WORLD SURF LEAGUE competitor and Evans Head local Callum Robson will drop into the Reflections Cadet Cup at Bonny Hills on March 1-2 to inspire and mentor some of the talented young competitors.
Competition in the Cup - held by Reflections, the largest holiday park group in New South Wales, in partnership with iconic surfing festival Surfest – begins on Saturday, March 1, when Robson will run a workshop at Rainbow Beach, Bonny Hills, incorporating physical activity and guidance for managing a competitive surfing career.
“I’m really stoked to be able to help steer the next generation of talented surfers at the Reflections Cadet Cup and, having been guided by others when I was starting out, I know how valuable it is to receive advice from my elder peers,” Mr Robson said.
“We’ll be talking one on one about everything from surfing break knowledge and pre-event warm-ups to staying mentally on top of the competition pressure.”
The inaugural Reflections Cadet Cup – a 5500-rated event on Surfing Australia’s National Series calendar - was held in February 2024 at Rainbow Beach, Bonny Hills, before expanding to a second Tuncurry competition on December 7-8, 2024.
The March 1-2 event at Rainbow Beach, Bonny Hills, will draw 85 of the State’s top emerging surfers who will face off in Under 12, Under 14 and Under 16 categories in female and male categories. The Cup is supported by Port Macquarie - Hastings Council.
Minister for Sport, Lands and Property, Steve Kamper, said it was great to see the Reflections Cadet Cup gathering momentum in an expanded format, supporting junior sport and regional businesses through tourism.
“Reflections manages coastal holiday parks on Crown land in some of NSW’s best surf locations so its partnership with Surfest to host the Cup is a win-win for both sport and tourism,” Mr Kamper said.
Surfest director, Warren Smith, described Bonny Hills as a perfect location for the contest while thanking Reflections Holidays for their ongoing support.
“We’re incredibly fortunate to have been welcomed by the Bonny Hills community and look forward to seeing the next generation carve it out across the two-days of competition,” Mr Smith said.
“With the growth of competitive surfing for juniors continuing to grow, we’re incredibly grateful to not just have the high-class waves for athletes to compete in, but to have the support of such a well-respected organisdation in Reflections Holidays.”
Reflections Chief Marketing Officer Peter Chapman said the Cadet Cup had been firmly embraced by the local community in Bonny Hills and Tuncurry and was moving from strength to strength.
“We believe that life’s better outside and we love connecting our guests with nature, and working with Surfest to host the Cup in two locations adds another layer of fun for our guests, who can watch all the action unfold and also enjoy the food pop-ups and live music in our parks that are part of the weekend,” Mr Chapman said.