Austi boys shine in national comp

By Matt Jolley

Three talented young surfers from Austinmer – Saxon King, Noah Kornek, and Ashton Mekisic – made waves at the 2025 Rip Curl GromSearch National Final, proudly representing their hometown on one of the biggest junior surfing stages in Australia.

The prestigious event, held at Urbnsurf in Sydney, brought together the young surfers from across the nation. Despite fierce competition and challenging conditions, all three Austinmer boys impressed judges and spectators with their powerful and progressive surfing, each earning a spot in their respective finals – an incredible achievement in itself.

Saxon King was the standout performer, finishing 2nd in the Under 12 Boys division, showcasing smooth style and precision well beyond his years. Noah Kornek claimed 6th in the Under 14 Boys, demonstrating consistency and composure in a stacked field. Meanwhile, Ashton Mekisic battled through a highly competitive draw to also finish 6th in the Under 16 Boys, marking an outstanding result at national level.

With a national presence and an extremely high standard of surfing across all divisions, these results highlight the strength of the next generation coming out of Austinmer. The trio’s success is a testament to their dedication, local coaching support, and the growing surf culture along the South Coast.

From the beaches of Austinmer to the national stage, Saxon, Noah, and Ashton have shown that the future of Illawarra surfing is in very good hands.