Globe Jetty Surf Pro Junior

8 star ASP Australasian Pro junior
Bells Beach, (mobile) Victoria
9 - 15 January 2006 

Heatdraw/Results

Next Generation Australian surfers shine through on day 2 of the Globe Jetty Surf Pro Junior

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 10 January, 2006 : - - Some of Australia's exciting young surfers took to the waves at Jan Juc beach today and impressively won through their round two heats of the Globe Jetty Surf Pro Junior. Current Australian Cadet champion (Under 16) , Owen Wright (15 years of age, Culburra, Sth Coast NSW) began his 2006 campaign in typical fashion notching up an easy win in the difficult windswept 1m surf at Jan Juc.  

Wright was active throughout the heat picking off as many waves as he could find in the unpredictable conditions, knowing that eventually the right wave would deliver him a decent score. While he lead throughout , his best form was late in the heat where Wright found some good wave sections which allowed him to forcefully complete a strong bottom turn to top turn re entry and  scored a strong 6.75 top scoring ride of the heat to  easily win. 

He defeated yesterdays standout surfer, Dylan Hannah (Cronulla),  who finished second today with both surfers advancing in the four man heats. Wright is well known to Australian surfing having already carved out a reputation as a surfer of immense natural talent and promise and at 15 he appears well focused on his goals and after his heat win today said -

" I'm aiming to do all the Pro Junior circuit this year and get as good a rating as possible - In the past I've competed in a few here and there but I guess this year should be my first year of really concentrating on these events and combining them with school - It's a great circuit and the standards super high!"

Mitch Noonan (16 years old, Fingal Bay Port Stephens NSW) was another of the emerging youngsters to show some great winning form today and he used his stylish,  powerful and swooping cut backs to defeat highly rated Sth African surfer Brandon Roberts. 

Like Wright, Noonan is planning to really concentrate on the Pro Junior circuit this year and after his win said " This is my first pro junior event and it's a great start as I've won both round 1 and 2 heats! I'll concentrate on all the events Australia wide and through New Zealand this year. I'm into round three now and that's where all the top seeds come in and I'm looking forward to the challenge!" 

Noonan posted an excellent 8 point final ride in his heat to defeat Roberts. Sunshine Coast surfers were again impressive today with Chris Friend (Maroochydore) and Harrison Roach (Noosa) both progressing through to round three.

Overseas  surfers were also strong  today - Winners included USA's Alex Gray, French surfers  Adrian Toyan and Jaco Steyn and South Africans Brett Shearer and Brandon Jackson. Gray was again impressive with some big moves and the LA based Californian surfer commented on the wave similarities of his home town to the Surfcoast region --

"I live close to LA airport , on the coast and we have a lot of reefs very similar to this coastline, probably not as consistent though - Most people aren't aware of waves in the heart of LA but we have them! Southern California is more consistent and well known!"   

"I'm here to surf amongst the best of my age in the world - this is where it's at - If you look at the World Championship Circuit it is made up of about 50% Australian's and they all come from this circuit!  Now I'm through to round three I get to surf against Australia's very top seeded surfers and I'm looking forward to it!" 

It wasn't a great day for Victorian surfers with all three round two seeds eliminated - Cahill Bell - Warren (Jan Juc), Dane Carollo (Jan Juc) and Finn Barry (Apollo Bay)  all finished 3rd. Victoria will now rely on their  final  round three seeded surfers in Tim Stevenson, James Healy, Tom Law  (All Surfcoast based) and Carl  Wright (Phillip Island), with round three likely to begin on the arrival of a promising new swell on Friday.  

The Globe Jetty Surf Girls and Cadet divisions were set to surf this later this afternoon. 

 
Weekly updates can be found on the following websites - www.surfingaustralia.com  and  www.jettysurf.com  

Previous reports:
# 1 : New wave of surfers set for Globe Jetty Surf Pro Junior
# 2 : Globe Jetty Surf Pro Junior - High scores & great waves
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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

Steve Roberston
stever@surfingaustralia.com 
 
Junior Contests - Surfersvillage