Australian bodyboarding champions to compete at Future Pro’s Juniors Rising Series

Some of Australia's most talented young bodyboarders will take to the waves at Duranbah Beach on July 11-12 when the City of Gold Coast Future Pro's, presented by Inverted Bodyboarding and Dan Leyshon, returns as part of the International Bodyboarding Committee (IBC) Junior World Tour Rising Series. 

The free spectator event will see around 50 young riders competing alongside international entrants, including competitors from Hawaii, providing local fans with the opportunity to watch the next generation of bodyboarding talent in action. 

The Future Pro's is the third international stop of the IBC Junior World Tour Rising Series and gives riders the opportunity to earn 500 points toward the IBC Junior World Rankings. 

The event also offers an opportunity for competitors to secure one of 48 coveted spots in the IBC Junior Men Grand Final, which will be held again at the Gran Canaria Frontón King in Spain this October. 

Event organiser and Gold Coast Bodyboard Club President Silas Ganciar said the competition represents an important stepping stone for young athletes aiming to make their mark on the world stage. 

"South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales are home to some of the world's best surf breaks, and Australia continues to develop elite bodyboarding talent," Silas said. 

"This event gives the public a free opportunity to come down to the beach and cheer on competitors looking to test themselves against other aspiring world champions." 

"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." 

Several of Australia's leading junior riders are expected to return for the international competition, including 2025 Australian Rising Series winner Ossian Mackenzie (Central Coast, NSW), Chase Thompson (Port Macquarie, NSW) and Bodi Hugin (Byron Hinterland, NSW). 

Ossian Mackenzie and Sunshine Coast rider Jai Taylor both represented Australia at the IBC Junior Men Grand Final in Spain last year. Whilst Jai now competes in the adult men's competition, Ossian, who is the son of former professional bodyboarder Steve "Bullet" Mackenzie, will be looking to continue his rise through the junior international rankings in 2026. 

To qualify, 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). 

The public is encouraged to attend this free event and enjoy two days of high-performance bodyboarding, with competitors not only battling for a place at the world championship finals but for an opportunity to showcase their talent in front of family, friends and the wider community. 

"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," Silas 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."

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.

For more information, visit https://ibcworldtour.com/events/future-pros/ or www.goldcoastbodyboardclub.com/future-pros.