Pittwater Online News

Saturday, November 25, 2017 

Over 150 of Australia’s best junior surfers gathered in Culburra Beach today to officially open the proceedings for the 2018 Surf Dive n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles that kick off tomorrow.

 

Teams from Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia will all get the opportunity to take an Australian Title back to the respective event gets underway tomorrow.

 

At this early stage, the forecast for the opening two days of competition - starting Sunday, November 26th - looks promising with two-to-three foot of northeast swell.

 

After seven days of competition, champions will be crowned on finals day, which will be held on Saturday, December 2nd. 

 

Prime location for the event is Culburra Beach and Crookhaven Heads with back up locations of Seven Mile, Shoalhaven Heads, Tilbury Cove, Culburra Beach, Cudmirrah Beach, Sussex Inlet, Narrawallee Beach, North Mollymook Beach, South Mollymook Beach, Rennies Beach, Ulladulla and Racecourse.

 

All teams, families and coaches are advised to ring the event hotline (0458 247 212) by 6.45am on the days of competition to confirm location and running order.

 

With past winners including World Champions Steph Gilmore, Chelsea Hedges, Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Mark Richards, Tom Carroll and Damian Hardman, a win in this year’s event is a legitimate stepping stone to world stage glory.

 

To follow the event visit www.australianjuniorsurfingtitles.com

 

The 2017 Surf Dive n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The event will also be supported by City of Shoalhaven, Hydralyte Sports, Woolworths, Toyota, mySURF.tv, School Sport Australia, Surfing NSW, Surfing Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport.

The 2017 Surf Dive n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles got off to a flying start in playful two-foot peaks with the Under-16 Boys and Girls getting their campaigns underway.

 

Joel Vaughan (Bateau Bay, NSW) and Arch Whiteman (Mona Vale, NSW) both engaged in one of the more exciting heats of the morning with both surfers managing to get the upper hand over perennial surf comp standout Jay Occhilupo (Elanora, Qld). Whiteman and Vaughan both traded off a variety of lefts and rights in the heat and as a result saw them finish in first and second respectively, while Occhilupo will have to redeem himself in the requalification rounds.

 

Cole Fox (Jan Juc, Vic) was the standout performer amongst the interstate surfers, with the whippy goofy-footer taking out his opening heat. Fox went toe-to-toe with fellow goofy Lennox Chell (Avoca, NSW) in the first round exchange which saw the Victorian finish with a 13.25 two-wave heat total (out of a possible 20 points) ahead of Chell who finished in second position.

 

Other Under-16 Boys round one heat winners included: Grayson Hinrichs (Bondi, NSW), Ethan Stocks (Coffs Harbour, NSW), Indi White (Jan Juc, Vic) and George Pittar (Manly, NSW).

 

Holly Williams (Buddina, Qld) made her intentions known in her opening heat, with the Sunshine Coast natural-footer posting an excellent 8.25 wave score to give her the edge against her fellow competitors. Williams backed up the excellent score with a respectable 6.35 wave score, to give her an accumulative heat total of 14.60 and allows her to cement a position into the quarterfinals.

 

Other Under-16 Girls round one heat winners included: Nyxie Ryan (Lennox Head, NSW), Arabella Gibson (Margaret River, WA) and Emma Cattlin (Yallingup, WA).

Monday, November 27, 2017 

Day two of the 2017 Surf Dive n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles saw a slight increase in swell as interstate competitors dominated the lions share of Under-18 boys and girls round one heats.

 

Ben Gradisen (Gracetown, WA) and Maddy Job (Miami, Qld) both played an integral part in one of the biggest upsets of the event thus far, taking first and second over perennial standout Jay Brown (Cronulla, NSW). Gradisen and Job both opted to surf the punchy right-handers over the course of their heat to post a handful of decent scores and notch up heat totals in excess of 12.75 (out of a possible 20 points). As a result, Gradisen and Job have cemented their position in the quarterfinals, while Brown will have to surf through the requalification rounds.

 

Cyrus Cox (Margaret River, WA) and Noah Stocca (Peregian Beach, Qld) both stood out over the duration of their opening Under-18 Boys exchanges with both surfers posting respective 13.65 and 13.45 heat totals to lock in a position in the quarterfinals.

