Huxtable hopes to clinch Challenger spot at Phillip Island

JAN Juc surfer Xavier Huxtable is one strong result away from making the jump to the 2025 World Surf League Challenger Series.

The 22-year-old is sitting in fifth on the Australia/Oceania World Qualifying Series (WQS) rankings and is well placed to make the top seven cut-off.

The WSL Challenger Series is the tier below the Championship Tour and is the ultimate battleground for surfers vying for a spot at the elite level.

If Huxtable can make it through a few rounds of the Phillip Island Pro in March, he will lock in a position.

Huxtable has enjoyed his best year to date on the WQS, scoring a second place at the Siargao International Surfing Cup in the Philippines and a round of 16 finish at Nias in Indonesia.

He said he was fired up for the Phillip Island event.

“It’s really exciting to have an event in your home state, especially with it carrying so much weight.

“To qualify would mean everything.

“The past few years I’ve just fallen short of the Challenger Series. After being so close, it would really solidify everything to get a good result at the Island and make it on.”

Fellow Jan Juc surfer and close friend Tully Wylie is presently in 15th position on the rankings and can also make the jump back to the Challenger Series with a big result.

Wylie and Barwon Heads local Ellie Harrison both surfed on the WSL Challenger Series in 2024.

The 2025 Challenger Series is slated to begin in June in Newcastle, New South Wales.