Duranbah Beach, Gold Coast, Australia – July 11, 2026

For the second year in a row, Australia’s Gold Coast is hosting the prestigious Future Pro’s tournament, a key stop on the IBC World Tour’s Junior Men Rising Series. The top local talent isn’t just competing for bragging rights at home they’re also fighting for a spot in the huge world final at the Gran Canaria Frontón King this October.

Opening day at Duranbah Beach delivered perfect conditions to kick things off: blue skies, barely any wind, and fun, chest-high waves that set the perfect stage for some world-class bodyboarding.

With a major focus on boosting and backing the next generation of Aussie riders, the event features four age groups: Super Groms, Groms, Cadets, and Juniors the latter being the crucial division for locking in IBC tour points.

Heavy Action on Day 1 for the Junior Men Division

The opening day wrapped up the first four rounds of the Junior Men division, and the up-and-coming pros absolutely showed out, putting their massive potential on full display:

• Round 1 (Non-Elimination): No one went home early in this opening round. The top two riders from each heat advanced straight to Round 3, while third and fourth place got a second chance in the repechage. Standout riders included Chase Thomson (dropping the highest total score of the round with a 14.57), Ossian Mackenzie (13.50), Kai Sauge (12.67), Hardy Fletcher (11.50), Eli Dries (11.40), and Archie Williams (10.03).

• Round 2 (Repechage): A clutch opportunity to claw back into the main draw. Davey Anderson killed it, looking super solid on every wave to lock in a strong 13.50 total. Joining him in Round 3 were Zayde Taylor, Nate Chippendale, and Brodie Davey.

• Round 3: Down to the top 16 juniors, the level of riding went through the roof, with the kids throwing down big maneuvers for higher scores. Chase Thompson put on a clinic, securing one of the best overall performances of the day with a 15.33 total. Archie Williams, Bodi Hugin, and Hardy Fletcher also dominated, winning their heats to seal their spots in the next round.

• Quarterfinals (Man-on-Man): The final 8 went head-to-head, leaving everything out there to secure a podium spot and get one step closer to the Gran Canaria finals. These kids proved that Australia’s next generation is going to be a problem on the world stage.

◦ Archie Williams was the undisputed man of the day, winning every single heat he surfed. He saved his best for last, linking up a solid wave and sticking a massive ARS (Air Rollo Spin) that got the crowd hyped.

◦ Defending event champ Ossian Mackenzie—son of the legendary Steve Mackenzie—showed exactly why he’s the guy to beat in Australia. He bagged the highest single-wave score of the day, a 9.67, after linking a clean reverse air into a rollo.

◦ Chase Thompson and Bodi Hugin rounded out the semifinal lineup after putting on super consistent performances all day.

Finals day goes down tomorrow, Sunday, right here on the Gold Coast, where a new champion will be crowned. You can catch all the live scores and heat updates on the official website: www.ibcworldtour.com

Organizing Committee, Sponsors, and Partners

• Naming Right: City of Gold Coast (@cityofgoldcoast)

• Presenting Right: Inverted Bodyboarding (@invertedbb) | Dan Leyshon (@dan_leyshon_)

• Official Accommodation: Rydges Gold Coast Airport (@rydgesgoldcoastairport)

• Sponsors: Division 14 Councillor Gail O’Neill (@gail.oneill.div14), Sun Zapper (@sunzapper), Pride Boards (@pridebodyboards), Amazon Power (@amazonpower), Le’Petit Gourmet (@lepetitgourmettrading), Medpods Telehealth, Vansite (@vansitehireau).

• Supporters: Laura Gerber MP (@lauragerbermp), Brullen Machines (@brullenmachines), Boogwax (@boogwax), Tim Oliver Photography (@timoliver_photography), Bluetti Australia (@bluetti_australia), Sharkbanz (@sharkbanz).

Official IBC Media Channels

• Web: www.ibcworldtour.com

• YouTube: @IBCWorldTour

• Instagram: @ibcworld_tour

• TikTok: @ibcworldtour

• Spotify: IBC World Tour