Kustom -  Jetty Surf Pro Junior

ASP Boy & Girls Pro Junior  
Torquay, Fairhaven, Victoria.
8 - 14 January 2007

Top Seeds, Internationals and Locals Dominate Day Four at the Kustom Jetty Surf Pro Junior

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 12 January, 2007 : - - Matt Wilkinson (Central Coast /NSW) and Julian Wilson (Sunshine Coast/Qld) are considered by most as Australia’s brightest emerging surfing prospects and today easily won through their round three heats in good clean 1m surf at Jan Juc at the Kustom – Jetty Surf Pro Junior. 

Wilkinson included the days 9 point highest scoring ride in his win when he cleanly executed a aerial reverse 360 to take the easiest of wins over local surfer Josh Johnson – Baxter (Ocean Grove) who also advanced in second place in the four man heats.  

Content with his form Wilkinson commented on his aerial moves by saying “I view them as an essential part of surfing and along with a few other younger surfers I think we have worked hard on them and can nearly always potentially take a big score by pulling them. Providing the wave section is right I go into an aerial move now 90% confident I can land them so it’s definitely a risk well worth taking – in fact it’s not a risk, it’s just a part of surfing.”  

Wilkinson sited Julian Wilson and Jordy Smith as two others who probably have the same approach and are strong aerialist’s. In an ironic twist Wilkinson will now face Wilson in round four at this event after Wilson posted an easy win.

Normally the two would not meet until the final with them both being Australasia’s highest rated Pro Juniors, but, Wilson’s non financial membership status which stripped his seeding here has forced the two to meet head on in round four!  It’s a stacked heat with talented pair Madison Williams (Coff’s Harbor) and Stuart Kennedy (Lennox Head) also in the heat. 

Victorian surfers were also impressive today. Local Jan Juc surfer Tim Stevenson is showing signs of his great form from two years ago and has progressed to round four. He pulled a clean aerial move today and scored a strong 7.5 ride to advance behind Queensland’s Storm Hosking. Two years ago Stevenson represented Australia in the World Junior Titles in the USA but since then, particularly last year his form has been poor at best. 

After his heat today he said – “No doubt I had a shocking season last year and as this is my final year in Pro Junior’s I have to do a whole lot better this year. I have analyzed the past two years as much as I can and I’m keen to change my results – Number one strategy has been to simply surf way more than ever before and I feel better for that and I’m confident I can get way better results this year – I really have to if I’m to continue on a professional pathway!”  

Apollo Bay surfer Finn Barry also notched up a strong heat win today defeating talented South Coast NSW surfer Ashley King and Phillip Island surfer Carl Wright also advanced in second place behind French surfer Romaine Cloitre. The other highlight today was the prestigious Kustom Jetty Surf Cadet Cup which brings together a very elite field of 16 and under surfers from all over Australia and the World. 

The internationals won the day today with 14 year old Reunion surfer Maxime Huscenot taking the win over Far North NSW surfer Keiren Lloyd (Kingscliff) with Gold Coast’s James Woods in third and Sth Coast NSW surfer Dean Bowen fourth. After his win today Maxime said, in broken English – “Very stoked to win here, Australia has the best young surfers and for me to beat them I can’t believe it” 

Round four along with Junior Women’s semi final and final are set to run tomorrow with Bells Beach the most likely venue along with good waves. Full Results available at www.surfingaustralia.com and www.jettysurf.com.au

Previous reports:
# 1 : Wilson dominates Day 1 / Kustom-Jetty Surf Pro Junior
# 2 : Kustom–Jetty Surf Pro Junior day two moves to Jan Juc 
# 3 : Victoria surfers Kustom/Jetty Surf Pro Junior standouts 
# 4 : Showdown looming for 2 of the world's best junior Girls

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Steve Robertson

JCT Contests - Surfersvillage