Young bodyboarders chase world qualifier at Duranbah
Future Pro's returns to Duranbah Beach on July 11-12 as juniors chase ranking points and a Spain finals place.
What’s happening?
Some of Australia’s most talented young bodyboarders will compete at Duranbah Beach when the City of Gold Coast Future Pro’s returns on July 11 and 12.
The event is presented by Inverted Bodyboarding and Dan Leyshon, and forms part of the International Bodyboarding Committee Junior World Tour Rising Series.
The free spectator event will bring Australian junior riders together with international entrants, including competitors from Hawaii.
The Future Pro’s is the Australian leg of the Junior Rising Series and gives local fans a chance to see the next group of bodyboarding talent in action.
In a Q&A with The GC Minute, Gold Coast Bodyboard Club President and event organiser Silas Ganciar said hosting the event at Duranbah Beach was a major moment for the Gold Coast bodyboarding community.
Why it matters?
Ganciar said hosting the event at Duranbah Beach was a major milestone for the local bodyboarding community and a strong sign of the Gold Coast’s place in the sport.
“Hosting an IBC Junior World Tour Rising Series event at Duranbah Beach is an important milestone for the bodyboarding community on the Gold Coast. It places the city among a select group of destinations that host an official IBC World Tour event, further recognising the Gold Coast as one of Australia’s premier bodyboarding destinations,” Ganciar said.
For young Australian riders, the event also creates a more realistic way to chase world championship qualification without needing to travel overseas first.
“In bodyboarding competitors must be under 19 years of age to qualify as a junior, so this event is incredibly important for young Australian bodyboarders, as it provides a realistic and financially accessible pathway to qualify for the Junior Men Grand Final in Spain,” Ganciar said.
“Without an event in Australia, many athletes would need to travel to South America, Africa or the Maldives to earn qualifying points, which can be quite expensive for junior competitors and their families.”
Ganciar said the Rising Series gives young riders the kind of support and competition format usually seen at professional events.
“As a bodyboarding community, it’s important that the young competitors are mentored, have the right support and opportunities to experience what the pros have. The Rising Series event gives Australia’s best young junior bodyboarders the opportunity to compete at an international level, on home soil and pursue their dream of qualifying for the Grand Final,” he said.
“We saw this firsthand at last year’s event, where every competitor raised their performance level in pursuit of the title and valuable qualifying points. It was great to see a number of Australian competitors who were able to then go to the Gran Canaria Fronton King in Spain to compete in the Grand Final last year.”
Local Impact
The event is expected to bring competitors, families and spectators to the southern Gold Coast, while also promoting the city’s beaches to a wider audience.
“From an economic perspective, the event showcases the Gold Coast’s beautiful beaches and world-famous waves to an international audience while creating a positive impact on the local community. By attracting competitors, families and spectators from interstate and overseas, the event increases visitation to the region and supports local businesses, including accommodation, hospitality and tourism operators,” Ganciar said.
The event also gives local families a free weekend activity at one of the Gold Coast’s most recognised surf spots.
“I’m sure many of us has tried bodyboarding at the beach during summer. It’s a popular sport because it’s not expensive and doesn’t take a lot of skill to initially learn. You only need to head down to any Gold Coast beaches in summer to see how many people do it for leisure,” Ganciar said.
“I’d encourage everyone to come down and experience the event, even if you’ve never followed bodyboarding before. It’s a great opportunity to watch Australia’s best young bodyboarders, along with talented international competitors, perform on one of the country’s most iconic waves.”
He said spectators can expect speed, power and high-performance moves in the water, with beachside activations also planned.
“In the water, it will be about speed, power, and the execution of moves involving spins, flips and aerial tricks,” Ganciar said.
“There will also be plenty happening on the beach, including our event partners’ activation tents where visitors can enjoy giveaways, learn more about their products and services, and connect with local businesses.”
“We will have a number of food options available too, including Original Acai, with all proceeds supporting the Gold Coast Bodyboard Club and being reinvested into developing the next generation of young bodyboarders.”
By The Numbers
Around 50 young riders are expected to compete, giving spectators a strong field across junior divisions.
Riders can earn 500 points toward the IBC Junior World Rankings, making the Gold Coast stop an important qualifier.
The event offers a pathway toward 48 spots in the IBC Junior Men Grand Final, held in Spain this October.
Zoom In
The Future Pro’s has been designed to give junior athletes a professional-level competition experience.
It will include a priority judging system, seven Level 3 accredited judges, live beach commentary, a livestream broadcast, post-heat interviews and prize presentations.
“The Future Pro’s is one of Australia’s premier junior bodyboarding competitions because it’s held just like the adult professional divisions. The event features a priority judging system, a panel of seven Level 3 accredited judges, live beach commentary, a live-stream broadcast with commentary, post-heat winner interviews and prize presentations,” Ganciar said.
Ganciar said the event stands apart from other junior competitions by offering a stronger judging panel, wider exposure and professional media opportunities.
“Future Pro’s stands apart from other junior bodyboarding competitions in Australia by delivering a professionally run event that meets the standards of an international competition. We bring together some of Australia’s most experienced judges, many of whom have officiated at major international events, ensuring a high-quality and fair competition,” he said.
