Groundswell Festival 2025 – Surf, Stoke and Community at Trigg

Trigg lit up across the Groundswell weekend as Surfing WA ran a two-day surf program that felt like a reunion, a final, and a community BBQ all at once. Families on the sand, groms sprinting for heats, mates catching up over coffee – the lot. For us at Red, it was great to be there – backing Surfing WA and soaking it all in.

Across Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 October, surfers representing nine WA boardrider clubs hit the water for the 33rd Surf Boardroom Surf League – this year embedded within the Groundswell Festival. The format is classic club-versus-club: six surfers per team (four Open, one Over-35 Master, one Under-18 Junior), short, punchy heats, quick turnarounds, and a wall of noise from teammates on the beach.

Conditions held up beautifully across both days – clean, contestable peaks and enough energy and push to keep scoring potential high. Perfect for club surfing, rewarding depth and consistency.

Come the finals, Yallingup Boardriders reclaimed the crown with a combined 40.56 points, ahead of Margaret River (36.40), Scarborough (20.85) and Mullaloo (18.03). Cue hugs, rashies over shoulders, and the Yalls crew cheering in celebration.

There was a new prize in the mix too: the Red Ripper Award, recognising the highest individual score of the event. Yallingup’s Duke Nagtzaam took it with a 7.93, and also earned the Perry Hatchett Award for best surfer in the final. Duke took home the Red Waterproof Backpack with a grin to match.

Other standout performances included junior Tyce Sheppard (Albany), big-turn specialist Nick Muntz (Yallingup), and manoeuvre / air awards for Jerome Forrest (Margaret River) and Jake Molloy (Scarborough): all testament to the talent spread across WA’s clubs.

But what really stood out – beyond the competition storylines – was the vibe. Groundswell brings skating, art, markets, and live sets to the coast, and the surf zone slotted perfectly into that energy.

Credit where it’s due: Surfing WA ran a tight ship. Fast clocks, seamless changeovers, and the right balance of serious competition and open-door community feel – the hallmark of WA surfing at its best. Red’s role? Keep supporting the crew who make days like these happen and keep celebrating the simple stuff: good waves, fair judging, and kids on the sand deciding they’re signing up for nippers next term.

Big congrats to Yallingup, to every surfer, and to the volunteers who turned a busy beach into a frothing contest site.

See you there next time?

Red x Surfing WA – because life’s better by the water

Groundswell’s done for another year, but the Surfing WA calendar rolls on – state titles, invitationals, and club days that keep the community stoked. Red will be there for the long haul, backing the people who build the pathway and the days that turn groms into lifelong waterpeople.

Beyond the competition, Red’s partnership with Surfing WA runs year-round. We’re proud to support the Groms Learn to Surf Program, helping Surfing WA’s surf schools at Trigg and Mullaloo introduce young riders to the ocean safely and confidently throughout 2025-26. And starting 1 January 2026, Red will join the Surfing WA Membership Program, offering exclusive discounts for all social and state members through to the end of the year – another way we’re helping keep the WA surf community connected and on the water.