Taj’s Small Fries

Yallingup, Western Australia
19 - 21 January 2007

McTaggart Sizzles At Taj’s Small Fries Surf Event

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 22 January, 2007 : - - Yallingup, Western Australia -- West Australian future surfing superstar Creed McTaggart (Margaret River) has upstaged a quality field to take out the 14/U boys division of the Billabong Taj’s Small Fries Event at Yallingup.

The 12-year-old, who finished runner up in last years 12/U division proved exactly why he has been earmarked as the next big thing in surfing, defeating talented east coast trio Matt Banting (Port Macquarie), Bradley Sims (Port Kembla, NSW) and Dylan Cummings (Norah Heads, NSW) to claim the title.

In ideal 1.5m conditions at Honeycombs Beach, the fast surfing natural footer proved he could well be the next Taj Burrow, posting a staggering two wave total of 19.20 out of a possible 20.00 to leave all his opponents needing two waves to match him.  

A near perfect 9.87 for a series of blistering forehand top turns set up an unassailable lead for McTaggart who then locked in another 9.33 on his final ride to put the result well beyond doubt. “It was onshore in the final so it was hard to pick the good ones, I was lucky to get a couple of nines and I won,” said McTaggart.   “I was pretty confident going out there, I felt like if I just had some fun it would pay off.”

“It was probably the hardest final I have ever been in, Matt (Banting) is a good surfer, he surfed good today so I guess we will be always going backwards and forwards in first and second.” Banting finished the event in second place, while Cummings and Sims took third and fourth respectively.  

South Coast NSW surfer Dean Bowen (Gerroa) took out the 16/U boys division in fine style, defeating fellow New South Welshman Ryan Callinan (Merewether), along with Jethro Hedstrom (Margaret River) and Jake Fawcett (Geraldton).  

The stocky goofy footer started the 25-minute-final with a precise punch, scoring an 8.77 on his second ride to take the lead.  Another well timed backhand attack on his fourth ride rewarded the 15-year-old with a second 8.17 ride, putting his fellow finalists in a combination situation.

Bowen was a clear standout throughout the three day event, his long journey west made all the more fruitful with a dominating victory. “The level of competition was pretty similar to what it is like in the east,” said Bowen.  “It was really hard, and I came a long way so I’m stoked to take it out.”

“It’s a great event, it’s really prestigious and it’s good to have Taj (Burrow) watching over you, it makes you want to surf so much better.” Hillary’s surfer Felicity Palmateer won back to back titles at the Billabong Taj’s Small Fries, taking out the 16/U girls division over Laura Macaulay (Gracetown), India Payne (VIC), and local Dunsborough surfer Mikaela Greene.

Younger Macaulay sister Bronte took out the 14/U girls division over Payne, Greene and Kate Tarrant (Dunsborough).  Micro Margaret River midget Jack Robinson, 9, was too good for East Coasters Mitchell Parkinson (Coolangatta), Soli Bailey (Byron Bay) and Joshua Szele (Warilla, NSW) in the 12/U boys division.  

The smallest of the small fries were giant killers in the water despite barely reaching four feet tall on land. Ten out of the twenty finalists in the Billabong Taj’s Small Fries for 2007 came from outside Western Australia.  Taj’s Small Fries is supported by Panasonic, Vodafone, Clearasil, UV Triplegard, Von Zipper, Surfing WA and the Local Community of Yallingup.

www.billabong.com.au 
www.surfingaustralia.com

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Simon Barratt
Billabong Australia

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