Zahn Foxton wins Billabong/boost junior in close final

Billabong/boost Junior Series 2002

Presented by
Sessions Surf Shop
South Western Australia
May 16th – 19th
$11 000 in Prize money
ASP Australasian event

Zahn Foxton wins Billabong/boost junior in close final.

The final day of the Billabong/boost junior series started off as a logistic nightmare for organisers and officials.

A huge Autumn ground swell greeted competitors with Surfers Point at Margaret River producing waves of between the 12 to 15 foot mark (4 metres +) causing organisers and officials to move the event to the Cowaramup Bay region where they were greeted with waves of between the 4 to 6 foot mark (1.5 to 2.0 metres).

Judges continued using the criterea of two best waves for the remainder of the event instead of the best three. This again worked well for the competitors allowing them to focus in obtaining two quality waves without the added pressure of trying to find smaller lower scoring back up waves to rely on getting them through their heats.

In a final that resembled a WQS event, it was hard to imagine that some of the competitors were only 17 years of age.

Surfing like seasoned veterans the Men’s final produced some of the most radical surfing for the event. Ben Dunn (NSW) opened his account with a scoring ride which saw him receive a 6.35 pts for his effort while West Australian Luke Campbell scorer was healthy 7.50 pts.

After winning two events early in the year Shaun Cansdell (NSW) who was challenging for the lead on the ratings with Luke Munro (QLD) scored the highest ride in the final with an 8.25 pts that saw him slam some tight vertical re-entries in the pocket of the unsuspecting left hand wall on offer. Cansdell was leading the heat with the old familiar scenario, the dreaded 5 minute mark rearing its ugly head.

Just as the yellow flag was raised signifying 5 minutes remaining in the final, fellow New South Welshman Zahn Foxton paddled into perfection on one of the bigger sets of the day.

Foxton´s smooth turn off the bottom of the wave set him up for a huge upside down vertical snap that sent a fan of spray into the air nearly twice the size of the wave, he then continued his way down the long peeling wall demolishing the lip that was on offer to post a 6.80 pts to win the final ahead of Cansdell by 1.05pts and claim victory in the Billabong/boost junior series WA leg of the event.

The crowd erupted into applause and hoots as Foxton was officially announced the winner at the presentation ceremony.

“I would to thank the judges, organisers and sponsors for a great comp and especially the Kiwi boys who have been driving me around this week” said Foxton, “We’ve had great waves for this event and I ‘ am really looking forward to coming back to WA” added a very happy Foxton.

The Women’s Final was tough to say the least with defending champion Laurina Mc Grath (NSW) out to defend her title as back to back champion. McGrath flew back all the way from Tahiti to try and make it three in a row for the WA leg of the event, but it was not to be.

West Australian Claire Bevilaqua was on one of her most favorite breaks at home and used her local knowledge to fend off the onslaught being dished up by Mc Grath (NSW), Jessie Myler-Dyer (NSW) and Rebecca Woods (NSW).

The pocket rocket from the West sped along the wave faces with a repertoire of manouvres along the way, only to have her waves matched by Rebecca Woods who was hungry for a win.

Bevilaqua 13.50 pts just ousted Woods 13.40 pts to win the final. “It’s amazing, I still can’t believe I won, it hasn’t sunk in yet” said Beveilaqua

“I’ am always stoked to make the finals, but it’s great to win one just to prove to yourself that you can do it, it gives you a bit of confidence” said an emotional Beveilaqua.

The Wild West was tamed, but this time by a new generation of up and coming juniors from around Australia. New faces, the changing of the guard.

Results Mens:

Semi Final 1
Luke Campbell (WA) 2. Zahn Foxton 3. Made Sudana (NSW) 4. Adam Robertson (VIC).

Semi Final 2
Shaun Cansdell (NSW) 2. Benn Dunn (NSW) 3. Jock Barnes (NSW) 4. Bede Durbidge (QLD)

FINAL

Zahn Foxton (NSW) 14.30 points
Shaun Cansdell (NSW) 13.35 points
Luke Campbell (WA) 12.40 points
Benn Dunn (NSW) 11.10 points

Results Women

Claire Bevilaqua (WA) 13.50 points
Rebecca Woods (NSW) 13.40 points
Laurina Mc Grath (NSW) 11.90 points
Jessie dyer- Miley (NSW) 8.25 points

All point scores are out of a total 20 because of the two wave criteria not 30.

Previous report no. 1 Event postponed for bigger swell.
Previous report no. 2 East Coasters dominate at Margaret River
Previous report no. 3 Epic conditions for Day 1 of the event
Previous report no. 4 Nations best Juniors take on Margaret River

Check the SroSurf photo gallery all photos by Mario “Marz” Vassallo

Heats & results available here (Caution slow link to Excels)

Further information is available on

www.billabong.com.au
www.surfingaustralia.com
www.srosurf.com/bjmain.html

On-site numbers: + mob: 0416 086 662

Mario “Marz” Vassallo
JC Surfworks
marz@srosurf.com

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