Ben Dunn : photo Steve Robertson
Globe Jetty Surf Pro Junior
8 star ASP Australasian Pro junior Bells Beach, (mobile) Victoria 9 - 15 January 2006
Heatdraw/Results
Victorian Surfers rise to the top as swell rises for great action at the Globe Jetty Surf Pro Junior
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 13 January, 2006 : - - Victorian surfers Tim Stevenson (Jan Juc) and Carl Wright (Phillip Island) stepped up and dominated their interstate and international opponents as a new swell provided good waves at Jan Juc Beach for round three of the Globe Jetty Surf Pro Junior today.
Stevenson opened his heat with a strong 7 point ride in the opening minute to stamp his authority at his home break and controlled the heat throughout to defeat Northern NSW surfer Steve Walsh.
It's a good start to the season for Stevenson who plans to tackle the entire domestic Pro Junior and ASP Qualifying World circuit this year and he is hoping for the swells to continue to rise as the event heads into the finals tomorrow and Sunday.
" It's great to be surfing the opening event of the Australian pro season in local waters and I'm really looking forward to surfing the next rounds at Bells Beach tomorrow and Sunday - It looks like we're in for a big swell and I'm comfortable with that for sure. Knowing Bells , particuarly in larger conditions can give you an advantage - basically I just want some good waves to surf in and I'm confident I can do well!"
Stevenson won't be the only one who is comfortable at Bells tomorrow - His round four match up is against Australia's most successful ever junior surfer in Ben Dunn (Old Bar Beach, Nth Coast NSW) - Dunn scored a big opening round heat win today and was also looking forward to moving to the reefs at Bells for the finals.
Dunn has achieved practically everything possible in junior and pro junior surfing and this will be one of the few Pro Juniors Dunn competes in this year as he plans to concentrate on the open world ASP Qualifying Series. He's only really down here due to his love of surfing Bells Beach and because he's defending Globe Jetty Pro Junior champion.
After his win a clearly relaxed Dunn said - "This event and Bells has been great to me so I always enjoy coming here - The pro junior circuit is not my focus this year, I'll be following the world WQS series extensively. Any chance I get to surf at Bells I try and take because I love the wave and I'm hoping to get a start at the Rip Curl Pro World Championship event at Easter so I 'll try and keep my self fully aquainted with the wave over the coming two days!"
Dunn will surf his four man round four heat with Stevenson tomorrow morning and with two surfers progressing through the 4 man heats life is certain to be hard for their opponents.
Young 17 year old Phillip Island surfer Carl Wright advanced to round 4 by finishing second behind Dunn today.The powerfully built Victorian who's surfing is based around power and critical moves is using this event more as experience and doesn't intend to follow the domestic or international circuits this season.
He recently finished third in the Australian Junior Titles (under 18) and he is part of a select group of young Australian surfers vying for a position in the World Junior Titles to be held in Brazil in May this year - " The world titles is my main aim this season along with completing school - I still have a couple of years on the domestic pro junior circuit and while I'll do a few of the events this year, it's more for experience at this stage."
Other surfers who impressed in the early round 3 heats today included japans Hideoshi Tanaka, Sunshine Coast's Dean Brady (another very powerful surfer who is certain to be exceptionally suited to large Bells waves) and Central Coast NSW surfer Micheal Spencer.
The event did not begin until around midday today as organizers waited for the new swell to filter through and the round three heats were planning to utilize daylight saving conditions and run well into the evening.
As the day progressed the swells grew further and all competitors are excited at the prospect of some solid waves at Bells Beach for the finals tomorrow and Sunday.
Wind and swell conditions are likely to be excellent with the Girls final to be fun tomorrow along with round four and quarter finals of the male division. Sunday through to around midday has been scheduled for the Mens semi finals and final.
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 Jett y Surf Pro Junior expects great w/end waves #5: Sth Coast NSW dominate Globe Jetty Surf Pro Jr day 4
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Steve Roberston stever@surfingaustralia.com Junior Contests - Surfersvillage |