Chill WA Junior Titles Pres. by SunSmart - Rnd 2

Big surf and strong winds no deterrent at the second event of the 2011 Chill WA Junior Surfing Title

Monday, 13 June 2011

WA's best junior surfers battled the elements in Yallingup over the weekend, for the second event of the Chill WA Junior Surfing Titles presented by SunSmart. Strong northerly winds, and a westerly ground swell greeted competitors on day one of competition at the ever reliable backup location Shallows.
 
Despite inclement conditions forcing event officials to move from Yallingup Mainbreak, the decision to shift the event around the bay paid dividends with punchy left and right hand peaks providing the perfect setting for some high performance surfing.
 
Waves in the 3-4 feet (2.0 metre) range kept the hearts of many grommets pumping, as competitors from right across the state converged on Shallows for the chance to be selected to represent WA at the Australian Junior Surfing Titles, to be held in Coffs Harbour (NSW) at the end of the year. The Chill WA Junior Surfing Titles are the breeding ground for the next generation of professional surfers, with the likes of current world # 4 Taj Burrow (Yallingup) and world # 19 Felicity Palmateer (Hillarys) both making their way to the professional ranks by first surfing in the state titles as juniors.
 
Traditionally, the second round of competition is the most important, with surfers looking to capitalise on their round one results or make their presence felt on the series ratings. After small summer like conditions for the first event at Trigg Point, Mother Nature was not as kind the second time around with gusty northerly winds and an increasing swell on offer over the weekend making for a messy ocean, strong currents and big rips.
 

"Looking at the forecast earlier in the week, we knew we knew the winds were going to be tricky, luckily the waves at Shallows were slightly protected and provided some good shape and actually allowed for some great heats on Saturday." Said Head Judge Mike McAullife.

It was surfers from the South-West that adapted best to the conditions and made for some entertaining surfing. Day one was highlighted by the performances of Margaret River surfers Jack Robinson, Jacob Willcox, Josh Burke, and Shaun Green in the U18 Junior Boys, with some huge round one scores. James Fleming (Geraldton) and Jordan Ryan (Trigg) also impressed in the blue ribbon division looking at home in the larger surf.

While in the U16 Cadet Boys, Shaun Manners (Margaret River), Harry McPherson (Mandurah) and Yallingup trio of Sasha Hopkins, Jack Teague, and Duke Nagtzaam all set the pace in their heats.

The female surfers were not apprehensive about the conditions tackling some of the bigger waves of the weekend. Local lass Mikaela Greene was scintillating in her round one heat scoring the weekend's highest score of 8.83 sending an ominous sign to her opposition. Hannah Massie (Margaret River), Bronte Macaulay (Gracetown) and Carly Lynch (Dunsborough) all moved into the Sunday's final with good surfing on day one.

"I surf out here all the time, but not really in these conditions, there are some big sets and if you can pick the right one its really fun. I was lucky to get a couple of good ones but if you get stuck in the current you're in trouble." Commented Greene.

Day two dawned with similar conditions as Saturday with the youngest competitors the U12 Micro-Groms the first to tackle the waves. Some waves would have easily been triple over head for this age group, but with the assistance of dad's and fellow competitors the U12's hit the water, some even making out the back whilst others were content surfing the inside whitewater.

It was Duncraig's Josh Cattlin who took on the big set waves which scored highly with the judges. Cattlin took the win from Kila Hatchett (Margaret River), with Luka Burke (Margaret River) in third ahead of Brad Harrrington (Mandurah) in fourth. The courage of Josh Cattlin was rewarded with the 'Sector 9 Encouragement Award' for his fearless approach to some pretty serious surf.

In the U14 Grommets division, another young surfer shone with some spectacular manoeuvres. Shaun Manners one of the weekend's best performers, slicing his way to an impressive victory and his first U14 State Title. Manners used the long right handers to his advantage picking up some great running waves. From there Manners weaved and swooped his way to the win ahead of Denmark duo Lachlan Ross and Mitchell Sainty who both surfed well to place second and third respectively ahead of Kalbarri's Fletcher Cremasco in fourth.
 
Manners wasn't finished in the U14's he went on to feature in the hotly contested U16 Cadet Boys final, which saw him surf five times in one day to reach both finals. However, it was Margaret River's Jacob Willcox that used stamped his authority on the division claiming his first U16 State Title with back to back wins at Trigg and Yallingup. Willcox's razor sharp backhand was the difference with two great scores which included an 8.00 and 6.50 ride to give him a combined total of 14.50 from a possible twenty. Willcox was a clear winner ahead of James Fleming (Geraldton) in second, Shaun Manners third and Yallingup local Sasha Hopkins making his first WA Junior Title final in fourth.
 

The 2010 U14 State Champion, Willcox was now the 2011 U16 Cadet Champion confirming his status as a surfing star on the rise.

