Surfing Australia

Merewether aces dealt wildcards into Burton Toyota Pro

Thursday, 25 February 2010

MEREWETHER duo Ryan Callinan and Jake Sylvester have secured wildcard entries into the Burton Toyota Pro following outstanding performances in the event’s trials at Port Stephens.
Having risen through the ranks of Surfest’s and Hunter Water’s “Rising Stars” program that identifies talented young surfers, both Merewether Board Club members now get fast-tracked into the business rounds of the 4-Star Burton Toyota Pro – the jewel in the crown of the 13 day surfing festival.
But this is not the first wildcard that Ryan has received into the only WQS event in New South Wales.  Five years ago he was awarded a sponsor’s wildcard into the event and started in the round of 92.
Seventeen-year-old Ryan, who is currently on Hawaii’s North Shore as part of a team of Billabong riders undertaking a photo shoot, has been catapulted into the round of 32 of the Burton Toyota Pro.
This is the second time in as many months that the talented goofy-footer has won a trial event.
In January he won the world junior trials at Narrabeen and is currently ranked 10th on the ASP Australasian junior men ratings.
It’s going to be big fortnight for Ryan, as he is also surfing in the Chiko Pro Junior, which gets underway at Merewether on March 4.
His fellow board club mate Jake Sylvester, who is studying for the HSC at Newcastle High, has secured his spot into the round of 48.
Just under 12 months ago, Jake was crowned Australian Volcom junior champion at Manly and in 2010 he is chasing an Australian Pro Junior title.
The natural-footer loves the Merewether wave, and it is here that he has racked up club championships in junior and cadet divisions.
In 2009, the 16-year-old  was part of the victorious Newcastle High Team that won the Schools Team Challenge event that is an integral part of the Burton Toyota Surfest.
Other surfers who won wildcard spots at the Port Stephens trials include juniors Kurtis Herman and Jack Scollard. Both surfers won wildcards into the round of 64 of the Chiko Pro Junior.
Action in the $US85,000 Burton Toyota Pro gets underway at Merewether on March 9.