The Air Force Surf Riders Association (AFSRA) united 40 Air Force personnel from across Australia for a week of competitive surfing, teamwork and connection at its annual Festival of Surfing.
From August 17 to 22, this year's festival unfolded across Seal Rocks, Treachery and Booti Booti beaches, with great conditions giving way to a challenging, stormy finals day.
AFSRA Captain and Officer in Charge Flight Sergeant Ben Wilkie has served in the Air Force for 21 years and surfed with AFSRA for 15.
Hailing from Wooli, near Coffs Harbour, he grew up in the water.
"Coming from a small coastal town, surfing was all you did. I honestly thought I was leaving it all behind when I joined the RAAF, but then I saw it in the Air Force paper and went, 'oh sweet, I can keep doing what I grew up loving'," Flight Sergeant Wilkie said.
The festival had 40 participants - 34 men and six women - competing in six disciplines: open shortboard, female, masters (35+), open longboard, open stand up paddleboard (SUP) and open bodyboard.
Out of the water, a much-loved trivia night and annual presentation night brought everyone closer.
"By the end of the week, it was just a bunch of 40 mates hanging out," Flight Sergeant Wilkie said.
A key goal was selecting the Air Force team for the 2026 Interservice Surfing Championship.
"We look for who's the best of all of us," said Flight Sergeant Wilkie, who took out the open longboard and SUP categories.
"It also provides valuable insight into surfers across all abilities, which supports building balanced teams for interservice competition and ensures strong representation at AFSRA and ADF developmental events/camps."
Leading Aircraftman Quinn Lickley stood out, excelling in open shortboard and bodyboarding in the tough conditions in the finals.
"Quinny surprised everyone," Flight Sergeant Wilkie said.
"He's been coming for a while - started out shy and now he's proving to be a valuable team member and skilled surfer."
Corporal Jaimie Ribeiro won the female section while Leading Aircraftman Sam Heil picked up the master 35+ category.
An intro to surf competitive judging session led by Flight Sergeant Ariel Spencer drew interest.
"We try to get everyone involved in the judging so they understand the scoring system," Flight Sergeant Wilkie said.
"It shares the load and keeps the same level of judging across each heat and division."
Flight Sergeant Wilkie said the festival boosted mental wellbeing, physical fitness and Air Force culture.
"Being in the ocean with mates from other units builds relationships across the wider Air Force," he said.
"It's building camaraderie, [with] everyone coming together as one team.
"I just love what surfing does to people. Everyone is quiet at the start, but by the end, they're laughing and happy.
"At our come-and-try weekends, fit people are physically taxed after an hour, but they're smiling and wanting to get back out there."
Flight Sergeant Wilkie said he has seen AFSRA get bigger each year and is getting to the point where it can self-sustain competitions.
"I'd love to see an AFSRA State of Origin, Queensland versus New South Wales, just for bragging rights," he said.
Support from the Air Force Sports Council and members like Flight Sergeant Tatum Nicholls, who secured foam boards for Queensland's charter, is helping AFSRA towards this goal.
"If you are keen to give surfing a try, please just reach out to me and I'll get you in the water and on a board somewhere, wherever you are," Flight Sergeant Wilkie said.
"Once you catch that wave, you just want more.
"The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun."
