Carla Papac & Ethan Callaghan Join an Illustrious List of the Shaw and Partners Shannon Eckstein iron classic.
From wild weather, driving rain and solid surf, the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series had everything on the weekend.There were upsets. There were special wins. Series hopes were shattered, while others came from nowhere to claim overall Shaw and Partners Series titles. That’s what championship racing does it rewards composure under pressure. But nothing topped the Shaw and Partners Shannon Eckstein Finals Package.It was the best three hours of racing we’ve seen. Entertaining. Relentless. A mind-blowing display of skill from the very best in the sport. Headlining the Finals Package was Burleigh Heads’ Carla Papac.She raced incredibly well to claim her maiden Shannon Eckstein Ironwoman Classic and then backed it up in the Women’s Ski. She absolutely owned Saturday afternoon. An arvo out. Far out did she deserve that win.Her ski skill right now is the best in the business. The way she links runners, controls the ocean and makes decisive moves under pressure is next level. She didn’t just win —she elevated the standard. In the Ironman, it was pure class from Ethan Callaghan. He is going to be a problem for the next decade. Like he did at the Sunset 10,000, Ethan surged to the front after the swim and immediately capitalised on his strengths, splitting the field and forcing the chase to respond.In the end, it came down to Ethan and one of the greatest athletes our sport has ever seen Ali Day.And under immense pressure, Ethan held him off.That’s not just a win.That’s a statement.
Overall all Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series winners
Festival Zone
The Festival zone was a crowd favourite at the Shaw and Partners World Ocean series with internationals stars performing at Northcliffe beach including Kita Alexandra, Jourdan Evans and local hero Nick35. The vibes were electric sending off a fitting Shaw and Partners World Ocean series. 18 stops chasing the summer around the globe has come to an end. Although it wont be to long until we are back
Shaw and Partners Sunset 10,000
The opening day of the finale weekend of the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series delivered one of the most dramatic mornings of racing all season, as the Sunset 10,000 qualifiers were run in relentless, chaotic conditions.
Non-stop rain, building swell and strong winds created a testing arena but one perfectly suited to showcasing the raw skill, composure and adaptability of the world’s best surf sports athletes. Due to the extreme weather, only the men’s and women’s Iron races were completed, with all remaining finals postponed to saturday morning.
Ironwoman
The women’s Iron race unfolded like a game of chess in the ocean. Naomi Scott controlled the race for the majority of the break, leading confidently and making smart decisions in brutal conditions. Heartbreak struck in the closing moments when she unfortunately lost her board, instantly opening the door for her rivals.
Sensing the opportunity, Lana Rogers and Hannah Sculley pounced, launching into a fierce sprint to the line to claim the win. The result carries major implications for the overall Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Ironwoman title, with the leaderboard tightening at the business end of the season.
Ironman
The men’s race mirrored the intensity and tactical nature of the women’s event. With skill at an absolute premium, Ethan Callaghan came agonisingly close to a flawless performance, producing an exceptional swim leg and riding a powerful body-surfing wave all the way through the break.
However, experience proved decisive in the final stages. Matt Bevilacqua showcased his elite race IQ and composure, expertly negotiating the tricky Northcliffe break in the closing leg to surge clear and take the win crossing the line alongside his son Beau in a moment that perfectly captured the spirit of the sport.
A Statement to the World
Despite the severe conditions, the opening day of the Sunset 10,000 provided an unforgettable platform for athletes to demonstrate their resilience, technical ability and class under pressure. It was surf sports at its rawest and its best.
With all remaining finals still to come, the stage is set for a massive conclusion to the season.
Stay tuned for more coverage from the final weekend of the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series, including the Sunset 10,000 and the Shannon Eckstein Ironman Classic.
Saturday Morning Finals Wrap
The final morning of the Sunset 10,000 delivered exactly what a season-defining weekend should clean swell, lighter winds and a perfect canvas to showcase the best surf sport athletes in the country. After Friday’s chaos, Saturday morning felt like the ocean had reset and the racing stepped up accordingly.
History Made
The morning began with a landmark moment as Charlotte Bowmer became the first athlete in Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series history to win an event via a Race One ticket pathway.
For the U17 standout, it wasn’t just a win it was a statement about the future of the sport. A true “next generation” moment to kick off finals morning.
Men’s Swim
The Open Men’s Swim was tight from horn to finish.
Riely Brennan and then-series leader Jackson McLeery traded blows the entire way, separated by nothing more than body positioning and timing through the break.
