2026 SERVICE TO THE INDUSTRY AWARD

A night to remember

Twin Towns on the Gold Coast came alive with laughter and old stories as the Australian surf industry gathered for the 2026 ASI Honours Night, held during RAT Show #3, to celebrate the life and legacy of Shane Stedman, recipient of the 2026 ASI Service to Industry Award.

Few people have left a mark on Australian surfing quite like Shane.

A surfer, shaper, businessman, mentor and lifelong champion of the industry, Shane had an extraordinary ability to see possibility and bring people along with him. From the shaping bay to the boardroom, his ideas, energy and willingness to back people helped shape careers, businesses and generations of Australian surfing.

Long before Shane Stedman became one of the industry's most recognisable names, he was building surfboards and building community. At the peak of his board-making business, as Luke shared on stage, Shane was producing around 100 boards a week, backed by a tight-knit crew of shapers and surfers who would come in between sessions to get the job done, with Shane working alongside them.

But the stories shared throughout the night made it clear that Shane's legacy could never be measured by boards, businesses or accolades alone. It was in the people he encouraged, the opportunities he created and the infectious energy he brought into every room.

It was an honour to welcome Shane's children, Luke and Bonnie Stedman, who accepted the 2026 ASI Service to Industry Award on behalf of their father and shared personal memories of his kindness, humour, resilience and unmistakable zest for life.

A celebration told through stories

This year's Honours Night moved away from the usual awards format, with Vaughan Blakey leading a special tribute that unfolded through decades of stories and memories. Luke and Bonnie spoke about their father with warmth, humour and honesty, sharing a deeply personal side of the man so many in the room knew and admired. Luke recalled his father's advice to “dive into the deep end of the pool, don't be afraid, and get the job done,” while Bonnie remembered his remarkable resilience and ability to move forward when an idea didn't work. Shane found the positive in every situation and treated setbacks as lessons rather than losses.

Throughout the evening, Vaughan was joined on stage by Phil Jarratt, Rabbit Bartholomew, Matt Hoy and Jon Laurenson, each bringing decades of friendship and history with Shane. Their stories painted a picture of a man whose influence stretched far beyond his own achievements. He was an entrepreneur and industry pioneer, but also a mentor, mate, risk-taker and eternal optimist who had a remarkable ability to lift the people around him. Phil recalled meeting Shane for the first time and being greeted with the characteristically cheeky line, “I haven't heard of you, but you've heard of me. That's a start.” It was one of many moments of laughter throughout the night and a glimpse into the confidence, humour and larger-than-life personality that made Shane unforgettable.

Again and again, the stories returned to Shane's infectious energy and unmistakable zest for life. His family described him as “a force of nature,” while Rabbit remembered him as the “biggest personality at the event.” Yet perhaps the most fitting reflection came from Jon Laurenson, whose words captured the spirit with which Shane lived: “Be eternally grateful and stoked.” Together, the stories shared throughout the evening revealed why Shane's legacy cannot be measured by boards shaped, businesses built or accolades earned alone. His greatest impact was felt in the confidence he gave others, the opportunities he created and the countless people he inspired along the way.

A legacy carried forward

The evening was a powerful reminder of the lasting influence one person can have on an entire community. Shane's contribution to Australian surfing lives on not only through the businesses he built and the careers he helped shape, but through the values he passed on to the people around him: resilience, generosity, optimism and a genuine enthusiasm for life.

The Australian Surf Industry Association extends its sincere thanks to Luke and Bonnie Stedman for sharing their father with us so openly, and to Vaughan Blakey, Phil Jarratt, Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew, Matt Hoy and Jon Laurenson for generously sharing the stories and memories that made the evening so special. Our thanks also go to the RAT Show #3 team for bringing the industry together and making this celebration possible.

Perhaps the most fitting final words of the evening belonged to Luke: “I know if my dad was here, he would want to look at you all and say, just keep doing what you love, keep enjoying yourself and help each other out. He loved being part of a big community.”

Those words captured what the night was ultimately about. Shane Stedman's influence will continue to be felt in the waves, throughout the industry and in the lives of the many people he inspired for generations to come.