Balin Pro Junior presented by Snickers

ASP 5A rated Boys Pro Junior
ASP 3A rated Girls Pro Junior
Gunnamatta, Mornington Vic.
14 - 17 January 2005

Heatdraw & results

Day 3: Yadin Nicol wins men's division, Jessi Mylie - Dyer takes the women's

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 17 January 2005: - - West Australia's Yadin Nicol continued his dominating form over the past three days at the Balin Pro at Gunnamatta Beach today to take a well deserved win .

Nicol (Margaret River WA), signaled he was the man to beat in this event during his quarter final where he posted an amazing 9.9 to defeat and eliminate the event number one seed - Ben Dunn (Taree NSW). He maintained his explosive form through the semi's and into the final posting excellent scoring 8 and 8.5 rides in both .

Nicol dominated today's final scoring a strong 7 point ride in the first five minutes , while his opponent, Central Coast surfer Matt Wilkinson (Copacabanna), struggled in the shifting onshore 1.5m waves. At the half way point both surfers were looking for their required strong scoring second rides, Wilkinson held just a 5 point score and knew he needed to post something much bigger . A few waves appeared to offer him that potential but, in going for some early big moves he repeatedly fell , lost wave priority and left the opportunity wide open for Nicol to seal the final.

With 5 minutes remaining, Nicol used priority to stroke into one of the better shaped waves of the final, powered through the fast breaking sections with a series of well executed bottom to top turn combinations and posted an 8.5 which virtually sealed his win today.

Delighted to win, Nicol spoke of a serious year ahead after his final by saying - "I am super stoked to win, especially after my poor performance in last weeks opening event for the season - Winning today puts me back on track for this years goal which is to make the World Pro Junior Titles at the end of the year - I just missed making the cut last year and I really want to be there this year (the top six surfers on the ratings after the 12 event series qualify for the ASP World Professional Titles) - I feel great having won today, the waves are again very peaky, but still powerful and I've certainly enjoyed my week here"

For Central Coast surfer Matt Wilkinson today's result was his best ever on the Australasian Pro Series . The stylish goofy foot surfer has had quite an incredible two months of competitive surfing which began early December where he won the World Junior Championships in Tahiti, followed up that result with an excellent 3rd placing in the opening event of the Australasian Pro Series last week and bettered that result by making today's final and finishing second!

Frustrated with today's final Wilkinson commented " The final was a shocker for me, I just kept falling off! What can I say, it's just very frustrating when you have a final like that."

In his semi final Wilkinson posted the events second highest scoring ride, a 9.5, where he defeated WA surfer Ry Craike who finished equal 3rd with Sunshine Coast surfer Lee Wilson (Noosa).

The Snickers special award - a return trip to Hawaii for the events highest single wave score was also won by Yaden Nicol's 9.9 quarter final ride!

For Jessi Mylie - Dyer, today's win was her second in the Balin Pro at Gunnamatta and despite the wild conditions over the past few days, which saw the surf up around 3m for the early rounds of both the men's and women's divisions, Mylie- Dyer says she really likes surfing the notoriously powerful waves here - A stoked Mylie- Dyer said after her win today - " This is my 4th year coming here and I generally do well in these powerful waves - , I feel like I've redeemed myself after a poor start to the season last week where I was eliminated in the quarter finals and I'm looking forward to an awesome event at the Women's WQS Surfing festival later this week at Phillip island!"

Jessi posted a strong 6:00 early ride in the final and backed it up with a solid 5 to easily win ahead of Cronulla's Lindsay Noyes. Noyes has made the final of both events this season, winning the first event and maintains a narrow lead over Mylie Dyer on the Australasian Ratings in what has been an ideal start to her season.

Equal 3rd in todays Women's division of the Balin Pro went to Japan's Mizuki Hagiwarra and Tweed Heads surfer Lauren McGregor.

All the Girls head to Phillip Island later this week for a gigantic Roxy Women's WQS Surfing festival, with divisions across Open Pro, Pro junior, Pro Longboard through to amateur and grommet girls - That event begins on Friday Jan 21 through to Wednesday Jan 26th.

Hhe men head to Queensland's Gold Coast for the Brothers Nielsen Pro Junior which begins on Wednesday!


Heatdraw & results

Previous reports:
# 1 : Surfers from eleven nations participate in Balin Pro Junior
# 2 : Solid waves for Day One of Balin Pro Junior at Gunnamatta
# 3 : Serious waves at Gunnamatta Beach for Balin Pro Junior
# 4 : All Intl's exit as wild conditions endure at Balin Pro Junior

www.balin.com.au
www.surfingaustralia.com.au

Balin is a clothing and hardware wholesaler, operating on the Mornington Peninsula since 1974. Balin's reputation as a hardcore surf company is impeccable and is known nation wide. Made famous by the design of the first 'legrope', today Balin is a successful hardware and clothing brand with the philosophy of making functional products by surfers for surfers.

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For further information please contact

Surfing Victoria
info@surfingvic.com

Kate McDonell
kate@balin.com.au

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