Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series HEADS TO NSW FOR BLOCKBUSTER WANDA 5,000

 

 

 

The race for the 2026/27 Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series crown heats up this Saturday as Australia's best surf sports athletes descend on Wanda Beach, Cronulla, with 5,000 crucial series points up for grabs.

WANDA BEACH, CRONULLA | SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER 2026

The Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series heads to New South Wales this weekend, with the iconic Wanda Beach set to come alive for a massive day of elite surf sports racing at the 11th Tradies One Club Carnival.

With 5,000 valuable series points on the line, Australia's leading Ironman, Ironwoman, Swim, Board and Ski athletes will go head to head as the battle for the 2026/27 Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series titles continues.

Following an exciting start to the season on the Gold Coast, attention now turns south as the country's biggest names look to build momentum, climb the series leaderboard and strengthen their championship ambitions.

Newport's powerhouse Ironman contingent will arrive as one of the teams to beat, but with a talented crop of emerging stars stepping into the Open ranks, the established names will have plenty of competition.

The Ironwoman contest is shaping up to be just as exciting, with defending carnival champion Lana Rogers absent, opening the door for a new winner to emerge.

With fierce club rivalries, some of Australia's most exciting young talent and a host of established stars ready to battle it out, spectators can expect a fantastic day of racing from start to finish.

NEWPORT'S POWERHOUSE RETURNS

Newport dominated the Open Ironman competition at Wanda Beach last year, claiming five of the top six positions in a remarkable display of club strength.

Jackson Borg led the charge, winning his semifinal before powering home in the final ahead of teammate Charlie Verco. Avoca Beach's Jett Green was the only athlete outside Newport to break into the top five, finishing third ahead of Brayden Woodford and Sam Chaffer.

With all five returning this weekend, Newport will once again be looking to make a statement.

Verco was one of the standout performers of last year's carnival, finishing on the podium in the Ironman, Board and Ski events. His consistency across all three disciplines makes him one of the biggest threats heading into Saturday.

Borg will be determined to defend his Ironman crown, while also taking on a packed racing program across the Board, Ski and Surf disciplines.

2025 Open Ironman Final

1. Jackson Borg (Newport)

2. Charlie Verco (Newport)

3. Jett Green (Avoca Beach)

4. Brayden Woodford (Newport)

5. Sam Chaffer (Newport)

6. Luke Chaffer (Newport)

The top five finishers are all set to return, setting up another exciting showdown between some of the country's strongest competitors.

Wanda's King - Noah Steiner will be one of the favourites to win.

THE NEXT GENERATION READY TO MAKE ITS MARK

One of the most exciting storylines heading into Wanda is the arrival of last year's junior stars in the Open competition.

Warilla Barrack Point's Kobe Sims will be one of the young athletes to watch after an outstanding 2025 carnival, where he claimed the U17 Ironman title, finished second in the Surf and third in the Ski.

Sims now steps into the Open ranks, taking on the Ironman, Board, Ski and Surf events against some of Australia's most experienced competitors.

He will be joined by clubmate Max Miller, who finished third in last year's U17 Ironman, and Avoca Beach's Bodi Bone, who claimed bronze in the U17 Board.

Manly's Henry Whitehead also returns after an impressive double victory in the U17 Board and Surf events last year. Whitehead will defend his U17 Board title while testing himself against the country's best in the Open Board.

Cronulla's Hobie Smit, the defending U19 2km Ski champion, will also step up to contest the Open Board, Ski and 2km Ski events.

The next wave of junior talent is equally exciting.

Swansea Belmont's Kye Goldie, last year's U15 Ironman champion, and Manly's Felix Stephens, who won the U15 Board and finished second in the Ironman, will look to make their mark in the U17 division.

In the women's junior competition, Wanda's own Liesl Spinner steps up after winning last year's U15 Ironwoman title.

She will face a formidable challenge from Newport's Sophie Clues, who dominated the U17 division last year with victories in the Board and Ski, alongside a second place finish in the Surf.

With so much young talent coming through, Saturday could provide an early glimpse of the next generation of Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series stars.

IRONWOMAN CROWN WIDE OPEN

The Open Ironwoman competition promises to be one of the most intriguing races of the weekend, with several of last year's leading contenders absent from the start list.

Defending champion Lana Rogers will not return to Wanda, while Newport's Jemma Smith and Olivia Clues are also missing from this year's field.

Swansea Belmont's Kaitlin Rees, who delivered an outstanding performance last year with victories in the Open Board and Surf and a second place finish in the Ironwoman, will also be absent.

