gordon Bradbery, said: “We’re excited to be hosting this national surfing event on our spectacular beaches for the first time. What a great way to celebrate our region’s sustained success in surfing, provide pathways and inspiration for our local surfers, and welcome families from around the country to discover and enjoy our great outdoors. This is part of a strategic partnership between council, Destination Wollongong and surfing’s governing bodies to optimise the participation, community engagement, event and development opportunities in the Illawarra.”

About the Australian Junior Surfing Titles:
The Australian Junior Surfing Titles encompass individual divisions for U14 – U18 junior men and women as well as a school surfing division for U16 – U19 (MR Shield) junior men and women.

Champions in U16 and U18 men and women earn a spot on the Irukandjis team to represent Australia at the 2025 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship.

The seven-day competition window runs from 25 November to 1 December, 2024 with an opening ceremony to kick off the event on Sunday, 24 November.

Event website https://australianjuniorsurfingtitles.com.

The Australian Junior Surfing Titles are supported proudly by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW as well as Destination Wollongong, Surfing NSW, Surfers for Climate and Ruffie.