Bull Sharks will be on the hunt next week when the nation’s best surf lifesavers hit North Kirra for the “Aussies”.
Bond University students and alumni will be strongly represented among the 5000 competitors at Australia’s pinnacle surf lifesaving event.
Veteran ironwoman and Bond University journalism student Bonnie Hancock introduces some of the Bondies who will be going for gold.
Noah Maggs
Bond University Bachelor of Business student Maggs relocated from Newport Surf Lifesaving Club to Mermaid Beach mid-season to train under acclaimed coach Ky Hurst, and the change is producing dividends.
Despite being in the bottom age of the Under 19 category, junior Australian representative Maggs shone at the recent Queensland State Titles, collecting two gold, two silvers and a bronze, including a win in the surf race and silver in the ironman.
Maggs will be looking to utilise his lightning speed across the sand in transitions to stand atop the ironman podium at Aussies after finishing third in the under 17’s event last year.
Keep an eye on: Under 19 surf race, board and ironman
Jasmine Rayward
The ADCO Sports Excellence Scholarship recipient is a multi-sport sensation, balancing a professional ironwoman career with an intense kayaking schedule.
The 19-year-old enjoyed a successful campaign at the Australian Canoe Sprint National Championships last week, claiming gold in the mixed k2 500m, bronze in the women’s k2 200m and 4th in the women’s k2 500m.
The month prior, Rayward qualified for the Grand Final Eliminator in the Shaw and Partners Iron Series, with her 7th place finish guaranteeing her a spot in next year’s series. The Bachelor Commerce student backed up the performance at the Queensland Surf Lifesaving Titles, placing second in the open women’s ski relay with her Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park teammates.
Rayward will be looking to convert her flatwater speed in the kayak to the fickle North Kirra conditions.
Keep an eye on: Open women’s ski and ski relay
Joe Collins
Collins is flying high on confidence off the back of a win in the open ironman at the New Zealand Nationals in Whakatane, where he claimed a medal in every individual race.
The Bachelor of Commerce alumnus has had a stellar season, with his win in December’s Shaw and Partners 10,000 Hayden Kenny Classic against a world class field earning him $10,000 and the knowledge that he is capable of claiming the lauded Aussies ironman title.
A renowned board paddler, Collins won the board relay with BMD Northcliffe teammates Matt Bevilaqua and Zach Morris at the 2025 Aussies and will be looking to defend the title this year.
Keep an eye on: Open men’s ironman, board, and board relay
Jean van der Westhuyzen
The 2020 Olympic gold medallist kayaker may be new to Surf Lifesaving, but it hasn’t stopped him starring on the sport’s biggest stage.
After just a few months of learning to paddle a surf ski, van der Westhuyzen stormed through a field full of Olympians and world champions to take bronze in the open men’s ski at the 2025 Aussies. This year, the Bachelor of Business alumnus will be aiming to claim his maiden Aussies victory in the same event.
Back to his brilliant best, van der Westhuyzen shone at last week’s Canoe Sprint National Championships, finishing second behind Tokyo 2020 k2 partner Tom Green and pipping 2024 Olympic silver medallist Jackson Collins in the highly anticipated men’s k1 500m. His biggest competition at Aussies will ironically come from his k4 500m teammates in Green and reigning Aussies ski champion Collins, as well as dual Aussies ski champion Riley Fitzsimmons.
Courses at Aussies are historically set longer than preceding carnivals, and van der Westhuyzen will aim to utilise his flawless technique to overpower his competitors in the back end of the race.
Keep an eye on: Open men’s ski, ski relay and double ski
Cyra Bender
BMD Northcliffe ironwoman is champing at the bit to race at Aussies, after injury hampered her debut season in the Shaw and Partners Ironwoman Series.
After qualifying 7th through the gruelling series trial, the Bachelor of Biomedical Science student was diagnosed with stress fractures in her shins and managed to complete just one round of the series.
After a brilliant win in the under 19 surf race and bronze in the ironwoman at the 2025 Aussies, Bender will be hoping to replicate the results in her first year competing in the open category.
Bender will also team up with a number of her training partners in multiple team events, with her packed schedule containing every event except the ski.
Keep an eye on: Open ironwoman, surf race and surf teams