Sally Fitzgibbons : photo Steve Robertson

Globe Jetty Surf Pro Junior

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

Heatdraw/Results

Sth Coast NSW surfers dominate day 4 of the Globe Jetty Surf Pro Junior.

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 12 January, 2006 : - - It was a great day for South Coast NSW surfers at Jan Juc today with the girls semi finalists of the Globe Jetty Surf Pro decided and the Cadet Cup for Australia's very best under 16 surfers completed. Early morning conditions were by far the best with clean offshore winds, clear skies and fun high tide 1m surf.  

South Coast NSW surfer Sally Fitzgibbons (Gerroa), at just 15 years of age, is the youngest competitor in the field and  was todays dominant surfer posting the easiest of quarter final wins and enhancing her already huge reputation. She was awarded the days top scoring ride, an excellent 8.75, after completing a series of high quality  top turn to powerful cut back moves. 

The year 10 Kiama Secondary College student who  last month won an Australian Cadet title seems comfortable and unintimidated competing against her much older and experienced rivals. Last year, at 14 years of age she finished second in an ASP Open World Qualifying Series event in Queensland and her competitive know how, combined with her obvious talent, probably has her as a favourite to win here in the first Pro Junior event of the 2006 season. 

Content with her win today she outlined her goals for this season after her quarter final saying " I'll try and do as many of the Pro Junior events as possible this year along with maybe some of the Open WQS events in Australia - It all has to tie in with school but that's not too hard because I can miss some school and catch up!" 

Fitzgibbons winning score of 15 out of a possible 20 was well ahead of all other quarter finalists. Victorian surfer Amy Stewart (Jan Juc), who finished second behind Fitzgibbon to also advance was next highest with 12.9.

Other girls to advance to the semi finals included New Zealand surfers Arini Mason (now based in Coolangatta) and Mischa Davis along with WA surfer Jessie Hickson and Coff's Harbour's  Angela Kieghan.  For all the girls their chances of winning were increased in a big way when event favourite Nicola Atherton was a shock elimination in todays final quarter final. 

Atherton (Bronte Beach Sydney) struggled on the out going tide smaller conditions which were difficult for a surfer of her power. With excellent swells and waves forecast for the coming days at Bells, where Atherton last year dominated in such conditions, she would have been extremely hard to beat. Her elimination has created a big opportunity for all her competitors. 

Winner of the Globe Jetty Surf Cadet Cup Owen Wright : photo Steve Robertson.

Today's Cadet Cup final was a typically exciting and high class battle. These are probably the best 16 and under surfers in the world with a number of overseas youngsters here to compete.  

South Coast NSW again produced the surfer with Owen Wright (15, Culburra) taking a convincing win over Reunion Island surfer Lleminardi Medi with Sunshine Coast's Chris Friend in third and another South Coast NSW surfer Dean Bowen in fourth. 

Wright was the defending Cadet Cup champion here and he dominated all day to win comfortably. Happy with his win today, his "work" in Victoria is far from over as his main aim this season is the Pro Junior Circuit and he'll resume surfing tomorrow in the top seeded round three of the Globe Jetty Surf Pro Junior. 

" The win was great but I'm concentrating on the Pro Junior Circuit this season and looking forward to my heat tomorrow - Surf's meant to be picking up so that's great news!" commented the quietly spoken Wright after his win today! Wright will face Sth Africa's Brandon Roberts and highly seeded Coff's Harbour surfer James Athorn in tomorrows Pro Junior round three heat. 

Wave conditions are expected to significantly improve tomorrow and into the weekend, right on time for the highest seeded Australasian pro Juniors to hit the water - these include Ben Dunn, Mitch Coleborn, Wade Goodall and a number of high rated internationals like Jordy Smith (RSA) and Alex Gray (USA).

The event expects to start at 7:30am tomorrow at Bells Beach.

More information at;- 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 : Globe Jetty Surf Pro Jr - Next generation shine on day 2
# 4 : Globe Jetty Surf Pro Junior expects great w/end waves

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Steve Roberston
stever@surfingaustralia.com 
 
Junior Contests - Surfersvillage