“Another key point of difference is our live event broadcast, which gives athletes greater exposure to a wider audience. We also conduct post-heat interviews with heat winners, providing young competitors with the opportunity to build their confidence, develop their media skills and promote themselves as emerging athletes.”
He said the prize pool also gives the competition a stronger standing in Australian junior bodyboarding.
“Future Pro’s also offers the highest cash prize pool of any junior bodyboarding event in Australia, further reinforcing its status as the country’s best junior bodyboarding competition and providing young athletes with a truly world-class competitive experience,” Ganciar said.
Several leading junior riders are expected to return for this year’s competition.
They include 2025 Australian Rising Series winner Ossian Mackenzie from the Central Coast, Chase Thompson from Port Macquarie and Bodi Hugin from the Byron Hinterland.
Ossian Mackenzie and Sunshine Coast rider Jai Taylor both represented Australia at the IBC Junior Men Grand Final in Spain last year.
Jai now competes in the adult men’s competition.
Ossian, the son of former professional bodyboarder Steve “Bullet” Mackenzie, will be aiming to continue his rise through the junior international rankings in 2026.
To qualify as a junior, competitors must be under 19 years of age.
Divisions include Super Grommets under 12, Grommets under 14, Cadets under 16, Juniors under 19 and Girls under 18.
“We expect the same high standard of competition this year, with exciting performances that will showcase the future of Australian bodyboarding as they test their skills against international competitors from Hawaii and other nations,” Ganciar said.
Zoom Out
South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales have long been strong bodyboarding regions, helped by powerful surf breaks and a history of elite riders.
“South East Queensland and Northern NSW have long been recognised as breeding grounds for world-class bodyboarding talent. The region has produced outstanding athletes such as Mitch Rawlins and Dave Winchester, both of whom spent several years ranked among the world’s top five professional bodyboarders,” Ganciar said.
“Other exceptional riders, including Joe Clarke and Michael Novy, have also helped establish the Gold Coast and Northern NSW as one of the strongest bodyboarding regions in the world.”
Ganciar said those riders became role models for younger athletes, but changes in the sport made international competition harder to reach.
“These athletes became role models for the next generation, inspiring young riders to pursue the sport at the highest level. Unfortunately, changes to the World Tour and the significant cost of competing internationally meant that many talented Australian riders who followed did not have the same opportunities to travel, compete and showcase their abilities on the world stage,” he said.
Future Pro’s was created to help address that gap and give young Australian riders a clearer route into international competition.
“Future Pro’s was created to help bridge that gap by providing young Australian athletes with a genuine pathway to international competition. By hosting divisions for Super Grommets, Grommets, Cadets and Juniors, we are creating an environment where younger competitors can look up to the older divisions and be inspired to continue progressing through the ranks,” Ganciar said.
“We are already seeing that cycle in action, with our junior competitors becoming role models for the younger athletes. That is the legacy we hope Future Pro’s will continue to build for many years to come.”
The Gold Coast Bodyboard Club has been active on the Gold Coast for more than 20 years.
The non-profit sports organisation aims to create pathways into competitive bodyboarding through coaching and development.
The club started at Duranbah Beach as its proving ground and quickly produced major names in the sport.
Its past and present athletes include Paul Barnard, Adam McNamara, Dave Winchester, Joe Clarke, Mitch Rawlins and Silas Ganciar.
Several went on to compete on the world tour.
“We’re truly lucky to have such outstanding surf breaks in our backyard. People around the world travel across continents to come here and experience beaches like Snapper Rocks and Duranbah,” Ganciar said.
What To Look For Next?
The event weekend at Duranbah Beach will give young riders two days to chase strong results, ranking points and a possible place at the Junior Men Grand Final in Spain this October.
The event is free for spectators, with families, surf fans and beachgoers encouraged to attend.
Ganciar said the weekend is also a chance for locals to support young athletes at an important stage in their careers.
“Australia has a history of producing world-class bodyboarders and the bodyboarding community is a close one. We know how important it is to support emerging talent,” Ganciar said.
“The IBC Junior World Tour Rising Series provides a valuable pathway for the next generation of elite riders to gain international experience and recognition. If last year’s competition is anything to go by, we’re expecting great conditions and plenty of excitement for spectators.”
He said the event should appeal to families and anyone wanting a day by the ocean.
“With two days of great competition, a fantastic beach atmosphere and beautiful Gold Coast weather forecast, it’s the perfect event for families, surf lovers and anyone looking for a fun day by the ocean,” Ganciar said.
Sponsors for the event are Inverted Bodyboarding, Dan Leyshon, Sun Zapper and Pride Bodyboards.
Event supporters include Division 14 - Councillor Gail O’Neill, Amazon Power Acai, Rydges Gold Coast Airport, Laura Gerber MP, Medpods Telehealth, Vansite, Le’Petit Gourmet, Brullen Machines, Boogwax and Tim Oliver Photography.
More information is available at IBC Junior World Tour Rising and Gold Coast Bodyboard Club.