Nearly 100 junior surfers braved challenging conditions at Rainbow Beach, Bonny Hills, over the weekend as the inaugural Surf Reflections Junior Series brought high-level competition — and a tourism boost — to the NSW Mid North Coast.
A total of 91 competitors took part in the three-day event, the first of three stops in the 2026 Surf Reflections Junior Series, delivered by Surfest in partnership with Reflections Holidays. Young surfers competed in Under 14s and Under 16s divisions for boys and girls, with many travelling from across the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers to surf one of the region’s most consistent breaks.
Persistent north-easterly winds created small, bumpy conditions, testing competitors’ wave selection and endurance. Surfest founder Warren Smith said the young surfers handled the conditions with maturity beyond their years.
“The strong north-easterly made competition quite tough, with wave selection proving crucial in the small and bumpy conditions, but the kids took it in their stride, and it was great to have Matt and Jarvis here to inspire and coach them onshore, too,” Mr Smith said.
Professional surfers Matt Banting and Jarvis Earle mentored competitors throughout the weekend, offering advice between heats.
Twelve-year-old Sydney surfer Alanni Morris claimed both the Under 14s and Under 16s girls’ titles, but North Coast surfers featured strongly across the podiums, underlining the depth of junior talent coming through regional NSW.
Mr Smith said the event’s growth reflected the importance of accessible junior competitions outside metropolitan areas.
“The Surf Reflections Junior Series has grown immensely over the past two years and is a 5500-rated event on Surfing Australia’s National Series calendar, so it’s something they should be really proud about as far as their stamina, performance and growth,” he said.
Alanni Morris said she focused on staying active in difficult conditions.
“The surf was small and not that great but I just tried to stay busy – if I wasn’t catching a wave I’d move in on the bank to try and get something there,” she said.
Reflections CEO Nick Baker said the series delivered strong economic benefits for host communities, including Bonny Hills and surrounding towns.
“The economic impact of the first Cup in 2024 was around $90,000 and we anticipate that sum will rise to $270,000 in 2026 across the three events, which is a win for regional tourism,” Mr Baker said.
NSW Minister for Sport and Tourism Steve Kamper said the series was helping build the next generation of Australian surfers while supporting regional economies.
“It’s fantastic to see Reflections’ Crown land holiday parks backing our young competitors and bringing tourism benefits into regional NSW,” Mr Kamper said.
The series continues at Hungry Head near Urunga on May 8–10 before concluding at Nine Mile Beach, Tuncurry/Forster, in November.
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