NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA – Francisca Veselko of Portugal and Australia’s Jacob Willcox have emerged victorious at the 2025 Burton Automotive Newcastle SURFEST Presented by Bonsoy, the opening event of the World Surf League (WSL) Challenger Series. The competition, held in excellent conditions at Merewether Beach, marked a career milestone for both surfers.
Veselko Makes History for Portugal
Francisca Veselko delivered a landmark performance, claiming her first Challenger Series win and becoming the first Portuguese woman to win the prestigious SURFEST title. The 2023 World Junior Champion showed consistent form throughout the event, with her performance peaking on Finals Day.
In the Semifinal, Veselko posted the day’s highest two-wave total—15.16—including a near-excellent 8.83 against France’s Tya Zebrowski. Riding that momentum into the Final, she faced Australian veteran Sally Fitzgibbons in a tightly contested heat. Veselko’s sharp wave selection and timing earned her a winning score of 14.60, edging out the experienced Fitzgibbons.
“I’m tripping, I don’t know what to say really,” Veselko said after her win. “This is the best day of my life. My team, my family, and my coach—who’s been with me since I was eight—have all worked so hard for this. It’s really special.”
With this victory, Veselko leads the Challenger Series rankings and strengthens her bid for a spot on the 2026 Championship Tour. She joins a prestigious list of past SURFEST champions, including Layne Beachley, Stephanie Gilmore, and Sally Fitzgibbons, but stands alone as the first Portuguese woman to claim the title.
Reflecting on her Final, Veselko said: “It was insane to share a Final with Sally. She’s a warrior, a legend, and a true inspiration. She’s not afraid of the next generation—she supports us. I love her for that.”
Willcox Claims First Challenger Series Title
In the men’s division, Jacob Willcox captured his maiden Challenger Series win on home soil. The Western Australian surfer, who fell short of the Mid-season Cut in his 2024 rookie CT season, arrived in Newcastle determined to bounce back—and did just that.
Willcox faced France’s Kauli Vaast in the Final, with both surfers exchanging early scores. As the waves slowed in the second half, Willcox held a slight edge with a total of 12.30. A final surge of sets in the closing minutes gave Vaast a chance to respond, but he was unable to land a scoring wave, leaving Willcox in front when the buzzer sounded.
“This has been a long time coming,” Willcox said. “I’ve had a lot of losses to get to this point, and it feels amazing to finally get a win. It’s taken a lot of hard work.”
The victory places Willcox among a storied group of SURFEST champions that includes legends like Kelly Slater, Mark Occhilupo, Mick Fanning, and Joel Parkinson.
“The final was pretty slow in the end,” Willcox said. “But I kept telling myself that sometimes the ocean just works in your favor. That’s surfing—you never know when your moment will come. Today was mine, and I’m stoked.”