​The sun set on Kingscliff Beach, wrapping up the fourth edition of the Seas The Day Women’s Surf Festival. Thousands of women gathered for the two-day event, cementing its status as the world’s largest female participation surf festival. It was so much more than a competition; it was a vibrant showcase of community, connection and the growing force of women’s surfing in Australia.
Inspiring the Next Generation The festival brought together surfers of all ages and abilities. Australia’s most decorated Olympian, Emma McKeon, joined the world’s biggest female surf festival for an inspiring discussion panel alongside fellow Olympians Owen Wright and Danielle Scott.
Sharing her own journey, McKeon reflected on the life-changing impact of sport. “I’ve made so many lifelong friends through the ocean, and sport has given me so much,” McKeon said. “It’s given me health, happiness, confidence and opportunities I never could have imagined. That’s exactly what we’re trying to give the next generation here today.”
This focus on nurturing the next generation was echoed by Surfing Australia’s High Performance Program Director, Kate Wilcomes, who highlighted the critical role of the festival in creating safe and supportive spaces. “They inspire girls to surf more, get active and explore different sports, while building confidence and connections along the way,” Wilcomes noted.
Triumphs on the Waves and Beyond In the water, the action was spectacular. The NRMA Insurance Open Women’s Shortboard final saw Snapper Rocks SRC, consisting of Samantha Arderne, Jordy Halford and Madison Kenchington, take the win after narrowly missing out the previous year.
“It feels so good,” Arderne shared. “Last year we fell just short and finished second in the Under 18s, so to come back this year and take the win in the Open Women’s is pretty special.”
The Thermos Open Women’s Para division delivered some of the weekend’s most powerful moments. Team For the Greater Gouda, featuring Victoria Feige, Grace Kennedy and Leanne Whitehouse, claimed victory. Two-time World Para Surfing Champion Em Dieters praised the festival’s commitment to diversity, stating, “Visibility matters, and it’s important that people know surfing is accessible and that our community welcomes everyone with open arms.”
Off the sand, the Wellness Hub and Women In Surf Hub provided spaces for connection and calm. Professional surfer Alana Blanchard drew massive crowds to her session, while freediving extraordinaire Bri Heaney led grounding breathwork sessions. As NSW Minister for Sport Steve Kamper highlighted, the festival also provided a vital boost to local businesses and the regional economy.
Seas The Day wraps for another year,
