Surf Reflections Junior Series entrants rise to challenge - with North Shelly Boardriders dynamo Alanni Morris scoring a double win

ALMOST 100 young groms faced tricky conditions over three-days of fierce competition in the Surf Reflections Junior Series this weekend at Rainbow Beach, Bonny Hills, on the New South Wales Mid North Coast, with 12-year-old Sydneysider Alanni Morris winning both the Under 16s and Under 14s girls' categories.  

The inaugural Surf Reflections Junior Series kicked off on Friday, February 6, with 91 entrants converging on Rainbow Beach, where pro surfers Matt Banting and Jarvis Earle were on hand to mentor them before they entered their heats. 

The Series is held by iconic surfing festival Surfest and Reflections Holidays, the largest holiday park group in NSW, with three events in 2026: Bonny Hills, Urunga/Hungry Head (May 8-10) and Tuncurry/Forster (November 13-15), with Under 14s and 16s age categories for boys and girls. 

Surfest founder Warren Smith said the young competitors performed well over the course of the weekend in consistently challenging conditions. 

“The strong north-easterly made competition quite tough, with wave selection proving crucial in the small and bumpy conditions, but the kids took it in their stride, and it was great to have Matt and Jarvis here to inspire and coach them onshore, too,” Mr Smith said.  

 “The Surf Reflections Junior Series has grown immensely over the past two years and is a 5500-rated event on Surfing Australia’s National Series calendar, so it’s something they should be really proud about as far as their stamina, performance and growth.” 

The Surf Reflections Junior Series – Bonny Hills - winners are: 

Under 14s girls – Alanni Morris (1), Everly Morgan (2), Cleo Beesley (3), Coco Wooley (4) 

Under 14s boys – Max Goold (1), Clement Piellard (2), Noah Kornek (3),  

Nixon Vaughan (4) 

Under 16s girls – Alanni Morris (1), Olive Morriss (2), Rubylee Neill (3), Arabella Georgeson (4),  

Under 16s boys – Hugo Spierings (1), Sandon Vowels (2) Brynn Spierings (3), Harry Stephens (4) 

Alanni Morris, from the North Shelly Boardriders, said she was “so stoked” after winning not just the Under 14s girls competition but also the Under 16s, which her surfer Dad, Benjy, signed her up for at the last minute when a spot in the heats became available. 

“The surf was small and not that great but I just tried to stay busy – if I wasn’t catching a wave I’d move in on the bank to try and get something there,” Alanni said. 

Mr Morris said his daughter was happy to compete in both competitions when she was given the chance. 

“There were a few heats where they had three and wanted an extra and I said, ‘Well, you are up here, have a second crack...it was just a bit of extra surfing,” he said.  

The NSW Minister for Lands and Property, Sport and Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said it was great to see the Series building the next generation of Australian surfers, with incredible support from surfing communities. 

"Congratulations to the winners of the inaugural event for the Surf Reflections Junior Series which will help shape the future of Australian surfing,” Mr Kamper said. 

“It’s fantastic to see Reflections’ Crown land holiday parks backing our young competitors and bringing tourism benefits into regional NSW.” 

Reflections CEO Nick Baker said that the organisation’s belief that life is better outside was being lived and breathed at the Junior Series, which gave local surfers the unique chance to compete at their local break and also bolstered regional tourism.  

“The economic impact of the first Cup in 2024 was around $90,000 and we anticipate that sum will rise to $270,000 in 2026 across the three events, which is a win for regional tourism,” Mr Baker said.  

Reflections Chief Marketing Officer Peter Chapman said the three-day event was designed to give all competitors a good run if they had a challenging start, and the Bonny Hills competitors had “carved up the surf” despite challenging conditions.  

“We can’t keep up with the demand for it, so we got together as a team and thought how do we get more kids involved so we expanded it. Surfing needs more junior events because there are not the same pathways there used to be as kids to get through up until they get into pro- and semi-pro events. Country-wide, this helps them not only practice but gain competition points. We love that this Series brings everyone together, it’s so great to see so many kids involved in this sport.” 

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Key dates for the 2026 Surf Reflections Junior Series: 

Feb 6/7/8 - Series 1 - (Bonny Hills/North Haven) - Event at Rainbow Beach 

May 8/9/10 - Series 2 - (Urunga/Hungry Head) - Event at Hungry Head Beach 

Nov 13/14/15 - Series 3 - (Tuncurry/Forster) - Event at Nine Mile Beach 

Media Contacts: 

 Surfest  Jack Antcliff 0402 171 263,  Reflections  Penelope Green 0437 144 526 

Images

L-R Julian Wilson, Under 16s winner Hugo Spiering, Under 14s winner Max Goold, Under 16s and Under 14s winner Alanni Morris, Reflections CMO Peter Chapman.jpeg

L-R Julian Wilson, Under 16s winner Hugo Spierings, Under 14s AND Under 16s girls winner Alanni Morris, Under 14s boys winner Max Goold, Reflections CMO Peter Chapman

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ALANNI MORRIS.jpeg

ALANNI MORRIS won the Surf Reflections Junior Series Under 14s and Under 16s girls categories

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HUGO SPIERINGS.jpeg

HUGO Spierings, Under 16s boys winner, Surf Reflections Junior Series, Bonny Hills

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MAX GOOLD.jpeg

Under 14s Surf Reflections Junior Series winner Max Goold

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