The final day of the Wild Surf Co/Billabong Pro-Teen will be Webcast LIVE on Sunday
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 1 April, 2006 : - - With only one day of competition remaining at the Wild Surf Co/Billabong Pro-Teen at Newcastle, competitors today battled through small conditions this morning before the famous southerly buster came through mid afternoon, pushing wind gusts up to 65km/ph.
The strong southerly change is expected to significantly increase wave heights overnight, with solid 2m swell forecast for tomorrow’s final day. Competition moved through to the final twelve in the junior men’s division today and through to the semi finals in the junior women’s.
Bronte’s Nicola Atherton has been given a rare chance to make up some ground on breakaway ASP Australasian Junior Girls leader Airini Mason (Tugun), after the Gold Coaster was a shock early elimination from the second round of girls competition yesterday. Atherton, who is well aware that win here will put her back in contention to achieve her goal of taking out the series, was on song today, moving through to the semi finals.
Mason would have wrapped up the championship with a win here at Newcastle, but that will now have to wait another two weeks, when the Billabong Girls Pro-Teen Series touches down on the Sunshine Coast over Easter.
Nicola Atherton : photo Brent Mail
Girls remaining in competition at the Wild Surf Co/Billabong Pro-Teen Newcastle include Atherton, Amy Stewart (Jan Juc), Rebecca Oakley (Sunrise Beach), Angela Keighran (Mullaway), Mischa Davis (NZ), Sally Fitzgibbons (Gerroa), Paige Hareb (NZ) and Kirby Wright (Culburra).
In the junior men’s, Coffs Coast local Madison Williams was the first surfer to book a spot in the final twelve after a stellar performance over Owen Wright (Culburra), Kiwi Richard Christie and event standout Blake Wilson (Alexandra Headland). With the swell rising quickly, Williams made the most of an inside reform right hander to post a 7.50 and a 7.75, the highest combined total of the day.
Mitch Coleborn’s (Maroochydore) hope of victory in Newcastle went out the window this afternoon after a close loss to fellow Queenslander Julian Wilson (Coolum) and Nambucca Heads surfer Heath Joske. The 20-year-old who was looking to topple Laurie Towner (Angourie) from the ASP Australasian Ratings helm struggled in the marginal waves, only amassing a combined two wave heat total of 8.60. Also eliminated in the heat was Gold Coast surfer Brett Levingston.
It was a solid heat win for Wilson who will now have a fantastic opportunity to climb up from his current fourth position on the ratings. Other Sunshine Coast surfers eliminated today included Dean Brady (Noosa), Dean Iezzi (Noosa) and Shaun Stevic (Noosa). Wade Goodall (Caloundra) is through to round five but is scheduled to surf this afternoon.
The only remaining Novacastrian in the event is Jesse Adams was eliminated from the round of 24.
The Wild Surf Co/Billabong Pro-Teen Series is the first major event in the 13 day surf celebration of the Vodafone Surfest presented by Billabong in Newcastle. The four star rated World Qualifying event will begin next Monday and feature a host of the worlds best including seven times world surfing champion Kelly Slater. All the action from the WQS can be viewed LIVE on www.surfest.com
The Wild Surf Co/Billabong Pro-Teen Series event is supported by Panasonic, Vodafone, Coca-Cola, UV Triplegard, Clearasil, Kustom, Von Zipper, Tracks and Palmers Surf.
Billabong Pro Teen Series Dates and Locations
Feb 7-12 Billabong Pro-Teen Series Gold Coast Feb 15-19 Billabong Pro-Teen Series Wollongong Mar 16-19 Billabong Pro-Teen Series Raglan NZ Mar 29-Apr 2 Wild Surf Co/Billabong Pro-Teen Series Newcastle Sep 27-Oct 1 Billabong Pro-teen Bells Beach
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