It was pure surf swim racing tactical, physical and decided by margins so small they could barely be measured.
Women’s Ski
The ocean remained tricky, but the women showed composure beyond the conditions.
The Burleigh contingent stormed from fourth into contention, showing real team grit. But it was Julia Padrutt, fresh off her Shaw and Partners Sunset victory, who thrived on her home stretch to claim the win.
Reading the bank better than anyone, she controlled the critical runs and sealed another elite result.
Open Men’s Ski
The “V8s” of the weekend delivered fireworks.
The heavyweight lineup featured:
- Lachlan Tame
- Mitch Trim
- Jett Kenny
- Jayden Erskine
- Jayke Rees
From the first can, it was relentless. Draft lines formed and broke. Wash riding became a chess match.
In the end, Jayke Rees found another gear down the final leg to claim his first Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series victory of the 25/26 season a breakthrough performance against the very best.
Women’s Board
The sets rolled inconsistently, teasing the athletes with opportunity before closing out.
Milly Derbyshire launched off the start in a cracker opening surge. Chasing hard were:
- Analise Kibble
- Chelsea Wood
- Eva Ashworth
- Tiarnee Massie
The wave zone became a waiting game until the ocean finally delivered.
When the set arrived, Analise Kibble capitalised. A sharp surf line and clinical beach run sealed a powerful victory in testing conditions.
Men’s Board – Consistency Meets Future Promise
If consistency had a name, it might be Zac Morris. Once again, the world-class board paddler was right in the mix, proving why he remains one of the most reliable performers on the global stage.
But the story also belonged to the future.
A huge congratulations to Oliver Dillon out of Tugun the young gun continues to rise. Remember the name. He’s coming.
One of the Best of the Year
The Sunset 10,000 proved to be one of the standout events of the 25/26 season — big points, stacked fields, and racing that shifted series standings heading into the Shannon Eckstein Classic.
To relive all the action:
Watch the replay on YouTube
Full results available via LiveHeats
Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Shannon Eckstein iron classic
Shaw and Partners Ironwoman Carla Papac’s Breakthrough
Headlining the afternoon was Burleigh Heads’ Carla Papac, who produced a performance that felt inevitable.
Papac claimed her maiden Shannon Eckstein Ironwoman Classic in style composed through the swim, clinical on the board, and absolutely dominant on the ski. Her ability to read the bumps and accelerate at the right moments is unmatched. Quite simply, her ski leg was the best in the business.
And she didn’t stop there.
Backing it up in the Ski race, Papac doubled down on her dominance. It was an arvo out. After years of consistency and knocking on the door, she well and truly deserved that breakthrough win.
A champion’s performance.
Ironman Ethan Callaghan Announces the Future
If the Ironwoman race was precision, the Ironman was pure class.
Ethan Callaghan stamped himself as the present and the future of surf sports. Like he did at the Sunset 10,000, Ethan surged to the lead after the swim and immediately capitalised on his strengths. Once in front, he split the field with authority, forcing the chase pack into survival mode.
By the final stages, it was down to Ethan and one of the greatest athletes our sport has ever seen Ali Day.
But this time, the young gun wouldn’t be denied.
Ethan held his nerve, controlled the tempo and closed it out under immense pressure. To stare down a legend and win on this stage speaks volumes. He’s going to be a problem for the next decade.
The Finals Package had everything legacy, breakthrough moments and the passing of the torch.
Mens Board
Nathan Mackenzie was elite.
He went out hard, backed his engine, and had the confidence to trust it all the way to the sprint finish. We shouldn’t call it a surprise everyone knows Nath can paddle exceptionally well but to execute like that on the biggest stage in surf sports is something else entirely.
In a stacked field featuring series winner Cruz McKee, Angus Macphail, and Mitch Stitt, Mackenzie held his nerve. When it came down to the beach sprint, he simply refused to be beaten writing off some of the strongest names in the series in a high-pressure dash to the line.
Women’s Board
The women’s board race was intense from the gun.
It was more than just a race win it was the Shaw and Partners overall Board Series title on the line. Club mates Chelsea Wood and Lily O’Sullivan went head-to-head in a battle that had everything: positioning, wave reading, and pure competitiveness.
In the end, Lily used her superior surf skills to take control when it mattered most. Timing the run home perfectly, she surged clear to claim an emphatic win over her club mate and with it, the overall Board Series crown.
Men’s Swim
On paper, this was the most stacked swim race we’ve seen all season.
