MEREWETHER BEACH, Newcastle, NSW, Australia (Sunday, March 15, 2026) – Today, Alyssa Spencer (USA) and Alister Reginato (AUS) won the World Surf League (WSL) Bioglan Newcastle SURFEST Presented by Bonsoy Challenger Series (CS) event. The 40th anniversary celebration of Newcastle SURFEST closed out the 2025/2026 CS season with an incredible week of high performance action, confirming the 2026 Championship Tour (CT) roster and locking in Challenger Series Winners.
A second runner-up finish in a row at Newcastle SURFEST saw Olympic Gold Medalist Kauli Vaast (FRA) join Tya Zebrowski (FRA) in claiming the Challenger Series title for the season, while 17-year-old Ziggy Aloha Mackenzie (AUS) carried a dream wildcard run in her second-ever CS event all the way to the Final. The last two CT qualification spots went to Anat Lelior (ISR) and Liam O’Brien (AUS), respectively, who now join the 10 others that secured qualification in Newcastle, plus the five who entered the event already CT-secure, at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy on April 1.
Spencer Caps Qualification Campaign With Newcastle SURFEST Victory
An important week for Alyssa Spencer (USA) was sealed in the best possible way, as she claimed her third Challenger Series win just two days after her 23rd birthday. A Quarterfinal finish in the previous event at Pipeline set the Californian above the qualification line, knowing more work was required at SURFEST to guarantee her return to the CT. As other contenders fell out of the draw, a Round of 16 victory was enough to see Spencer confirmed for the CT, freeing her up to focus on victory today – the second woman from the USA to do so in the event’s 40-year history.
“It’s been a really crazy week here, and I honestly couldn’t ask for anything more,” Spencer said. “This is the best outcome that I could have had from this event and I just feel super grateful to be here. I have so many people that I need to thank, all of my friends and family back at home, my sponsors and everyone that supports me. I really wouldn’t be here without them. They’re the people who have seen all of the hard work go on behind the scenes to make this happen. I’m just really grateful for everyone and everything that I have.”
Opening the day with a defeat of Newcastle local and event standout Sarah Baum (RSA) in the Quarterfinals, followed by a convincing Semifinal victory over CS season winner Tya Zebrowski (FRA), Spencer largely relied on the strength of her backhand to consistently attack the right. Carrying her confident form straight into the Final, Spencer maintained control of the heat over Ziggy Aloha Mackenzie (AUS) throughout. Building to a 6.67 (out of a possible 10), Spencer stayed busy, eventually adding a 5.07 for a 11.74 (out of a possible 20) two-wave total. Meanwhile, Mackenzie struggled to complete the turns that had provided her success through the early part of the day, leaving Spencer to claim her major victory just two weeks from the start of the CT season she is set to join.
“This win definitely helps my confidence a lot,” Spencer continued. “Throughout this year I’ve had a lot of ups and downs with results, so it feels good to clean it up at the end of the year and really go in strong to the first couple of events of the CT season.”
Ziggy Aloha Mackenzie Carries Dream Wildcard Run Through to Final
The steep trajectory of success for Ziggy Aloha Mackenzie (AUS) continued today with a runner-up finish in her second Challenger Series appearance. A successful junior career led to an U/16 gold medal in the 2024 ISA World Junior Championship before Mackenzie took on her first Qualifying Series (QS) season across 2025/2026, where she swiftly claimed her first victory at Cloud 9 and secured a full-time position on the CS. Her wildcard appearance in the Newcastle SURFEST resulted in a series of big names going down, as the 17-year-old announced her presence headed into the coming season.
“None of this would have been possible without all of the incredible support I have,” Mackenzie said. “I’ve learned so many things and I’m excited for next year’s Challenger Series. There are so many people I’d like to thank, Adam, Darren, the whole Surfing Australia crew, my parents, my poppy and my siblings. I’m just so grateful for everyone’s backing, and I can’t wait to see where this leads next.”
