Seas The Day, is set to make a triumphant return to Kingscliff Beach, NSW, on June 21st and 22nd, 2025. The festival, now in its third and biggest year running, officially launched at NSW Parliament with Premier Chris Minns in attendance. Surfing Australia announced the highly anticipated return of the event, promising an even larger and more engaging experience for female surfers of all skill levels and enthusiastic spectators.
The two-day extravaganza on the Tweed Coast will feature a fun tag team competition for female surfers, a vibrant festival lineup, and the popular celebrity surf challenge. This follows a highly successful 2024 event that attracted a record crowd of more than 12,000 people. Last year’s festival offered a plethora of free activities, inspirational talks, and workshops led by prominent women in the surfing industry. Notably, nearly 300 women and young girls participated in the exciting tag team contest.
Surfing Australia CEO, Chris Mater, expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating, “It is an honour to witness and celebrate Seas The Day, the world’s largest female surf festival. With nearly 300 competitors and 15,000 enthusiastic spectators, this event not only showcases remarkable talent but also unites the surfing community in an extraordinary way”. He further highlighted the transformative nature of the workshops and inspirational talks led by influential figures in surfing, emphasizing their role in empowering attendees. Mater extended his gratitude to everyone involved and expressed his excitement for the festival’s growth in 2025.
Spectators can look forward to a diverse range of entertainment beyond the surfing competition, including live music, yoga, ice baths, breathwork, and a variety of food trucks. This year’s festival will also feature three dedicated hubs with guest speakers covering crucial areas within the surfing and sporting world:
Women of Surf – showcasing influential women from across the surfing industry.
World Champions & Female Olympians – spotlighting elite athletes from various sports.
Wellness Workshops – focusing on health and well-being.
Adding to the star power, seven-time World Champion Layne Beachley will return to host her popular Awake Academy. The 2024 Open Women’s Shortboard winner, 13-year-old Gidget Kowalski from Bilinga, QLD, who competed with the ‘Alley Cats’, shared her memorable experience of surfing alongside her heroes, including Layne Beachley and Tru Starling. She noted the fun and supportive atmosphere of the event, emphasizing its positive impact on encouraging more girls to get involved in surfing. She highlighted that “surfing in a team takes away the pressure and is so much fun”.
The festival’s core mission is to empower women from all walks of life and experiences. The 2025 lineup will welcome new faces such as Surviving Summer Netflix star and professional surfer Lilliana Bowery, rising stars Leihani Zoric and Australian Junior Surfer of the Year Milla Brown, as well as current World Championship Tour and Olympic athletes.
Surfing Australia itself boasts women in leadership roles across the organisation, many of whom will participate in the hub panel discussions, aiming to inspire more females to pursue careers within the surfing industry. Notable speakers include former CT athlete Kate Wilcomes and 2005 World Champion and Australian Surfing Hall of Fame inductee Chelsea Hedges.
The Celebrity Surf Challenge is set to return in 2025, bringing together world champions, media personalities, and Olympians from various sports for friendly competition. The event will feature a mix of junior champions, elite athletes, and influential women from different sports, all supporting the advancement of women in sport. This highlight of the weekend promises to inject extra energy and excitement into Seas The Day.
Seas The Day is proudly funded by the NSW Government, demonstrating its commitment to actively supporting female participation in surfing through a $100,000 grant. Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns, underscored the benefits of supporting large-scale events in regional NSW, noting that it engages local organisations and businesses, thereby boosting the NSW economy. He expressed his confidence that people will travel from near and far to join locals in a “fun, festive day that will put the smiles on the face of every competitor, spectator and winner”.
Minister for Women, Jodie Harrison, encouraged everyone to attend and support the talented women and girls showcasing their skills. She affirmed the government’s commitment to supporting opportunities for women, aligning with the NSW Women’s Strategy 2023-2026. Minister for Sport, Steve Kamper, highlighted the government’s investment in attracting significant events to all corners of NSW and acknowledged the remarkable growth of support for women’s sporting events like Seas The Day. He credited the momentum to inspiring figures like Layne Beachley, making it easier for the next generation of women and girls to get involved.
Seas The Day aims to encourage women of all skill levels to compete in a pressure-free environment. The contest features divisions such as Open Women’s Shortboard presented by Sambazon, Open Women’s Longboard presented by Coffee Supreme, Ghanda Girls Under 18 Shortboard, and Salty Girls Surf School Under 12 Mini Shredders. The competition utilizes a tag team format with three surfers per team.
Proudly funded by the NSW Government and a sponsored event of Tweed Shire Council, Seas The Day is also supported by a range of sponsors including Jim Beam, BC™ Protein Snacks, Ruffie Rustic Foods, No Pong Natural Deodorant, Sambazon, Ghanda, Coffee Supreme, Zuum Energy Gum, Blackroll, Tracks, Cudgen SLSC, Hampton Event Hire, Salty Girls Surf School, Surfers for Climate, and One Wave.