"Im so stoked to have won this event, Im really looking forward to heading over to National Titles." Said an elated Willcox who is off to the Mark Richards High Performance Camp in New South Wales this week with Sasha Hopkins and Harry McPherson for the countries best U16 surfers.

The U18 Junior Women was a closely contested final between two leading WA surfers Bronte Macaulay and Mikaela Greene. The two form surfers of the division traded wave for wave scores, but it was Macaulay's 6.50 ride that was the difference in the end edging out Greene for the win. 2010 U16 State Champion Hannah Massie placed third ahead of Carly Lynch in fourth.

In the blue ribbon U18 Junior Boys Division, Shaun Green surfed with power and maturity beyond his years with a dominant win. In arguably one of the best U18 Junior Boys fields in recent events, Green locked in a 7.50 and 6.25 on his opening two rides and was clear winner ahead of a consistent Jack Robinson in second place ahead of Zac Haynes (City Beach) in third with James Fleming making two finals in fourth.

"I know all these guys can surf so well so I knew it would be a close one, I just stuck to my plan and the waves seemed to come my way." Green said.

With so many surfers now striving for the remaining 2011 State Titles and the final places WA State Team, the last round of competition is set to be a stunner. Geraldton will play host to the third and final Chill WA Junior Surfing Titles on 23rd - 24th July and is set to see the Mid-West invaded by some of the shinning stars of WA junior surfing.

Mikaela Greene was awarded the 'Firewire Freakish Talent Award' for posting three of the weekend's highest scores which included an 8.83, a 8.73 and 6.83.

Be sure to check out www.surfingwa.com.au for the updated series rating and all event updates and information.

If you missed any of the action from round two of the Chill WA Junior Surfing Titles, you can check out the event highlight package in the coming days on the Surfing WA Vimeo account at vimeo.com/user4625467 

The Brownes Chill WA Junior Surfing Titles are proudly presented by SunSmart

Supported by Creatures of Leisure, Sex Wax, PowerBalance, Sector 9, Firewire Surfboards, and Surfing Western Australia.


FINAL RESULTS:

 

U18 Junior Boys: 1. Shaun Green (Margaret River), 2. Jack Robinson (Margaret River), 3. Zac Haynes (City Beach), 4. James Fleming (Geraldton).

U18 Junior Girls: 1. Bronte Macaulay (Gracetown), 2. Mikaela Greene (Yallingup), 3. Hannah Massie (Margaret River), 4. Carly Lynch (Dunsborough).

U16 Cadet Boys: 1. Jacob Wilcox (Margaret River), 2. James Fleming (Geraldton), 3. Shaun Manners (Margaret River), 4. Sasha Hopkins (Yallingup). STATE CHAMPION: Jacob Willcox

U16 Cadet Girls: 1. Eliza Greene (Yallingup), 2. Marie Bradley (Dunsborough), 3. Emi Campbell (Denmark), 4. Aleigha-Shae Norton (Mandurah). STATE CHAMPION: Eliza Greene

U14 Grommet Boys: 1. Shaun Manners (Margaret River), 2. Lachlan Ross (Denmark), 3. Mitch Sainty (Denmark), 4. Fletcher Cremasco (Kalbarri). STATE CHAMPION: Shaun Manners

U12 Micro-Groms: 1. Josh Cattlin (Duncraig), 2. Kila Hatchett (Margaret River), 3. Luka Burke (Margaret River), 4. Brad Harrington (Mandurah), 5. Jarrah Webb (Margaret River), Max Leaver (Yallingup).

 

For more information of this event contact:

 

Surfing Western Australia - Event Manager
Justin Majeks
T: +61 8 9448 0004

Surfing Western Australia - Event Photographer
Nick Woolacott
T: +61430 434 022

About Brownes Chill:

 

Brownes Chill are proud to be the major supporter of grass roots surfing programs for our WA kids.

Shaun Green was unstoppable in the blue ribbon U18 Boys. Threading this amazing tube. Woolacott

Shaun Green's mix of power and style saw him take a deserving win in the U18 Junior Men. Woolacott

Bronte Macaulay (Gracetown) stepped it up in the bigger surf over the weekend @ Yallingup. Woolacott

Jack Robinson (Margaret River) top performer placing second in the blue ribbon U18's. Woolacott

James Fleming (Geraldton) made two finals, the U16 and U18 Boys. Woolacott

U14 State Champion Shaun Manners and 3rd place getter in the U16 Cadets. Woolacott

Firewire Winner Mikalea Greene, slicing her way to a 2nd place finish in the U18 Girls. Woolacott

Jack Teague linning up the section on the bowly inside left. Woolacott

U16 Cadet State Champion Eliza Greene, all smiles. Woolacott

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