Reginato Continues Hot Streak to Claim Biggest Career Win
Alister Reginato (AUS) has carried a hot streak across three events within the space of two weeks all the way to the biggest victory of his career. Arriving for his opening heat in Newcastle after driving all night from the Australian Boardriders Battle, where he delivered one of the performances of the event for the Sunshine Coast’s North Shore Boardriders, Reginato continued to build as he powered through the week. The 25-year-old saved his best for last, posting excellent heat totals in both his Semifinal defeat of fellow wildcard Dakoda Walters (AUS) and ultimate win over Kauli Vaast (FRA). All of this immediately followed a victory in the Phillip Island Pro QS 4000 that secured his return as a member of the Challenger Series.
“I can’t really believe it, what a couple of weeks, I’m so stoked,” Reginato said. “To get a win in Newy is special. I love this place. I can’t wait to lift this trophy. It’s been such a hectic few weeks, so I can’t wait to let it soak in and get some rest before the season starts again in a few months. This is how I want to do it all year next year and get on the CT. All the Aussie boys qualifying has got me so fired up to get it next year.”
Continuing his active approach that saw him post a 16.27 heat total in the Semifinals, Reginato opened with a 7.33 for an air reverse. A second, smaller reverse soon added a 5.83, leaving Vaast needing big numbers from the start. The Frenchman was eventually able to score a pair of 4’s, but was ultimately left in a major combination situation after Reginato launched a far more critical air in the dying seconds to earn an 8.67, the highest single-wave score of the day.
“This feels unreal, to get my name on this trophy with a lot of cool names and a lot of Aussie legends is amazing. I’m stoked to be up there as well,” Reginato continued. “We’ve got a really good crew here of mates on the beach supporting and cheering, and that’s why we chase it. I’m just stoked to be out there, put on a really good event, and come away with the win. Hopefully, I can do that all again next year. I want to thank my sponsors and supporters, but especially want to thank my parents, who have backed me from day dot, so a big shout out to mum and dad.”
Kauli Vaast Seals Challenger Series Title With Runner-Up Finish
Kauli Vaast (FRA) has bookended his Challenger Series season with runner-up placings in the Newcastle SURFEST. Starting Finals Day with one goal in mind, Vaast was focused on his Quarterfinal matchup against Levi Slawson (USA). That single heat carried the dream of CT qualification for the Californian and the title of 2025/2026 Challenger Series Winner for the Olympic Gold Medalist. Vaast put on a clinic of smart, committed surfing in the small, shifting waves to secure himself the heat win, handing the CT position to Liam O’Brien (AUS) in the process, before defeating event standout Lucas Cassity (MEX) in the Semifinals. Carrying a new sense of confidence across the entire season, the 24-year-old jumped his place from low in the rankings in previous years, all the way to No. 1 and a place on the elite Championship Tour.
“I feel amazing,” Vaast said. “I just want to thank everyone for this competition and for making it happen. I started the year well here. It’s such a good place. It’s good to come back and finish the year with a big result. I’ve had a lot of emotion throughout the event this week. To first confirm my qualification and then go for the number one spot on the CS, and then to win the event. I got another second place here, and I’ll take it. Thanks everyone, I hope to come back.”
Lelior and O’Brien Complete 2026 Championship Tour Field
As the Quarterfinals progressed, the three remaining surfers capable of overtaking Anat Lelior (ISR) in the rankings were eliminated one by one. An outpouring of emotion followed as the final challenger fell, seeing the 25-year-old from Tel Aviv achieve another historic first for her nation by qualifying for the WSL Championship Tour. Having learned to surf in the Mediterranean Sea at the age of five, Lelior has continued to surprise many throughout her career. She became the first surfer from her nation to qualify for the Olympic Games, competing in Tokyo 2020 before injury sidelined her for several years. Returning to form just in time to secure a place at Paris 2024, Lelior then mounted a successful campaign to qualify for the Challenger Series for the first time, ultimately leading to her biggest dream becoming reality.
“It’s unreal, it’s only my first year on the Challenger,” Lelior said. “I haven’t even surfed an ocean growing up, this is quite mental. I haven’t really quite understood it. Waiting for the girls to lose was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I appreciate so many of the girls that competed today. I just want to say thanks. This is unreal, I didn’t know dreams can actually come true. And I didn’t know a girl from Israel would make it, which is crazy. I guess I’ll see you in Bells.”
