Billabong Pro Junior - Coffs Harbour

ASP Grade 1 Mens and Womens Pro Junior
Macauleys Headland, Coffs Harbour NSW Australia
14 - 18 February 2007

Joske On Target - Girls Quarterfinalists Decided

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 16 February, 2007 : - - Friday 16th February 2007 (Macauleys Headland): COFFS Harbour locals have continued there run of good form on day three of the Billabong Pro Junior Series at Macauleys Beach. Clean 1m waves provided the ideal line-up for the nations best to showcase their talent for the remaining eight heats of round three and the first three rounds of the Pro Junior girls division.  

Nambucca Head’s surfer Heath Joske blasted his way into the fourth round with an emphatic win over fellow Coffs Coast resident Otis Carey. Joske, 18, started strongly in the 20-minute-heat, locking in a 7.25 for a series of smooth frontside turns before sealing the victory two waves later with a nearly identical 7.15 score.

“The surf was pretty fun, nothing like the average waves we had for the first few juniors this year,” said Joske.  “I managed to get that first good one straight off the bat which put me in a good position.” Joske led for the entire exchange leaving Carey holding on to second with two scoring waves of a 6.00 and a 5.50.  Cronulla’s Jake Stalker and Manly surfer Max Brokman were eliminated from the event.

Local surfers have been dominating during the five-day event with ASP series leader Jayke Sharpe (Sandy Beach), Madison Williams (Coffs Harbour) and Northern Rivers hotshot Laurie Towner (Angourie) all through to round four.   “It was good to see Otis go through as well,” said Joske.  “We have been surfing together for a while and he always comes down and surfs at my local beach so it was good for us both to get through.”

Heath Joske : photo Steve Roberts/Surfing Australia

“The guys seem to be doing really well, they are all from around here and we always have our Boardriders competitions at this beach. “This bank is always like this as well, the way it runs off the little rip bowl, so they are just used to it and it’s a huge advantage.” Sunshine Coast surfer Dean Iezzi (Sunrise Beach) chalked up a solid round three heat win over South African Rudy Palmboom, Jesse Adam (Merewether) and Dean Bowen (Gerroa).

In a tight exchange, Iezzi took advantage of a long reform right-hand wave to score an early 5.50 ride before taking the lead late in the heat with a 6.50.  Palmboom snuck into second with a final 5.00 ride on the hooter to edge out Adam and relegate Bowen into fourth place.  

“I knew if I wanted to get through I would have to get the best waves at the start and then play the waiting game for the rest of the heat,” said Iezzi.  “It’s really fun for the natural footers, you just have to pick the right ones and I had a great time out there on my forehand.”

“I was hoping for a good result but that’s just how things go,” said Iezzi.  “My goal is to make the top ten this year and then hopefully make it down to the world juniors at North Narrabeen.” Iezzi will contest his round four match against Otis Carey (Coffs Harbour), Sam Lendrum (Nords Wharf) and Matt Wilkinson (Copacabana).

Central Coast surfers Dane Atcheson (Copacabana) and Beau Atchison (Copacabana) along with Wilkinson all won through to round four from competition today. Dane Atchison racked up the mornings top single wave score of a 9.00 to win his clash against Blake Ainsworth (Coolangatta), Max Tough (Wamberal) and Dale Richards (Tweed Heads).

Beau Atchison defeated Kiwi surfer Kieren VanDerHelder, Gus MacGregor (Maroubra) and West Australian Sam Baldock (Margaret River) in his opening round three heat.  The fast surfing natural footer is currently rated second on the ASP Australasian Junior Series behind Jayke Sharpe (Coffs Harbour) and could claim the ratings lead for the first time in his career on the NSW Mid North Coast.  Round four will resume tomorrow morning and finalise on Sunday.  

The Billabong Pro Junior Series Girls division will finalize Saturday.  When competition gets underway on the final day of play for the ladies, quarter final one will see Sally Fitzgibbons (Gerroa) face off against 2006 ASP Australasian Champion Airini Mason (Tugun),  Kirby Wright (Culburra) and Lori Kelly (Caloundra).

Quarter final two will consist of Paige Hareb (NZ), Rebecca Oakley (Sunshine Beach), Laura Enever (Narrabeen) and Alize Arnaud (France) The final is expected to hit the water at 11am NSW time.  The Billabong Pro Junior Series is supported by Vodafone, Panasonic, UV Triplegard, Clearasil, Von Zipper, Kustom, Surfing NSW and the Coffs Harbour City Council.  

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 at Coffs Harbour kicks off in solid surf
# 2 : Sharpe going ballistic at Billabong Pro Jnr Series Coffs
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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Simon Barratt
Billabong Australia

Steve Robertson
Surfing Australia Photography

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