That opens the door for Newport's Lizzie Welborn to make a major statement.

Welborn did not compete at Wanda last year but arrives as one of the leading contenders, with a full racing program across the Ironwoman, Board, Ski, Surf and 2km Ski events.

Northcliffe's Naomi Scott will be another major threat after finishing third in last year's Ironwoman and second in the Board.

Newport's Piper Harrison returns following her second place finish in the Ski, while Northcliffe's Georgia Singleton will look to build on her impressive results from last year, which included third in the Surf and fourth in the Board.

The emerging generation will also be looking to make its presence felt.

Umina's Marli Hoyland, last year's U17 Ironwoman champion, will take on an ambitious eight event program across the Open and U17 divisions.

Warilla's Alexia Foye, Avoca Beach's Ciara Williams and Wanda local Charlotte Bowmer are also among the young athletes looking to challenge the established names.

Gold Coast competitors Jessica Harcus and Michaela Whitmee from Kurrawa will add further depth to an already exciting field.

With no defending champion on the start line, the race for the Ironwoman crown is anyone's to win.

BIG NAMES SET FOR BOARD, SKI AND SWIM SHOWDOWNS

Beyond the Ironman and Ironwoman contests, the individual disciplines are set to deliver some of the most exciting racing of the day.

Men's Ski

With defending champion Sam Djodan absent, the Open Men's Ski title is up for grabs.

Newport will once again bring serious depth, with Jackson Borg, Charlie Verco, Lachlan Warrener and Bailey Clues all looking to put themselves in podium contention.

A strong field of 72 competitors will ensure the race for the title is anything but straightforward.

Men's Surf Race

The Open Men's Surf race promises a thrilling rematch, with all three of last year's podium finishers returning.

Manly's Hayden Cotter will look to defend his title against Cronulla's William Banister and Newport's Lachlan Warrener.

Wanda locals Otis Jessop and Jackson McCleery, who finished fourth and fifth last year, will also be looking to make the most of home beach advantage and challenge for a podium finish.

Men's Board

The Open Men's Board is shaping up to be another blockbuster contest.

Mermaid Beach's Cruz McKee returns to defend his title after claiming victory last year ahead of Charlie Verco, Elouera's Christopher King and Jackson Borg.

All four will line up again, setting the stage for another fierce battle.

Northcliffe's James Thomson will also be one to watch as he looks to challenge the leading contenders and make his mark on the series. 

With an impressive field of 74 athletes, the Open Board is set to be one of the highlights of Saturday's racing.

Women's Board

The Open Women's Board is shaping up to be one of the most exciting contests of the weekend, with several of Australia's leading paddlers ready to battle for valuable series points.

With defending champion Kaitlin Rees absent, the door is wide open for a new winner to emerge at Wanda Beach.

Newport's Lizzie Welborn will be one of the leading contenders, but she will face a serious challenge from Northcliffe's Naomi Scott, who finished second in last year's event.

Scott's Northcliffe teammate Georgia Singleton will also be looking to make her mark after finishing fourth in 2025, while Bronte Ayres could be one to watch as the field battles for a place on the podium.

With plenty of talent on the start line and no defending champion, the Women's Board promises to deliver an exciting showdown.

Women's Ski

The Open Women's Ski is set to showcase some of the sport's strongest paddlers, with Newport's Piper Harrison returning after an impressive second place finish at last year's carnival.

Harrison will be looking to go one better this time around, but Northcliffe's Naomi Scott and Jasmine Locke will be among those determined to challenge for the top spot.

Emerging talent Alexia Foye, who claimed last year's U19 Ski title, will also be looking to make an impact as she tests herself against the Open field.

With the small surf conditions potentially favouring athletes with strong paddling speed, the race could come down to a thrilling sprint to the finish.

Women's Surf race

The Open Women's Surf race is another race set to produce a new champion, with last year's winner Kaitlin Rees absent from the field.

Northcliffe's Naomi Scott and Georgia Singleton will be two of the biggest names to watch, with Singleton looking to improve on her third place finish from last year.

Wanda local Charlotte Bowmer will be hoping to use her knowledge of the beach to challenge the established stars, while Avoca Beach's Ciara Williams will be another exciting contender.

With a strong mix of experienced competitors and emerging talent, the Women's Surf promises plenty of close racing as the athletes battle for valuable Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series points.

