Youngsters go online

Surfing Australia has launched the 2024 Australian Junior Online Surf Championships, with an extended competition window giving surfers more time to submit waves.

Groms aged from Under 12 to Under 18 can now sign up, with the competition window set to start on January 1. Once you've entered in your age division, you can sign up in other fun categories such as Best Air, Best Barrel and Best Wipeout.

Winners across all individual divisions will earn 6500 points for first place, which will contribute to their 2024 National Junior Rankings.

This year, the event is being powered by mophie. The brand earlier this year signed Molly Picklum as an ambassador and is also giving away tons of prizes.

Brad Bricknell from mophie said: "We love what Surfing Australia does in this space, and we're thrilled to partner with them in next year s event. Being a digital event that relies on devices staying charged, it s a great fit for the mophie brand, and we're stoked to be part of powering the next generation of Australian surfers."

The online surfing competition was set up during Covid to provide equal opportunities for junior surfers at their local breaks. Its success has seen the event continue with a boost in National Junior Rankings points last year.

All Australian juniors in U12 - U18 divisions can enter without state qualification required.

The competition window opens on January 1, 2024 and will run over three months. Entries will remain open until midnight on March 31, 2024 and winners will be announced on April 5, 2024, after judging.

Surfing Australia and Head Olympic judge Glen Elliott will lead a three-person panel, with surfers being judged on their best one wave via online video submission. Competitors can swap out their entries right until the close of the competition window.

Surfers can compete in a range of other categories once they enter their applicable age division including Best Air, Best Barrel and Best Wipeout. Please note, these categories will be prize-based and have no associated rankings points.

More information on rules and judging as well as how to enter at australianjunioronlinesurfchampionships.com