Surfers such as Lucy Darragh have used the boost from winning the OQC to support their surfing careers. Photo: Coastal Collective.
A grassroots surf event in the Illawarra has proven to be a pathway to help our most promising female athletes launch onto the world stage, with local champions such as Gerringong’s Lucy Darragh set to return for the competition’s third year.
Darragh is fresh from a win at the World Surf League Qualifying Series 4000 and ready to return to the local waves having confirmed she will compete in this year’s Ocean Queen Classic (OQC) at Woonona.
The 15-year-old has found major success this season in qualifying series which was helped made possible through the winnings from last year’s OQC where she claimed the junior girls title for the second time.
“OQC prize money has helped me pay for things like flights, accommodation, food and entry fees,” Lucy said.
“It’s so helpful to make some money that helps me make it to those big events that ended up bringing me lots of success; I’m so grateful.”
She’ll have strong competition as she vies for the open title this time around with the standard of surfers higher than ever.
“We’ve got some of the best young surfers in Australia – the likes of Alice Hodgson, Lani Cairncross, Everley Morgan and Ruby Neill – alongside experienced professional competitors Lucy Darragh, Oceanna Rogers, Keira Buckpitt, Holly Wishart and Grace Gosby, which makes for a very strong field,” organiser and former pro surfer Yvonne Turner said.
“It means every heat will be hard-fought and there’s no easy path through the draw.”
The grassroots event was created by and is run by Woonona Boardriders, which is determined to ensure the event goes ahead despite a recent arson attack which saw the club lose tens of thousands of dollars worth of gear.
“OQC is going to go on, we’re going to make it happen and the GoFundMe page will allow us to do that,” club president Marc Robson said.
“We’ve had incredible support; the Sandon Point Boardriders are going to give us their van to use on the day, Wollongong Water Tanks loaning a generator, the community rallied together and the show will go on.
“We’re determined this won’t stop the Ocean Queen Classic. Massive mention to the Reub Goldberg Brewing Machine in Tarrawanna, they made a huge cash donation, they’re an incredible organisation passionate about women’s surfing.
“We would not be able to do anything without them; their support is next to none.”
As Illawarra’s only all-female invitational, surfers will compete across three divisions – Open Women, Junior Girls and Rising Queens.
And with the journey for these talented women and girls towards global success and the pro circuit often an expensive challenge, the event is hoped to be a launchpad for females in the sport.
“I’m so impressed that the Ocean Queen Classic is running again and now in its third year,” supporter and former world champion Pam Burridge said.
“I can’t wait to see how everyone shows up for the Ocean Queen Classic 2026 – bring it on!”
There will be giveaways throughout the day with food trucks, a DJ, ice baths and plenty of other things to do and see.
The event is due to run from 7 am on Saturday 28 March at Woonona Beach.
For more information visit the Woonona Boardriders website.
