PARRY’S BEACH, WA – The 2025 West Coast Suspensions WA Longboard Championships, proudly presented by Think Mental Health, concluded over the weekend with a vibrant showcase of talent, tradition, and local spirit on Western Australia’s south coast.
The two-day event at Parry’s Beach saw competitors face a full range of ocean conditions—from glassy, dream-like waves on Saturday to more challenging swells during Sunday’s finals. The championships crowned 13 state titleholders across junior, open, and senior categories, underlining the depth and diversity of longboarding talent from Exmouth to Esperance.
Medland Marks Triumphant Return in Open Men’s Division
Dunsborough’s Jack Medland made a powerful comeback in the Open Men’s division, combining classic longboarding style with modern flair. Medland scored a near-perfect 9.17 and backed it up with a 6.33, finishing with a combined total of 15.50 to secure the State Title.
“Saturday gave us beautiful waves, classic Parry’s,” Medland said after his win. “Today was tougher, but credit to everyone who paddled out and gave it their all. Huge thanks to Surfing WA, the judges, Dobbo on the ski, and the whole community. This event’s energy is just unreal.”
Medland faced strong competition from Evan Ledger (Yallingup), Ryan Clark (Dunsborough), and Scott Trew (Gabbadah). Ledger secured second place with 14.53, followed by Clark and Trew in third and fourth respectively.
Barrett Defends Women’s Crown
In the Open Women’s division, Maddie Barrett (Cottesloe) defended her title with a composed and graceful performance. Originally from Geraldton, Barrett navigated Sunday’s powerful surf to edge out Denver Young (Claremont), Georgia Young (Perth), and Shae Sheridan (Dunsborough).
“Saturday was a blast. Today was a bit of a battle—I really needed Billy [Gibson] to show me how to get out the back!” Barrett laughed. “But seriously, the beach vibe is just as good as the surf. The community here makes it so special.”
Burke Dominates Senior Divisions
Paul Burke (Dunsborough) put on a show in the Over-40 Men’s final, clinching victory with a crucial wave in the final five minutes. He out-surfed Scott Trew, Tim Trew (Busselton), and Jock Bahen (Cowaramup) in a tight contest.
“I was out the back getting hammered,” Burke said. “I thought they had me, but I found one with five minutes left. I’ve surfed against Scotty for years and he usually gets the better of me, so I’m stoked.”
Burke also won the Over-50 Men’s division, becoming the only surfer to earn two State Titles over the weekend. His scores included a 9.00 and an 8.17—both excellent rides earned by taking on heavy waves where few others ventured.
“I just went where no one else would. Fewer people, better odds,” he joked.
Other Division Highlights
The weekend also saw standout performances from:
Shae Sheridan (Dunsborough), who claimed the Over-40 Women’s title
Amanda Curley (Margaret River), winner of the Over-50 Women’s
Judy Dann (Two Rocks), champion in the Over-60 Women’s division
Additional champions included:
Keith Lingard (Denmark) – Over-55 Men’s
Doug Carruthers (Margaret River) – Over-60 Men’s
Bill Gibson (Margaret River) – Over-65 Men’s
John Haddow (Cowaramup) – Over-70 Men’s
Young Guns Shine in U18 Boys Final
The Under-18 Boys final featured two sets of brothers, showing that WA’s longboarding future is in good hands. Kai Flynn (Cowaramup) led the field, claiming the State Title ahead of Max Horwood (Hillarys), Taylor Flynn (Cowaramup), and Qynn Horwood (Hillarys).
“Congratulations to all of our champions and qualifiers for the national titles,” said Kim Clift, Regional Operations Manager for Surfing WA. “This weekend once again showed the incredible community spirit and depth of talent in WA’s longboarding scene.”
Eyes on the Whalebone Classic
With the championships now complete, attention turns to the 26th Whalebone Longboard Classic, set for July in Cottesloe. The prestigious event offers one final chance for WA’s top longboarders to prepare for the Australian Titles later this year.
FINAL RESULTS – 2025 WA LONGBOARD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Open Men’s Longboard
Jack Medland (Dunsborough) – 15.50
Evan Ledger (Yallingup) – 14.53
Ryan Clark (Dunsborough) – 13.60
Scott Trew (Gabbadah) – 11.87
State Champion: Jack Medland
Open Women’s Longboard
Maddie Barrett (Cottesloe) – 23.33
Denver Young (Claremont) – 22.87
Georgia Young (Perth) – 19.77
Shae Sheridan (Dunsborough) – 18.48
State Champion: Maddie Barrett