Coming into the final Challenger Series event in Newcastle last month, Australian surfers dominated the top end of the men’s rankings. Nine Aussies sat inside the Top 20, each with a genuine shot at qualifying for the Championship Tour. By the time competition wrapped up at Merewether Beach, five Aussies had punched their tickets to the big league – George Pittar, Oscar Berry, Morgan Cibilic, Callum Robson and Liam O’Brien.
For most it’s a return. For Oscar it’s a breakthrough to new territory. But together it feels like something bigger. There’s a thunder coming from down under and an Aussie storm is, once again, brewing.
It’s been more than a decade since an Australian man held a World Title. Mick Fanning was the last to do so in 2013 and in the years since, the balance of power has shifted. Hawaiian John John Florence has been the only surfer to stop Brazilian dominance over the past decade.
Liam O’Brien believes the drought won’t last forever, point to his fellow countrymen Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing as the most likely to break it.
“It seems pretty damn hard to win a title haha. The Brazilian guys on tour are insanely good and fiercely dedicated. It’s essentially going to take exactly what they bring to the table and more. Guys like Ethan and Jack are definitely closest to the mark. I can see one (or both) of those two guys winning a title in the next few years.”
CT rookie Oscar Berry echoed LOB’s sentiment.
“Going back to the full year points year system and the World Champion being whoever is first after all the events just feels right and I think for that reason it could be Ethan Ewing’s year.”
Outside of Ethan and Jack, the rest of the Aussie contingent may not be title favourites but there’s proven firepower across the group.
Lobby has proven himself to be a handful in waves of consequence, Morgs finished fifth in his debut year on the CT in 2021, Cal counts a second place finish at Bells in 2022 as his best result on tour, George’s surfing looks made for the big stage and Joel Vaughan, who was the only male Aussie to finish on last year’s CT outside of Jack and Ethan, has the aerial prowess to beat anyone when there is a ramp to work with.
While it’s a far cry from the domination of Mick, Parko and Taj in the mid-2000s, it feels like the tide could finally be turning. Each surfing nation has its era. For years the Brazilian storm consumed the CT. Most recently the San Clemente kids made a push through the CS onto the big stage. Now, could we see Australia return as one of surfing’s true fire powers?
Lobby believes the togetherness shown by his fellow countrymen, which was apparent throughout the highs and the lows of requalification at Newcastle, contributes towards healthy competition and pushes one another to be better.
“Everyone is really competitive, we wouldn’t be doing what we do if we weren’t. There’s no one you want to beat more than your good mate. By the same token, if it’s not going to be you then there’s no one you want to see win more than your good mate. I think this is by and large the perspective most of the crew have. None of us are making huge money, a lot of people have jobs to support themselves and I think that makes everyone both hungry but also really appreciative of what they get to do.”
He explained that its common for surfers from the same nation to bunk together while on the road in order to save on costs.
“The ‘pack mentality’ thing sort of just forms from there. It’s definitely not just the Aussies at the moment. A lot of crews are running the same program and I think we’ll see some big pushes from other nations in the coming years. There’s also a lot of depth in the Aussie ranks with some great surfers coming up. It’ll be cool to watch it all develop over the next few seasons.”
For Oscar, he’s entering a brand new environment. The 23-year-old has never competed in a CT event and has qualified for the big league at only the second time of asking. He’s best mates with Joel Vaughan and sees them travelling and surfing together throughout the season.
“Because there was so bloody many Aussies on the CS there was usually a few houses of lads at each event. Generally three or four in a place and we’d travel together, hand out and have BBQs together,” he said.
“It honestly feels like such an advantage having a big crew of Aussies just backing each other all around the world. The support that we give each other and the genuine stoke we get out of seeing each other succeed is priceless and I feel like its leading to so much more success from all the crew.”
For Cal, this will be his second full time stint on the CT having competed against the world’s elite in 2022, ’23 and half of ’24 before becoming a victim of the mid-year cut. Since dropping off tour the 25-year-old has worked on every aspect of himself. From developing his air game to his social media profile through guest appearances on Bonsoy cooking ads and his coaching business ‘Project06’, Cal believes he is better prepared in every department.
“I think something that I did well when I was on tour last was that, obviously, when you start surfing against the world’s best, you’ve got to stick to your strengths. But I’ve learned a lot about myself and I’ve improved my surfing a lot since I was on tour last. Since then, and now being back there again, I’ve worked a lot on my progressive game and my airs and stuff like that. So I want to bring a variety of surfing to the World Tour when I get back there.”
With the Championship Tour season kicking off at Bells next week, Liam is focused on remaining present and not getting too ahead of himself.
“My goals…hmm…not to bog rail haha. I don’t know, I’d like to sit here and tell you that I’m going to win the title and I’m the best thing since sliced bread but the truth is I have no idea what’s possible for me,” he said. “I’m not very good at setting massive goals and slowly reeling them in, I don’t know why but I don’t really operate that way. I just get frustrated and feel like I’m failing when I don’t achieve those lofty goals.”
For LOB it’s about staying in the moments. “Wherever that gets me, is where it gets me,” he said.
“My ultimate goal is to look back on my career with no regrets, completely satisfied that I maximised every bit of potential I had.”
Eight Australians will line up on this year’s Championship Tour – the second-largest national contingent behind Brazil. It’s not the overwhelming dominance of years gone by, but it doesn’t need to be.
The numbers say Australia is building again. This time, not as individuals scattered through the draw, but as a pack.
Can they make their mark on this year’s CT. Find out when their story kicks off at home, at Bells Beach on 1 April.