CONDITIONS SET TO TEST AUSTRALIA'S BEST

With small surf currently forecast for Wanda Beach, Saturday's racing could reward the athletes who combine raw paddling speed with smart racing decisions.

The expected one to two foot conditions may limit opportunities to catch waves, placing greater importance on fast starts, efficient turns and choosing the right racing lines.

The Board and Ski events could come down to pure paddling speed, while the Ironman and Ironwoman contests will demand strong transitions and consistency across all disciplines.

For the local athletes who know Wanda Beach well, familiarity with the conditions could prove to be a valuable advantage.

With crucial series points on offer, even the smallest mistake could be the difference between a podium finish and missing out.

RACE PREDICTIONS: WHO WILL COME OUT ON TOP?

With defending champions returning, new contenders emerging and valuable series points at stake, there are plenty of exciting battles to watch across the Open finals.

Event	Winner	Second	Third	Dark Horse
Ironman	Jackson Borg	Charlie Verco	Noah Steiner	Kobe Sims
Ironwoman	Lizzie Welborn	Naomi Scott	Georgia Singleton	Marli Hoyland
Men's Board	Cruz McKee	James Thomson	Charlie Verco	Henry Whitehead
Women's Board	Lizzie Welborn	Naomi Scott	Georgia Singleton	Bronte Ayres
Men's Ski	Jackson Borg	Charlie Verco	Lachlan Warrener	Hobie Smit
Women's Ski	Piper Harrison	Naomi Scott	Jasmine Locke	Alexia Foye
Men's Surf	Hayden Cotter	William Banister	Lachlan Warrener	Otis Jessop
Women's Surf	Naomi Scott	Georgia Singleton	Charlotte Bowmer	Ciara Williams

Newport's incredible depth makes the club a strong contender to dominate the podium once again, particularly across the men's Ironman, Board and Ski events.

In the women's competition, Lizzie Welborn and Naomi Scott loom as two of the biggest names to watch, with both capable of making a major impact across multiple disciplines.

One athlete who could shake up the established order is Kobe Sims.

Stepping into the Open Ironman competition after his U17 success, Sims has the talent to challenge some of the sport's biggest names. His impressive Ski performance last year could prove particularly valuable if conditions remain flat.

In the junior ranks, Sophie Clues will be looking to continue her dominance, with another big day potentially on the cards.

MORE ATHLETES AND STORYLINES TO WATCH

There will be plenty happening beyond the Open finals, with athletes from across Australia preparing for a huge day of competition.

A massive racing schedule: Freshwater's Harry Parker and North Curl Curl's Elio Vezzola have entered all nine Open and U19 events, while Elio's brother Piero will contest all eight U17 events.

Victorian competitors make the trip north: Ocean Grove's Ryan Tolley and Lorne's Noah Chapple will make the journey to NSW, with Tolley set to compete in eight events across the U17 and Open divisions.

Queensland talent heads south: BMD Northcliffe's James Thomson and Georgia Singleton Tallebudgera's Taj Williams and Kurrawa's Jessica Harcus and Michaela Whitmee will be among the Gold Coast athletes looking to make an impact at Wanda.

Family rivalries: The Suttons from Wanda, the Greens from Avoca, Kobe and Alani Sims from Warilla, and Bailey and Sophie Clues from Newport will all be in action.

Junior champions return: Newport's Sophie Clues will defend her U17 Board and Ski titles, while Bronte Kippax returns to defend her 2km Ski crown.

Relay battles: Newport will be looking to continue its dominance after winning last year's Open Taplin, Men's Board Relay and Men's Ski Relay titles.

With so much talent across the beach, the carnival promises exciting racing in every age group and discipline.

A HUGE DAY AWAITS AT WANDA BEACH

With the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series making its way to New South Wales, Saturday promises to be a fantastic celebration of surf sports.

From the country's leading Ironman and Ironwoman athletes battling for valuable championship points to the next generation looking to make a name for themselves, Wanda Beach will provide the stage for a huge day of competition.

For the athletes, it is another crucial opportunity to strengthen their position in the race for the 2026/27 Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series crown.

For spectators, it is a chance to witness some of Australia's best surf sports talent competing at one of Sydney's iconic beaches.

With 5,000 series points on the line, fierce rivalries ready to resume and a new generation eager to make its mark, all roads lead to Wanda Beach this Saturday.

WATCH THE ACTION LIVE

The Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Wanda 5,000 will be live on YouTube throughout the day, with racing and finals taking place throughout the day.

Broadcast times and viewing information will be announced via the official Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Instagram page, with finals packages published following the event.