Billabong Pro-Teen 2005

ASP 5A rated boys Pro Junior
ASP 3A rated girls Pro Junior
Avoca, Central Coast, NSW
17 - 20 Februaru 2005

Heatdraw/Results

Day 4: Quitting No longer an Option for Victorious Dion Agius
Three in Row for Stephanie Gilmore

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 20 February 2005: - - Gold Cast surfer Dion Agius (Currumbin) has secured the best result of his junior career by defeating Ben Dunn (Old Bar) in the final of the Billabong Pro-Teen Series event at Avoca Beach. The pint sized goofy footer, who was on the border of giving competitive surfing away just a week prior to this event, reveled in the1m onshore waves, breaking through for a maiden victory.

Agius credited his father for not making him give up on his dream of a win in the hard fought ASP Australasian Junior Circuit. The 18-year-old’s results have not lived up to his enormous talent and frustration was beginning to set in but today’s victory saw him achieve his long held goal. “I’m so ecstatic, I can’t believe it,” said Agius. “I have had no results prior to this and I was almost going to give it all away. My dad said I should at least come down for this event and even do the remainder of the year but here I am now, it’s just amazing.”

Agius capitalized on a lackluster performance by the usually lethal Dunn, locking in a 6.10 and a 5.80, then skillfully using the man on man priority system to restrict Dunn from catching the 5.91 score he required. “I was lucky to get a couple straight off the bat,” said Agius. “I know that Dunny (Ben Dunn) only needed a small score and he surfs good enough to get it on almost anything so I was just praying to huey that nothing would come through and it didn’t.”

Agius’s win has lifted him to fifth position on the ASP Australasian Junior Series ratings.

Matt Wilkinson’s (Copacabana) reign at the top of the ratings became a short lived distant memory today as top seed Dunn edged his way back to top position. 16-year-old Wilkinson who was the youngest surfer ever to lead the ratings was eliminated in the fifth round while Dunn’s second position today was enough to retake the lead.

“It feels pretty good to be back on top again,” said Dunn. “I was leading the ratings before the last event but it seems that whenever I have a bad result I have a good one straight after it,” said Dunn.

The lone remaining local surfer Wade Rixon (Lake Munmorah) was eventually beaten by Dunn in the semi finals today. Rixon who had been a standout surfer all week couldn’t find waves with any real scoring potential in the crucial decider with Dunn getting the best of the inconsistent 20 minute heat.

“Well at least I can say I am the best on the Central Coast (Laughing),” said Rixon. “I really just couldn’t find the waves in that heat. It is a good result for me though and I did beat Ben in the last event.”

Kiama’s Rhys Bombaci was eliminated in round five of this event but will start as one of the favorites as the Billabong Pro-Teen Series moves to Wollongong starting Thursday 24th February. The talented 19-year-old natural footer will relish the power that the barnacle covered reef breaks of Wollongong are renowned for, hoping the swell will mirror last years event where competitors rode waves reaching 4m in height.

“If the waves are anything like last year it should be good,” said Bombaci. “Paul Morgan won the event last year without any results before that, so it is definitely an advantage surfing at home.”

Kingscliff’s Stephanie Gilmore, 17, has claimed her third successive win on the ASP Australasian junior circuit with another emphatic victory in the Billabong Pro-Teen Series girls event. The under 18’s world amateur champion defeated Cronulla’s Lyndsay Noyes in the one-sided final leaving her opponent requiring a 9.25 on the siren.

Gilmore who has only contested four of the five events staged so far this year jumped into 3rd place on the ratings. Noyes who won the opening event in Victoria maintained her position at the head of the ASP Australasian Junior ratings ahead of Coogee’s Jessi Miley-Dyer.

“I’m really happy with this result. My goal at the start of the year was to win three events in a row,” said Gilmore who is not claiming to be undefeatable. “The waves we have had so far have been poor but once we get some better waves all the girls rip so anyone of, them are capable of winning.”

The Panasonic Expression Session, which is open to the top eight surfers on the junior ratings, five Billabong wild cards and two surfers selected by Surfing NSW was taken out by Wade Goodall (Caloundra). The unpredictable natural footer who is known for his signature move, “The Passion Pop” sealed the win with a huge frontside aerial reverse.

The Billabong Pro-Teen Series is supported by Panasonic, Vodafone, Coca-Cola, Banana Boat, Von Zipper and Surfing Australia.

Billabong Pro-Teen Series- Event dates and locations.

Feb 9-13 Billabong Pro-teen Burleigh Heads
Feb 17-20 Billabong Pro-teen Avoca
Feb 24-27 Billabong Pro-teen Wollongong
Mar 3-6 Billabong Pro-teen Raglan NZ
Mar 31 - Apr 3 Wild Surf Co/Billabong Pro-teen Newcastle
Sep 28-Oct 3 Billabong Pro-teen Bells Beach

Previous reports:
# 1 : Billabong Pro-Teen Avoca showcases Central Coast talent
# 2 : Ben Dunn shines on Day Two at Billabong Pro-Teen Series
# 3 : NSW surfers set to dominate future world surfing ranks

More Australasian Surfing News available here
Check the latest Australasian Surf Reports and Forecasts

Simon Barratt
sbarratt@billabong.com.au

Mandy McKinnon
mandy@aspworldtour.com

Junior Contests - Surfersvillage

- CNS Portugal -o- Worldwide Surforecasts -o- Euro Camper Rentals -

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