SUNSHINE COAST, QUEENSLAND (Tuesday, 14 April 2026) – Australia’s best junior surfers kicked off Day One of the Parko’s Junior Pro pres. by Campbell Construction Co in clean, fun 2–3 foot conditions on the Sunshine Coast.
With over 270 competitors hitting the water, the six-day event once again showcased the depth of emerging surfing talent from across the country, with divisions ranging from Under 12 through to the elite Under 18 Boys and Girls.
Day One saw the Under 18 and Under 16 Boys divisions hit the water, setting a high-performance benchmark early in the event.
The Under 16 Boys division set the tone, where Sunny Canina impressed with a 7.10 and 7.43, securing a convincing heat win over Zac Johnston and Lachie Rawsthorne.
Brandon Davidson also made his presence felt, posting an excellent single-wave score of 8.00, one of the highest individual rides of the day.
One of the most exciting moments came from Lucas Deffenti, who left it until the dying moments of his heat to secure a nail-biting victory with his final wave, edging out Zane Perez and Jarrah White in a dramatic finish.
Continuing his strong form, Gold Coast surfer Luca Martin recorded the highest heat total of the day, posting an impressive 8.83 (out of a possible 10), highlighting the high-performance level on display in the clean conditions.
Caden Francis delivered a strong opening statement in the Under 18 Boys division, posting a heat total of 15.17 (out of a possible 20).
The day wrapped up with Ben Zanatta claiming victory in his heat against Monty Merger, Jayden McMorrow and Eli Hammersley, capping off an action-packed opening day of competition.
With consistent conditions allowing surfers to showcase a mix of powerful rail work and progressive manoeuvres, Day One has set the stage for an exciting week ahead.
Competition will continue tomorrow with further round progression across multiple divisions, as competitors look to build momentum and push deeper into the event.
Day Two will be commencing at 7:00AM tomorrow, check @surfing_queensland Instagram story for the location.
Stay up to date with the event schedule on Liveheats, and tune in to the live stream running across the entire event:
https://liveheats.com/events/496928
Parko’s Junior Pro pres. by Campbell Construction Co is part of the Surfing Australia Junior Series.
Surfing Queensland would like to thank Billabong for supporting the event.
Surfing Queensland would like to thank it’s partners for their ongoing support including: BYD Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast Council, Dritimes, The Point Coolum, Breaka Flavoured Milk, We Are Feel Good Inc, Mogu Mogu and Blue Horizon.
About Campbell Construction Co
Campbell Construction Co was established here on the Sunshine Coast and have since expanded across Australia. Specialising in building New Homes, Knockdown Rebuilds, Renovations and Insurance Repair, our approach is unlike others – We Care, built into everything we do.
With over 20 years experience in the construction industry, we have built a solid reputation for delivering affordable custom builds and home renovations with a focus on quality over quantity.
But for us it’s more than just bricks and mortar, it’s about laying the foundation for stronger, happier communities, and it all begins with fostering our youth to turn dreamers into doers!
