The 2025 Australian Interschools Surfing Championships presented by Breaka has officially launched on the Gold Coast, welcoming more than 400 competitors from across the country for a national showdown in one of Australia’s premier youth surfing events.
Running from May 14 to 16, the championships have attracted over 100 high school teams. Students from Years 7 to 12 will compete in a unique tag-team format inspired by the Australian Boardriders Battle, allowing each surfer to take part in at least two heats in a non-elimination structure.
The competition began with a high-profile opening ceremony at the Broadbeach Culture Centre on Wednesday. Surfing icons Morgan Cibilic, Nathan Hedge, and Cooper Chapman joined climate advocates Kal Glanznig and Luke Madden to inspire the next generation of surfers.
Defending champions Palm Beach Currumbin State High School (PBC) are determined to keep the trophy on home turf. Blare Semple, PBC’s Surfing Excellence Program manager, acknowledged the pressure, saying, “It’s going to be a greater mountain to climb… backing it up to prove it wasn’t a one-off.”
Meanwhile, Miami State High School is entering the competition with confidence, fielding four teams across all divisions. “This is more than a competition; it’s our moment to showcase Miami’s best,” said Jakob Dolan, Surfing Excellence Academy Coordinator at Miami.
The event, which emphasizes teamwork and development, has been praised by Surfing Australia’s Chief of Sport, Luke Madden. “It’s epic to see this format gaining traction at school level,” Madden said. “It’s a great way for kids to get a team experience through surfing.”
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate echoed the sentiment, highlighting the city’s ideal setting for the event. “There’s no better place to host this event than the world-renowned beaches of the Gold Coast. These championships offer a unique opportunity for our future world champions to shine.”
The 2025 championships are backed by key partners including Experience Gold Coast, Blackroll, Comfort Colours, Thermos, Everything Fleet, Surfers For Climate, Blue Minds, Red Frogs, and We Are Feel Good Inc.
Competition venues will rotate across various beaches, with Tugun and Bilinga expected to feature prominently as top junior surfers from around the nation hit the waves.