Billabong Pro Junior - Sunshine Coast

ASP Grade 1 Mens and Womens Pro Junior
Sunshine Coast Queensland Australia
6 - 11 February 2007

Mitchell Coleborn Wins Billabong Pro Junior Series - Jayke Sharp Claims ASP Junior Series Ratings Lead

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 11 February, 2007 : - - SOUTH East Queensland’s dream run of swell continued on the Sunshine Coast today for the final of the Billabong Pro Junior Series. Pt Cartwright turned it on for the countries best juniors, churning out ideal 1.5-2m barreling right-handers.  It was the best surf seen in a pro junior event for over a year and the first time an event had been held at the fickle break in over a decade. 

Maroochydore surfer Mitch Coleborn used local knowledge to full effect, defeating Angourie’s Laurie Towner in a decidedly one sided affair to secure his second ever Pro Junior Series victory. The stocky goofy footer led from word go, an 8.00 and a 7.33 setting up a commanding lead for an emphatic win.  Coleborn, 19, was simply untouchable on the final day, posting the highest wave and heat score of the event in his semi final, a 9.70 setting up a two-wave total of 17.53 out of 20.00.

“I use to surf Cartwright a bit when I was a grommet,” said Coleborn.  “I haven’t surfed here a lot lately but it was insane to see it turn on for the final day. I was definitely looking for a strong result here after my last bow out down at Burleigh,” said Coleborn.  “I’m just stoked to get a win, the points are very valuable to me. All my mates are down here and they are stoked so it amazing to win in front of a local crew.”

The final scores from the final had Coleborn taking the win with 15.33 to Towner’s 6.67.   The hometown win has boosted the 20-year-old into fourth position on the ASP Australasian Junior Rankings.  Towner had the proverbial shocker, breaking two surfboards in the 25-minute final and leaving his opponent in the line-up unchallenged for much of the encounter.  

Mitch Coleborn : photo Surfing Australia

“It sucks to win like that, it would have been great to have a nice close final for all the spectators because I know how good Laurie surfs,” said Coleborn.  “It was a bit unlucky for him in the final but I’ll take the win.Fighting back from injury, Towner’s second place finish at the Billabong Pro Junior signified his return to the top level of competition for his age group. 

“That was probably the worst heat I have ever had,” said Towner.  “I got really unlucky and broke a couple of boards but even so, Mitch got a couple of really good scores so it would have been tough for me to come back. I’m stoked to get to the final, I would have loved to have done a little bet better but sometimes it just goes that way,” said Towner.  “Well done to Mitch, he surfed really good.

“It’s definitely a good confidence booster, I’ve just come out of a shoulder injury and have been struggling to find some form so to come this contest and get some good waves and get a strong result is awesome. Securing his best result in an Australasian Junior Series event today was Lennox Head hotshot Stuart Kennedy.  Kennedy, 17, was a standout performer across the six-day event, defeating ratings leader Jayke Sharp and local star Blake Wilson (Alexandra Headland) on his way through to the semis.

Facing Towner in the penultimate final, Kennedy started strongly with a 7.50 before being forced to play catch up after Towner notched up a 9.23 ride.  The smooth surfing natural footer fought valiantly to post a 7.00 followed by an 8.17 but it wasn’t enough to reel in his breakaway opponent, still left needing an 8.40. 

Brendan Leckie : photo Surfing Australia

“I’m really happy with that result, I would have loved to be in the final but well done to Laurie,” said Kennedy.  “I just kept calm through the whole event, just concentrated on getting my scores in every heat and it worked out for me. We don’t really get to surf many point breaks throughout the year so it was good to get Pt Cartwright firing today.”

Gold Coast natural footer Brendan Leckie rocketed into the top ten on the ratings with an equal third placed finish.  Leckie accounted for an inform Lincoln Taylor (Pt Lookout) in the Quarters before going down to a rampaging Coleborn in the Semi Final. The powerful backhand of Coleborn blasted Leckie out of contention within the heats opening minutes, locking in a near perfect 9.70 to take the lead.  Leckie was never in the hunt, requiring a combination of 17.54 at the death to progress.

“Mitch nailed it on his first wave in the first few seconds and then he had me from there,” said Leckie.  “I tried to come back but couldn’t find any good ones. I’m definitely stoked to be in the top ten again, my goal is to stay there all year and then be in with a chance of making the top five at the end of the year.”

Despite bowing out in the Quarter Finals to Towner, Coffs Harbour surfer Jayke Sharpe claimed the ASP Australasian Series lead, knocking Coolum’s Julian Wilson off top spot.  After breaking through for a maiden victory at the second event of the year at Burleigh Heads, Sharpe is in an ideal position to cement his lead leading into the Billabong Pro Junior Series at his home break next week. 

“Laurie is definitely surfing well, he hasn’t had too good a start to the year but he had all the good ones in that heat,” said Sharpe.  “There are good waves out there, perfect for the contest so whoever gets the best waves is going to get through, which I didn’t. "

"I’m definitely stoked on leading the series, it’s something I never thought I would be able to do or ever thought would happen,” he said.  “I’m looking forward to next week, they are the waves I’ve surfed my whole life so a good result there to set up the rest of the year would be perfect.”

The Billabong Pro Junior Series event on the Sunshine Coast is supported by Vodafone, Panasonic, UV Triplegard, Clearasil, Von Zipper, Kustom and Surfing Queensland.

About The Billabong Pro Junior Series
Developed in the early 1990’s as a platform for young surfers aiming to become professionals, the $75,000 Billabong Pro Junior Series is the country’s longest standing and richest domestic junior surfing circuit.  The five event series, open to aspiring male and female surfers aged 20-years and under, will comprise half of the overall ASP Australasian circuit, which culminates in the crowning of the ASP World Junior Champion at North Narrabeen each year.  

For the first time in its history, the Billabong Pro Junior Series will this year stop at the new locations of Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast and Coffs Harbour on the NSW Mid North Coast.  

2007 Billabong Junior Series
$13,000 Billabong Pro Junior Sunshine Coast, February 6 to 11
$13,000 Billabong Pro Junior Coffs Harbour, February 14 to 18
$13,000 Billabong Pro Junior Raglan, March 29 to 31
$13,000 Billabong Pro Junior Wollongong, September 13 to 16
$23,000 Billabong Pro Junior Bells, September 26 to 30

Previous reports:
# 1 : Billabong Pro Jr series moving to Maroochydore & Coffs
# 2 : Billabong Pro Junior Sunshine Coast: clean surf on day 1
# 3 : Billabong Pro Junior - Sunshine Coasters fail at Coolum
# 4 : Rebecca Oakley on target for Billabong Pro Jnr. Series  
# 5 : Billabong Pro Junior Sunshine Coast - top seed is out
# 6 : Laura Enever wins Billabong Pro Junior Sunshine Coast

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www.surfingaustralia.com

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