Australian Champions. Olympians. Pure pool speed meeting raw ocean experience.
But when the gun went, it was Shaw and Partners athlete Cooper Williams who owned the moment.
Flat water or surf it doesn’t matter. Cooper is simply unstoppable. He blitzed the field from start to finish, opening up a commanding lead and never looking back. Clean lines, relentless tempo and total control.
It was clinical.
Rounding out the podium was Callum Brennan and Jimmy Koch, both outstanding in a race that demanded perfection just to stay in contention.
Women’s Swim – Kaitlin Rees Secures the Series
In the women’s swim, the spotlight belonged to young gun Kaitlin Rees.
With this win, she secured the overall Shaw and Partners Swim Series title and she did it in style. Fearless off the start, composed through the break, and powerful on the return leg, Rees showed maturity beyond her years. What a gun.
The future is incredibly bright for this rising star.
Rounding out the podium was Newport’s Sarah Locke and Emily Holyman, both delivering strong performances in a fiercely competitive field
MEns Ski
Once again, the Men’s Ski was pure fireworks.
With a sizeable set rolling in at the start, the boys had to earn their way through the break before the race had even settled. Positioning was everything. Timing was critical. One mistake and you were done.
And this time, it was young gun Josh Murphy who stole the show.
Often overlooked in a stacked ski field packed with talent, Murphy put on an absolute clinic. He nailed the start, found clean water early and took the field for a ride around the cans with a commanding lead. His confidence in the bumps and ability to link runs separated him from the pack.
On the way home, a well-timed wave brought Jayden Erskin and Cam Greeves charging back into contention, setting up a dramatic sprint up the beach. But Murphy had done enough damage. He paddled clear of the surge and held on for an epic win a fitting way to close out his Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series campaign.
Massive credit as well to Jayden Erskin.
An absolute beast all season long, his consistency and depth of results secured him the overall Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Ski Title.
Women's Ski
Carla Papac did it again.
Dialled in at Northcliffe Beach on Saturday, she looked completely at one with the ocean parting the swell and making the course her own. From the start she was composed, confident and calculated. Every run she picked stuck. Every decision paid off.
She deserved every bit of that win.
Papac’s skill on the ski right now is elevating women’s ski paddling. The control, the power, the way she links the ocean together it’s next level.
Credit also to Julia Padrutt, who had an outstanding weekend. Consistent across the board, she continues to show why she is one of the most reliable performers on the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series circuit.
Rounding out the podium was overall series champion Emily Doyle, whose form has been incredibly impressive from the very first event of the season. Week after week she delivered and that consistency is exactly why she walks away with the overall title.
MIXED TAPLIN
Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club and Ali Day got their fairytale.
Darby Myer, Milly Derbyshire, Finn Askew, Ally Clarke, Lucy Derbyshire and Ali Day combined to claim Surfers Paradise’s first ever Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Mixed Taplin win and they did it in Ali’s final World Ocean Series appearance.The swimmers, Lucy Derbyshire and Finn Askew, were outstanding. Leading the charge early, they used incredible surf skills to work their way past race leaders Northcliffe and put Surfers Paradise in control of the race.For Ali Day to finish his final Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series event with a club-first victory alongside the next generation coming through was something special.
Broadcast
Live heats
SURVEY*
We’d also like to extend a huge thank you to everyone involved not just this weekend, but across the entire series. From our host clubs, athletes, officials, water safety teams and volunteers, to coaches, supportive parents, trailer towers, tent setters, BBQ operators and everyone behind the scenes events like this truly take a village. Every person playing their part makes these events possible, and we’re incredibly grateful for the effort and passion shown by our entire community. We do have one important request. The survey link below helps us measure the overall size and impact of our events, which is essential when applying for council and government funding. Your feedback is also valuable in helping us improve and grow these events for everyone. We’d greatly appreciate all Shannon attendees (athletes, parents, coaches, traveling family, officals) taking a few minutes to complete the survey. As a thank you, one lucky participant will win a $500 Visa gift card. Thanks again and stay tuned for updates on next summer ! Here is the Survey link https://ierpty.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3rDfDcnPQptn8Jo?Source=database
To Shaw and Partners Financial Services, Race One Surf Craft, Surf Life Saving Queensland, JAYD Swimwear, and all of our valued event partners your support, belief in the athletes, and commitment to surf sports allows this series to thrive on and off the beach.
We are proud to stand alongside organisations that share our passion for excellence, community and the ocean. Here’s to an even bigger season ahead.
