2025 SHAW AND PARTNERS HAYDEN KENNY CLASSIC — EVENT PREVIEW

BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER

It’s been roughly 395 days since the last Shaw and Partners Hayden Kenny Classic. A week might be a long time in politics, but the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series moves at a more stately pace building anticipation, momentum and excitement as we count down to one of the summer’s most iconic weekends and the first 10,000 pts round.

The Shaw and Partners Hayden Kenny Classic returns for its fifth edition, kicking off the summer with three days of world-class surf racing, community celebration, and the unmatched coastal energy of Alexandra Headland. As the first 10,000-point round of the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series, this event sets the tone for the entire season and with a stacked field already entered, the racing is guaranteed to be fast, fierce, and unforgettable.

Athletes across all divisions Open, Youth and Nippers will take on the famous Alex banks across Iron, Swim, Ski, Board and relay formats. Expect explosive starts, technical surf skills, and tactical racing as the country's best battle for early-season supremacy. 

This year’s Classic is also rich with storylines:

-             Defending champions Ali Day and Emma Woods return to protect their crowns.

-             OLYMPIAN and Town Hero to race… Lani Pallister

-             Lana Rogers arrives in red-hot form after multiple early-season wins.

-             Young stars like Ethan Callaghan, Joel Piper, Kaitlin Rees and Piper Harrison continue to push the next-gen movement that’s reshaping surf sports.

-             A large field for the pathway from Nippers to the World Ocean Series has never been stronger. Its another opportunity for the young guns

-              

Three days. Thousands of spectators. One legendary location.

The stage is set. The athletes are ready.
The Hayden Kenny Classic is where the summer begins.

 

 

HOW TO WATCH:

*FINALS BROADCAST COMMENCE AT 2:00PM AEST

 

 Quick Forecast check for the Weekend:

 

Tides:

⁃ High Tide Friday: 0754 AM, 2.1M

⁃ Low Tide Friday 1437 PM, .1M

⁃ High Tide Saturday: 0843 AM, 2.1M

⁃ Low Tide Saturday: 1530 PM, .1M

- High Tide Sunday: 0934 AM, 1.2M

- Low Tide Sunday: 1623 PM, .1M

 

 

 

Prize Pool:

  

COMPETITION SCHEDULE:

Friday 31 October:
The weekend kicks off on Friday afternoon with the Open Ironman and Ironwoman heats, setting the tone for an exciting few days of racing.

Saturday 1 November:
A full day of racing action, with all finals kicking off at 2pm when the best in the business go head-to-head for vital series points.

Sunday 2 November:
The spotlight shifts to the sport’s future with the U11- U14 showcasing the next generation of ocean athletes as they compete for glory. 

SHAW AND PARTNERS WORLD OCEAN SERIES HAYDEN KENNY CLASSIC

SHAW AND PARTNERS HAYDEN KENNY CLASSIC U11-U14

 

 

 

 

Lets check out the Predictions:

 *Want to put your predictions in for the next Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series round? DM us to get involved.

MEN’S BOARD

DEFENDING CHAMP: Charlie Verco

Favourite: Cruz Mckee
Next Best: Charlie Verco
Other chances: Kye Taylor and Will Banister
Outsider: Jett Kenny

The Men’s Board at the Shaw and Partners Hayden Kenny Classic is shaping as one of the most open races of the weekend. Cruz McKee comes in as the favourite after a dominant start to the season, showing the type of form that wins big races. Defending champion Charlie Verco is never far away when the pressure rises and remains the most likely to challenge or win . Kye Taylor representing the laydown paddlers he has  the speed and polish to turn this into an upset, especially if the ocean throws something different at the field. Don’t sleep on Jett Kenny the home town favourite with the firepower to shake things up if he gets a clean line and builds momentum early.

WOMEN’S BOARD

DEFENDING CHAMP: Tiarnee Massie

Favourite: Lizzie Welborn
Next Best: Hannah Scully
Other chances: Grace Harris and Chelsea Wood
Outsider: Dom Stitt

Who Could Win? 

The Women’s Board race is stacked with talent, but Lizzie Welborn enters as the clear favourite thanks to her power, experience, and ability to control races from the front. Hannah Scully looms as the biggest threat, with the speed and grit to match Lizzie when it matters most. Grace Harris and Chelsea Wood are both primed for big performances and could easily push onto the podium. Keep an eye on Dom Stitt she is a gun and a very underrated board paddler.

