Continued swell at Mereweather Beach provided a historic day in Challenger Series competition at the Burton Automotive Newcastle SURFEST Presented by Bonsoy.
A remarkable performance from Tya Zebrowski posted a 17.00 heat total alongside fellow teenage phenom Eden Walla ripping into an 8.83 in their respective heats. Teresa Bonvalot and Sophie McCulloch held firm as women's top seeds began facing early exits from Challenger Series contenders. Then it was fireworks from the men's Round of 32 bouts with Xavier Huxtable going above and beyond behind the curtain on Mereweather drainers to post a 16.93 heat total. Excellent showcases from Liam O'Brien, Mateus Herdy, and Peterson Crisanto also added exclamation points to one of the best days of Challenger Series competition to date. Plus, Morgan Cibilic's win in an all-former CT grudge match sent him surging into the Round of 16. A pumping day of competition is in the rearview but there's more on the way with every heat providing pivotal points inching closer to Finals Day.