Arnette Pro Junior

ASP Grade 2 Men's Pro Junior Event
ASP Grade 1 Women's Pro Junior Event
Merewether Beach, Newcastle, NSW
12 - 15 March 2009

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Wright time for family affair at Arnette Pro Junior

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 11 March, 2009 : - - Merewether, NSW -- Aussie surfing sensation and junior ratings leader Owen Wright from Lennox Head on the north coast of New South Wales has been forced out of the Arnette Pro Junior. The 19-year-old, who has won three of the four junior tour events held in Australia in 2009, has been carrying an ankle injury following an aerial maneuver last September.

With a massive lead in the ratings, the defending champion of the junior event at Newcastle has decided it is time to give his body the opportunity to heal, but has come to Newcastle to support his siblings

His 14-year-old sister Tyler and 17-year-old sister Kirby will surf in the girls Arnette Pro Junior, while 12-year-old brother Michael is lining up to compete in the Sanbah Cadet Cup. Tyler is a surfing wunderkind in her own right, currently sitting in second spot on the junior tour behind Laura Enever from Narrabeen in New South Wales.

Tyler made ASP history last year when she became the youngest ever winner of an ASP World Tour event by claiming the Beachley Classic at Manly. Owen Wright says he has fond memories of Newcastle. “It’s a bit of a disappointment, especially because I won last year and one of the things I was really looking forward to was coming back and defending that title.

“I’m in great form and but I realise I’ve got an injury and I can’t compete.” “I did some airs and I came down on my ankle in the wrong way which has caused me a bit of trouble, but I should be back surfing in a couple of weeks. “It’s actually good to be able to get some down time and just work on my other training,” Wright said.

“I’ll be pepping Michael right up and talking to him a fair bit. I like doing a bit of coaching and it will be good to be in Newcastle to watch him and give him support and tips. “The first couple of events it’s just been me out there surfing, so for the whole family to be there surfing now except for me feels a bit weird. But I’m stoked to come up and support them as much as I can, ” Wright said.

In the day’s opening heats, locals Nick Ebrill (Merewether) and Jack Scollard (Catherine Hill Bay) came first and second respectively with scores of 13.25 and 9.25. The only other local in the round of 116 was Catherine Hill Bay’s Josh Radford (heat 10) who just couldn’t find the waves in small and choppy conditions.

Ebrill, a 19-year-old goofy-footer was ranked 254 on the 2008 ASP Australasia Junior Ratings list, and he knows it’s a long journey to the top end of the points ladder. But local pundits know that Ebrill is one of the Merewether standouts when the point is firing. “The waves out there are alright, but I think the local knowledge helped me a lot,” he said.

“I know where the rocks are and where to place myself because it’s a reef break and the sand moves around a lot as well. So knowing where to place myself and the exact spot to be can push the other guys deeper if you want or make them stay on the outside,” he said.

Other locals to progress today included Jackson Richards (Merewether), who grabbed a second in his heat with a score of 9.75. He will surf again tomorrow in the round of 64.

Other locals to surf in tomorrow’s round of 64 include Wes Bainbridge (Merewether), Sam Lendrum (Catherine Hill Bay), Jesse Adam (Merewether), Kurtis Herman (Nelson Bay), Duncan McNicol (Caves Beach), and Jake Sylvester (Merewether).

Friday action at the Arnette Pro Junior commences at 8.11am.

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Tahlia Crinis / Michael Tyrpenou

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