Coming into the event at No. 9 on the rankings, Liam O’Brien (AUS) already knew it could be a tricky week, but didn’t anticipate the full anguish he would experience. Appearing on the Challenger Series off the back of three straight seasons on the CT, the 26-year-old was eliminated from this week’s Newcastle SURFEST in his very first heat, leaving his fate in the hands of others for five days of shifting scenarios. To add to the conflicting emotions, O’Brien’s partner Sophie McCulloch (AUS) came within one heat of CT qualification herself today before a heartbreaking loss in the Quarterfinals. The Quarterfinal defeat of Levi Slawson (USA) by Kauli Vaast (FRA) saw the last contender eliminated, handing O’Brien his place back on Tour.
“I had my chance at the start of the week and just blew it,” O’Brien said. “I was pretty sure I was going to pack my bags and head home after that, and then stuck around to support Soph [Sophie McCulloch], which was obviously hard for me. I wanted to leave straight away but it was sick to be here for her. And then today was so rattling again for her. She’s surfing so good and couldn’t quite get there in the end. I was so gutted for her and I was like, not quite as bummed as her, but I was feeling like that a little earlier today. I was assuming I was probably toast and then I got the message today that I was through. I was just like, this is a weird day, but yeah, very relieved for sure.”
Bioglan Newcastle SURFEST Presented by Bonsoy Women’s Final Results:
1. Alyssa Spencer (USA) 11.74
2. Ziggy Aloha Mackenzie (AUS) 3.63
Bioglan Newcastle SURFEST Presented by Bonsoy Men’s Final Results:
1. Alister Reginato (AUS) 16.00
2. Kauli Vaast (FRA) 9.57
Bioglan Newcastle SURFEST Presented by Bonsoy Women’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Ziggy Aloha Mackenzie (AUS) 13.10 DEF. Sol Aguirre (PER) 8.93
HEAT 2: Alyssa Spencer (USA) 14.57 DEF. Tya Zebrowski (FRA) 10.67
Bioglan Newcastle SURFEST Presented by Bonsoy Men’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Alister Reginato (AUS) 16.27 DEF. Dakoda Walters (AUS) 11.23
HEAT 2: Kauli Vaast (FRA) 11.67 DEF. Lucas Cassity (MEX) 8.10
Bioglan Newcastle SURFEST Presented by Bonsoy Women’s Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Ziggy Aloha Mackenzie (AUS) 11.73 DEF. Ellie Harrison (AUS) 11.30
HEAT 2: Sol Aguirre (PER) 13.16 DEF. Sophie McCulloch (AUS) 10.27
HEAT 3: Tya Zebrowski (FRA) 14.83 DEF. Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (CAN) 7.26
HEAT 4: Alyssa Spencer (USA) 15.63 DEF. Sarah Baum (RSA) 12.27
Bioglan Newcastle SURFEST Presented by Bonsoy Men’s Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Dakoda Walters (AUS) 14.00 DEF. Caleb Tancred (AUS) 8.00
HEAT 2: Alister Reginato (AUS) 9.84 DEF. Finn McGill (HAW) 7.33
HEAT 3: Kauli Vaast (FRA) 13.16 DEF. Levi Slawson (USA) 11.90
HEAT 4: Lucas Cassity (MEX) 13.33 DEF. Callum Robson (AUS) 11.00
Next Up: Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy
The opening event of the 2026 CT season is right around the corner. With all qualifiers now confirmed and the roster set, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy will kick off on April 1 as the WSL celebrates 50 years of crowning World Champions. Watch LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Also, check out more ways to watch from the WSL’s broadcast partners.
The Bioglan Newcastle SURFEST Presented by Bonsoy is proudly supported by Bioglan, Bonsoy, City of Newcastle, Destination New South Wales, Burton Automotive (Cardiff GWM), GWM, Boost Mobile, Bond University, The Mutual Bank, Fatboy Bikes, Stone & Wood, Rivvia, Newcastle Airport, The Beach Hotel, Apple Watch and Red Bull.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.