THE SHAW AND PARTNERS MANLY SURF OPEN HAS OFFICIALLY WRAPPED, DELIVERING A RAW AND UNFORGETTABLE WEEKEND OF ELITE SURF SPORTS AT ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S MOST ICONIC BEACHES.
ONE OF THE LONGEST RUNNING AND MOST ICONIC EVENTS ON THE AUSTRALIA RACING CALENDAR
Massive surf created a true spectacle of Surf Ironman racing, with testing 4–6 foot conditions where Mother Nature took over. Clinical under pressure, Connor Maggs and Analise Kibble dominate the Ironman and Ironwoman in the toughest conditions we’ve seen.
***Due to the extreme weather and surf conditions, the remainder of the finals program was cancelled. As always, the safety of our athletes, officials, and spectators remains our top priority. Further information regarding the cancelled events will be shared later this week stay tuned.
WATCH EVENT REPLAY HERE:
LIVE HEATS
From Friday through to Saturday afternoon, the Shaw and Partners Manly Open delivered what was arguably the most exciting 24 hours of racing our sport has seen. Friday set the tone, with major upsets in the Ironman and Ironwoman heats making headlines.
The 2–3 foot, near-perfect surf for the qualifiers produced red-hot racing, with several Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series title contenders eliminated early a clear reminder of just how unforgiving and competitive this series truly is.
Saturday morning also belonged to the next generation, with the U17 Race One Arena producing one of the standout performances of the weekend. In testing surf, the U17 athletes showed composure well beyond their years, reading the ocean smartly and attacking the conditions with confidence. From clean swim lines to composed board work through challenging sets, the group handled the Manly surf superbly a clear sign that the future of surf sports is in very safe hands.
Congratulations to Kobi Daniel and Imogen Dowker who claimed the u17 irons resulting getting the Race One ticket. To compete in the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Ironman and Ironwoman final.
U17 Ironman (Race One Ticket)
1st. Kobi Daniel
2nd Maddix Burke
3rd Kobe Slims
U17 Ironwoman
1st Imogen Dowker (Race One Ticket)
2nd Layla Wyper
3rd Alexis Sutherland
Shaw and Partners Manly Open Ironwoman Final
Analise Kibble etched herself into history at Manly, cementing her status as one of the very best Ironwomen especially when the surf turns serious.
Just six months ago, Kibble was uncertain if she would even race this season due to injury. Fast forward to now, and she has claimed her first Shaw and Partners 10,000-point event victory, climbing the rankings in the most emphatic fashion imaginable.
The Ironwoman final was nothing short of chaos. Multiple lead changes unfolded as the women charged fearlessly over 4–6 foot faces, attacking the ocean with complete commitment. After the swim, it was defending Manly champion Naomi Scott leading from Kibble and Carla Papac
The board leg became a battle of patience and courage. The surf offered no clear path out the back, repeatedly shutting down attempts. Eventually, a small window opened and ten women escaped beyond the break effectively restarting the race. A group of seven then secured waves back to the beach, setting up a dramatic final leg.
It was in the ski where Kibble seized control. She took the race with both hands, smashing through mountains of water while others were caught and punished by the conditions. Finding a rare opening, she launched toward the Shaw and Partners can and made it stick.
On her return to shore, three towering sets loomed. Kibble stayed composed, waiting for the right moment choosing a smaller, manageable wave to ride safely to the beach. Behind her, chaos unfolded as Lily O’Sullivan and others were forced over the falls, losing skis in the process.
Analise Kibble sprinted up the sand to claim her maiden Ironwoman victory in one of the most chaotic finals the series has ever seen. Series leader Lana Rogers crossed the line in second, while club mate Gemma Smith-Welch secured her first Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Ironwoman podium in emphatic style.
This race was a true test and every athlete on that start line showed courage, resilience, and elite surf skills.
Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Manly Open IRONMAN Final
Connor Maggs delivered a performance defined by elite skill, composure, and complete mastery of chaos, producing one of the most memorable Ironman wins in Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series history.
Maggs opened the race with a dramatic swim leg, showcasing body-surfing skills that have gone to another level under the guidance of surf swimming legend Ky Hurst. He was joined early by former Manly Open champion Cooper Williams, before Mother Nature began to tear the field apart.
The board leg proved decisive. With the ocean stretching and compressing the race at will, Maggs was tested heavily by the surf and answered in style. A perfectly timed wave allowed him to split the field wide open. One of the big movers through this leg was Ethan Callaghan, charging back into contention.
Heading into the final ski leg, Manly turned brutal. With 5–6 foot waves closing out the bay, Maggs shifted gears and calmly negotiated the chaos. On the return to shore, he produced a moment reserved for the greats in the mould of Trevor Hendy slewing his ski, launching himself onto a wave, and body-surfing all the way to the beach to seal his most impressive victory to date.
Genuinely, this Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Ironman race will be talked about for decades.
The enormity of the conditions was underscored elsewhere in the final, with multiple athletes losing skis and eight Ironmen failing to finish, a stark reminder of how unforgiving the ocean was.
In a sprint to the line, Ethan Callaghan and Noah Steiner rounded out the podium in second and third. For Callaghan, the result delivers critical momentum and confidence in the overall series title race.
As always, a huge thank you to Manly Surf Life Saving Club and our incredible partners for their continued support in delivering such a great event.
The next round is immediately upon us with Shaw and Partners World Ocean series Murphy Homes Maroochy Classic 7,000pts being held this Friday and Saturday.
Stay tuned for more news.