Contest director Kirby Mowbray, open competitor Pearl Peters and commentator Shannon Hughes at Woonona Beach. Photo: Zoe Cartwright.
A brainchild of the Woonona Boardriders has grown into an opportunity to inspire, nurture and launch the careers of the region’s top talent in surfing.
The Ocean Queen Classic is the Illawarra region’s premier all-female invitational surf event.
First held in 2024, it will return to Woonona Beach on Saturday 29 March.
The epic competition will showcase the area’s top female surfing talent in junior and open women’s divisions, many of whom are already competing internationally.
Substantial prize money is on offer.
In the junior and open divisions up to $10,000 is up for grabs, and a win can help competitors take their surfing career to the international stage.
Event organiser and contest director Kirby Mowbray said the quality of competition just kept getting better.
“Last year’s winners Charli Hurst and Lucy Darragh have been overseas to surf in World Qualifying Series and junior events, and 2025 event favourite Oceanna Rogers has had some great results at a top WQS event in Nias and more recently at Phillip Island,” she said.
“We showcase the best female surfers from Cronulla to the Far South Coast.
“We’re happy to see that our prize money has been really helpful.
“It’s really raised the level of surfing – this year we’ve had so many juniors enter we might have to expand the number of entries next year.”
Groms paddle out at Woonona for an Ocean Queen Classic coaching session. Photo: Zoe Cartwright.
Ella Campbell (along with Tilly McDonnell, Ruby Neill, Indi Elkerton and Callie Hull) is among the rising talent in the ‘Rising Queens’ category.
The 10-year-old from Wombarra doesn’t remember a time when she couldn’t surf.
“This is my first year in the Ocean Queen Classic; I’m super excited,” she said.
“In the Rising Queens all the little groms get to surf together and just froth.
“This is my second comp ever – I want to surf like Lucy Darragh one day; she’s super good … and go on the tour.”
Lucy, from Gerringong, along with Lani Cairncross, Grace Gosby and Alice Hogson are the current junior women hotshots.
Lucy won the juniors division last year and is back to defend her crown.
“It’s so cool to have all the support from older girls I look up to and the younger girls who are coming up,” she said.
“I just qualified for World Juniors this year and I’m really looking forward to that.
“I’m really happy to be part of the comp and hoping to get as much experience of it as I can.
“There’s a bit of rivalry in the water but it’s a really supportive environment and it’s great to see all the girls ripping.”
The open women’s division boasts stars Oceanna Rogers, Keira Buckpitt, Holly Wishart, Billie Melinz and Shyla Short.
The event will be commentated by former World Surf League commentator Shannon Hughes, and there will be a DJ, stalls, and food trucks.
The afterparty and presentation will be catered by RubeGoldbergBrewingMachine (RGBM).
The 2025 Ocean Queen Classic will be held at Woonona Beach on Saturday 29 March. The first heat kicks off at 7:30 am.
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