Local Rising Stars receive honour in front of surfing’s elite

SIX young local surfers are riding a memorable wave, receiving recognition at the global Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach (Djarrak).

Congratulations to 2025 Rising Star Awards winners Chloe Muscroft, Ava Abetz, Heidi Abetz, Jarvis Barrow, Jack Lindsay and Dom Kellett.

A Surf Coast Shire initiative, the annual awards are presented to the six top-ranked local under 18 surfers, based on their performances over the past 12 months.

For the first time, this year’s recipients received their honour at the World Surf League’s Community and Partner Breakfast yesterday (Thursday, April 17).

It was a thrill for the teenagers to be recognised in front of the international surfing community, including some of the world’s top surfers who shared insights on the eve of the Rip Curl Pro.

Legend of the sport, 10-time Bells champion Lorne’s Gail Couper, assisted with the presentation of the awards.

Twin sisters Ava and Heidi were named Rising Stars for the first time, along with Dom.

Ava and Heidi were rapt to be acknowledged. The Jan Juc sisters caught their first wave at Torquay’s Cosy Corner at about four years old.

A decade on, they rise early most days to surf before school at Bells and Winki Pop.

“It’s cool being able to surf together,” Ava said. “It makes us more competitive because we’ve always got someone we can compare ourselves to.”

Despite being identical, the sisters have different surfing styles: Heidi goofy and Ava natural.

They love surfing together socially, and during competition.

“This has been our first year on the state rounds,” Heidi said. “It’s been good fun to meet other girls and push ourselves to get better.”

The Rising Star Award will add to another honour for Heidi, who received an Everyday Lifesaver award in 2022 for sacrificing her place in a surfing competition to rescue a young boy caught in a rip.

The 2025 Rising Star Awards winners will feature in the Australian National Surfing Museum’s exhibitions alongside other surfing legends.

The Council-run museum celebrates the story of Australian surfing and its champions, culture and characters through permanent displays and temporary exhibitions.

Visit the museum at 77 Beach Road, Torquay. It is open daily from 9am to 5pm.

The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Bonsoy headlines an action-packed Surf Coast Events calendar this autumn. There are community markets galore across the Easter weekend, at Aireys Inlet (Sunday, April 20), Anglesea (Sunday, April 20), Lorne (Saturday, April 19), and Torquay (Saturday, April 19 and Sunday, April 20).

Looking ahead, the Victorian Longboard Titles will be held on May 17 at Point Impossible, where the Victorian Stand Up Paddleboarding Surfing Titles (May 24) will be contested. They’re followed by the Victorian Masters Surfing Titles at Jan Juc on May 25.

For more information, head to surfcoastevents.com.au