Billabong Pro-Teen 2005

5A rated boys Pro Junior event
3A rated girls Pro Junior event
Woolongong, NSW
24 - 27 February 2005

Heatdraw/Results:

Sunshine Coasts Wade Goodall Defeats Gold Coasts Dion Agius to Win Billabong Pro-Teen Series

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, Wollongong, NSW (Sunday, 27 February, 2005): Sunshine Coast surfer Wade Goodall broke through for his inaugural victory on the ASP Australasian junior circuit taking out the Billabong Pro-Teen Series today. Goodall’s talent finally shone through, with previous results not living up to what many people have expected from the Sunshine Coaster.

Goodall (Caloundra) has boosted his chances of an all-important top five finish with his win at Wombarra Beach. The 18-year-old defeated Dion Agius (Currumbin) in the hard fought final staged in small beach break waves after the tournament was forced to relocate from the preferred contest site of Sandon Point due to a lack of swell on the South Coast of NSW.

The early elimination of the top two ranked competitors Ben Dunn (Old Barr, NSW) and wonder-kid Matt Wilkinson (Copacabana) has opened the door for surfers to break through on the all-important home run for a coveted berth in the Billabong World Junior Championships. Both Dunn and Wilkinson retained their positions at the ratings helm but with four events still remaining and a surfers best seven results counting towards the final rankings the pressure will jump a notch.

“This feels so amazing,” said Goodall. “This was something I never thought I could do and the waves have been so bad, it has all just come down to luck.” “Over the last year or two I have had a lot of problems with my confidence and my heat strategy,” said Goodall. “I am still on and off but this contest just clicked.” “It was good to have one of my best mates in the final and just sitting out there and counting down the seconds next to Dion was amazing,” said Goodall. “It’s your best mate but you just want to win so bad, I am going to keep going for weeks after this, its going to be a big night tonight.”

Goodall has now jumped to no seven on the ratings after his win in the Billabong Pro-Teen Series and heads a strong list of possible qualifiers including James Wood (Lennox Head), Agius (Currumbin), Sam Page (Manly), Michael Spencer (Lake Munmorah), Yadin Nicol (Margaret River) and Rhys Bombaci (Kiama).

It has been an amazing two weeks for Agius, winning the Billabong Pro-Teen at Avoca less than a week ago and now a second place today has lifted him to third position on the ratings. “I couldn’t wish for anyone else to have in the final,” said Agius. “Wade is one of my favourite surfers at the moment and definitely one of the most explosive surfers on the junior series.”

“He has been ripping all contest so it was only a matter of time before he had a win,” said Agius. “I never thought I would even make the top ten, but winning last week and getting second here today is unbelievable.”

Bombaci, the local favourite, looked a certain winner in earlier rounds, but was beaten in the quarter finals by Agius. The equal fifth place will keep the 19-year-old within striking range of the top five, now rated at ninth, but the early elimination of Dunn and Wilkinson was an opportunity not to be missed.

“I am so disappointed,” said a dejected Bombaci. “The waves are terrible. I fly to New Zealand tomorrow so hopefully I can do better there.”

Jesse Miley-Dyer (Coogee) has posted her first win back on the junior series after recently winning the Copa Movi Star Pro WQS in Peru. The 19-year old dominated the final, defeating Cronulla’s Eliza Roberts and has now overtaken Lyndsay Noyes (Cronulla) and shot to the lead of the ASP Australasian Junior Girls Ratings.

“It’s really good to have a win and I like it down here at Wollongong because its close to home,” said Miley-Dyer. “I hadn’t really had a look at the ratings but to be back on top again is great. Its just whether you can stay there or not.” “I am definitely going to go to New Zealand next week and hopefully Newcastle as well, so I will be doing most of the junior series for the rest of the year.”

The Panasonic Expression Session was won by Andrew Mooney (MacMasters Beach) today. Mooney completed an amazing backside air reverse to defeat a star studded line up of aerial specialists including Jordy Smith (Saf) and world amateur champion James Wood. Mooney won a Panasonic digital video camera for his efforts.

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: Mitch Coleborn (QLD) Stephanie Gilmore (NSW)
Feb 17-20 Billabong Pro-teen Avoca: Dion Agius (QLD) Stephanie Gilmore (NSW)
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 : South Coasters present strong field at Billabong Pro-Teen
# 2 : Bombaci triumphs over 10 point ride at Billabong Pro Teen
# 3 : Ratings positions being secured at Billabong pro Teen....

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Simon Barratt
sbarratt@billabong.com.au  

Junior Contests - Surfersvillage