Aussie Junior Titles get decent dose of surf

Kelly Nordstrom © Surfing Australia

Soundwave Australian Junior Surfing Titles

Surfing Australia
Nubeena, Tasmania
1 - 8 December 2012

Australia's top junior surfers set for finals at Soundwave Australian Junior Surfing Titles

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 6 December, 2012 : - - Roaring Beach Tasmania Australia: Surf conditions improved as fast as the weather in southern Tasmania on day 5 of the Soundwave Australian Junior Surfing Titles and the best of the nations young surfers shredded the solid 2m (5 feet) surf.

The event is getting right down to the business end for both individual and school surfing and surfers are focused on high scores to chase a part of Australian surfing history and claim a prestigious national title.

All states are producing some standout performers and while past years Queensland and NSW have appeared to dominate this event, this year could see a different outcome with both the West Australia and Victorian Teams producing big scoring performances from many of their emerging talents.

Shaun Manners from Margaret River is surfing waves sometimes double overhead but is attacking them with a precision driven style in the under 16 Boy's.

He has teamed up with Jacob Wilcox in the schools division representing Margaret River Secondary High and the pair could be heading for a showdown with Victorian brothers Cody and Mikey Robinson from Christian College in Geelong - who were equalling impressive demolishing their opponents today.

Hannah Massie © Surfing Australia

The MR Shield under 16 teams from Maclean NSW and Queensland's Palm Beach Currumbin are also exceptionally strong and which ever team takes this division will have earned a big victory.

All star teams from all states also competed today and Queensland pair Will Morrison (Currumbin) and Josh Hyland (Burleigh Heads) took an important semi final victory over NSW pair Matt King (Ulludulla) and James McMorland.

Girls were also prominent today with particularly impressive performances from Tasmania's Zoe Gray from Hellyer College who won her heat against the Margaret River pair of Baile Hasties and Hannah Massie but as Zoe was the sole representative from Hellyer it was the Margaret River's pairs combined tally that saw them advance.

Zoe Clarke from Geelong's Christian College and Jemima Hutchins from Geelong College were also in good form today advancing through All Star schools heats.

Tomorrow looks set to be an absolute massive day. The surf should be at it's best and organisers are planing to capitalise on what should be outstanding surf and run finals of most individual and school divisions.

Shaun Manners © Surfing Australia

Contest Director Adrian Sorati commented on the plan saying " We expect to run the biggest day in Australian Junior Surfing Titles history and really give these kids the best surf - This will test their skills and fitness as some might surf four or five heats to chase the win."

The plan is to start around 6:30am and run through to possibly 7pm. The scene is set for an epic finish to the event and apart from individual titles, overall state bragging rights as to the best state in junior surfing could be decided tomorrow.

Six states are represented in the battle for the prestigious national titles, while school surfing will also make up a significant part of the event with competitors also chasing the Australian School Surfing Association Titles.

The event is backed by Australia’s premier music festival Soundwave, which tours Australia’s capital cities in February and March next year.

A win at the national level is regarded as a major step in a surfer’s competitive career with the list of past winners featuring some of the greatest names in world surfing including two-time ASP Men’s World Champion Mick Fanning and fellow Gold Coast surfers Joel Parkinson, Dean Morrison and Bede Durbidge, plus former World Champions Mark Richards, Tom Carroll and Damian Hardman.

Noah Cooney © Surfing Australia

Five-time ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore, former World Champion Chelsea Hedges, World No.2 Sally Fitzgibbons and 2011 World Tour Rookie of the Year Tyler Wright are also included on the prestigious honour roll.

The Soundwave Australian Junior Surfing Titles is proudly supported by Events Tasmania, Surfing Australia, Surfing Tasmania, Australian School Surfing Association, Tasmanian Schools Surfing Association, Australian Sports Commission, the Federal Government’s Illicit Drugs in Sport Program, Nikon, Coastalwatch, TravelSIM, Suncorp, Stickyfeet Wax and Shipstern Surf.