 

MEN’S SWIM

DEFENDING CHAMP : Hayden Cotter

Favourite: Jackson McCleery
Next Best: Callum Brennan
Other chances: Cooper Williams and Nicholas Middleton
Outsider: Fletcher Warn

 The Men’s Swim is shaping up to be a thriller, with Jackson McCleery entering as the favourite thanks to his exceptional surf skills and ability to dominate from the first buoy. Callum Brennan sits right behind him as the next best, boasting the strength and consistency to turn this race into a two-man battle. Cooper Williams and Nicholas Middleton both present real podium threats.Williams with his rapid improvement this season and Middleton with the kind of ocean awareness that wins close races. And keep an eye on Fletcher Warn, the outsider who’s capable of blowing the field apart if he finds the right line or catches a late wave.

WOMEN’S SWIM

DEFENDING CHAMP : Lani Pallister

Favourite: Lani Pallister
Next Best: Lana Rogers
Other chances: Kaitlin Rees and Emily Holyman
Outsider: Finella Gibbs-Beal

The Women’s Swim features one of the strongest fields of the entire weekend, and Lani Pallister arrives as both the defending champion and overwhelming favourite. With world-class speed and open-water pedigree, she’s the swimmer to beat in any conditions. No disrespect to everyone else i cant see Lani getting beaten. Lana Rogers sits firmly as the next best, bringing elite surf experience and the ability to capitalise on ocean movement better than almost anyone. 

MEN’S SKI

DEFENDING CHAMP : Ben Carberry

Favourite: James Porter
Next Best: Jake Morris
Other chances: Jackson Collins and Jy Timperley
Outsider: Jayden Erskine

The Men’s Ski event is shaping as one of the most competitive races on the program, with James Porter entering as the favourite thanks to his elite paddling . Jake Morris looms as the next major threat, with the strength and race experience to push Porter all the way to the line. Jackson Collins and Jy Timperley are both serious podium contenders Collins with his world-class surf craft skills and Timperley with the raw power to surge at the right moments. Jayden Erskine can and will do some damage.

WOMEN’S SKI

DEFENDING CHAMP : Natalia Drobot

Favourite: Ally Clarke
Next Best: Claudia Kelly
Other chances: Emily Doyle and Piper Harrison
Outsider: Georgia Singleton

 The Women’s Ski race is shaping as a tight contest, but Olympian Ally Clarke enters as the favourite thanks to her blistering start speed and ability to control races from the front. Claudia Kelly sits close behind as the next best, with the power and consistency to turn this into a genuine showdown. Emily Doyle and Piper Harrison have proven there pace. The womens Ski series is going to be one follow this summer.

IRONMAN

DEFENDING CHAMP : Ali Day

Favourite: Ali Day
Next Best: Joe Collins
Other chances: Corey Taylor and Ethan Callaghan
Outsider: Ryley Harland

 With flat hot conditions forecasted the Ironman at the Shaw and Partners Hayden Kenny Classic is once again Ali Day’s race to lose. The defending champion thrives on the Sunshine Coast and arrives with both the experience and conditioning that have defined his legendary career. But this year the pressure is real Joe Collins will be hunting to kick start is account in the Shaw and Partners World ocean series.  Corey Taylor brings unmatched explosiveness and can turn the race on its head with his experience, while rising stars Ethan Callaghan and Ryley Harland will continue to build momentum through the race.

IRONWOMAN

DEFENDING CHAMP: Emma Woods

Favourite: Lana Rogers
Next Best: Tiarnee Massie
Other chances: Lucy Derbyshire and Kaitlin Rees
Outsider: Mia Cook

The Ironwoman showdown is set to be the race of the day at the Shaw  and Partners Hayden Kenny Classic. Lana Rogers steps in as the favourite, returning to elite racing with the trademark strength, calmness, and ocean control that make her one of the best ever to do it. Tiarnee Massie, last year’s defending board champion, is the next major threat  her speed, explosive transitions, and growing confidence make her incredibly dangerous over a full Ironwoman. Lucy Derbyshire and Kaitlin Rees both present genuine winning chances: Derbyshire with her power and grit, and Rees with the confidence of a rankings leader who has been the standout across the opening rounds of the series. Don’t underestimate Mia Cook  on home sand who is improving fast and has shown she can hang with the elite . If she gets a clean start or finds a wave late, she could flip the script entirely. This is going to be epic !!!

*****Check out real time results with liveheats: 

 

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