Somewhere along the line, we’ve all stopped and stared at a surf photo. Maybe it was a lineup so perfect it looked fake, a mutant slab being tamed by some mad dog, or a timeless shot of your favourite surfer doing their thing. Whatever it was, that single frame lit something up inside you. The great surf photos don’t just capture moments — they help shape what surfing means to us.
Whether it’s the print hanging on your wall, that classic mag cover you’ve kept for years, or the image that makes you pause mid-scroll, surf photos hit different. They fuel the froth, set the performance bar, and send our minds wandering to far-off waves we’re dying to surf.
On 6 December, Tracks will hand out The Surf Photo of the Year at the Australian Surfing Awards — during a night of celebration on the Gold Coast. After combing through thousands of shots from across the country, the judges will pick one image that sums up the magic and talent of Australian surf photography — both here at home and/or around the world.
Australian surf photographers have historically been world leaders and this award acknowledges the skill, creativity and hard work associated with the craft. Last year’s award was won by Nick Green for his shot of Laura Enever being engulfed by a mutant slab at Shippies (below). You can learn more about Nick’s work in our latest edition of the mag.
The criteria for the Australian Surf Photo of the Year award is:
A single, compelling photo featuring a surfer, line-up or lifestyle shot that captures the essence of Surfing. The photo can be taken anywhere in the world, by an Australian photographer, from 31 October 2024 – 14 October 2025 (Maximum THREE photo submissions per photographer).
Please note your photos will be shared with external surf media as part of the promotion of the awards.
Please submit your photo via the link below and name the photographer in the file name. (all photographers are allowed to nominate their own photos). Photo’s need to be supplied in JPEG format at 300DPI
Click here to submit your photo.
The other categories for this year’s awards are:
- Male Surfer of the Year
- Female Surfer of the Year
- Mick Fanning Male Rising Star Award
- Stephanie Gilmore Female Rising Star Award
- Female Para Surfer of the Year
- Male Para Surfer of the Year
- Heavy Water Award
- Shaper of the Year
- Coach of the Year Award
- Surf Clip of the Year
- Surf Film of the Year
- Peter Troy Lifetime Achievement Award
- Simon Anderson Club Award
- Surf School of the Year
- Greater Good Award
- Breakthrough Surf Brand of the Year
- Indigenous Surfing Community Celebration Award
- Sustainability Award