 

Other Under-18 Boys round one heat winners included: Kai Tandler (Coolangatta, Qld), Micah Margieson (Cabarita, NSW) and Kurtis Vaughan (Bateau Bay, NSW).

 

Amber Dodds (Sunrise Beach, Qld) proceeded to post one of the highest heat totals of the event so far in her Under-18 Girls round one heat. The lightning-fast Sunshine Coast surfer locked in a solid 15.00 two-wave heat total to leave her closest rival Pemba Spargo (Albany, WA) chasing an excellent 8.80 wave score.

 

Other Under-18 Girls round one winners included: Sophie Fletcher (Cape Woolamai, Vic), Sophia Chapman (Narrabeen, NSW), India Robinson (Jan Juc, Vic) and Kiara Meredith (Barrack Point, NSW).

The 2017 Surf Dive n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles saw its first round of main event eliminations today as competitors fought to keep their campaigns alive and earn a spot in the quarterfinals. 

 

Thomas Carvalho (Coolangatta, Qld) put on one of the most dominant displays of power surfing seen all event as he fought to earn a spot out of the Under-18 Boys requalification rounds. Carvalho surfed well beyond his years in the exciting exchange with Jay Brown (Cronulla, NSW) with both surfers posting excellent scores. Carvalho continued his dominance in his second heat, posting a near-perfect 9.25 wave score to claim his second win from as many heats.

 

South Coast local Aiden Lewand-Parsons (Ulladulla, NSW) followed a similar trajectory to Carvalho in his opening Under-18 Boys requalification heat, posting a solid 15.35 heat total for a barrage of mammoth backside snaps.

 

Bodhi Leigh-Jones (Whale Beach, NSW) used her powerful backside attack to nail a giant 15.00 two-wave total in her requalification heat. In what was one of the most exciting heats of the division, Leigh-Jones and Sasha Baker (Mudjimba, Qld) exchanged multiple blows to claim the top two spots. Both surfers will make their next appearance in the quarterfinals.

 

Teah van de Wakker (Cabarita, NSW) and Daisy Corbett (Cape Woolamai, Vic) were the two other respective heat winners who managed to seal themselves a spot out of the requalification rounds.

Kenta Fergusson (Vic) - Photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW.

Liam Viney (Tas.) - Photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW.

Tully White (Vic.) - Photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW.

The Under-14 Boys and Girls divisions got their moment to shine today as the fourth day of the Surf Dive n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles got underway in clean and punchy one foot waves.

 

Jai Glinderman (Lennox Head, NSW) shone in the small peaks, nailing an eclectic mix of turns and snaps in his opening Under-14 Boys exchange. Glinderman posted two scores in the excellent range - 8.25 and 9.00 - to get the edge over his opposition and leave his closest rival Marlon Harrison (Coolangatta, Qld) chasing an 8.86 to snake his lead. As a result of the heat, both Glinderman and Harrison sealed themselves a spot straight in the quarterfinals.

Zeb Stokes (Qld), Jett Dellitt (Qld), Touma Cameron (Byron Bay, NSW), Kalani Van de Polder (Cronulla, NSW) and Kobi Clements (Long Reef, NSW) all claimed wins in the opening Under-14 Boys heats and will join Glinderman and Harrison in the quarterfinals. 

 

Cedar Leigh-Jones (Whale Beach, NSW) followed in her sister (Under-18 Girls competitor), Bodhi’s footsteps, dominating her Under-14 Girls heat. Leigh-Jones notched up an excellent 17.50 two-wave heat total to claim a win and leave her fellow competitors chasing two-wave combinations to take away her lead. Leigh-Jones opted to use her forehand attack in the opening exchange performing an array of snaps and carves.

 

Charlize Everitt (Boomerang Beach, NSW), Ellie Harrison (Barwon Heads, Vic) and Zali Hewson (Margaret River, WA) all joined Leigh-Jones in the Under-14 Girls winners circle and will meet her in the quarterfinals.

Ethan Huxtable (Vic.) - Photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW.

Thursday, November 30, 2017 

The 2017 Surf Dive n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles saw a decrease in swell today as competitors in the Under-14s division battled it out in tricky one-foot surf.

 

Jarvis Earle (Cronulla, NSW) and Marlon Harrison (Coolangatta, Qld) both went toe-to-toe over the course of their Under-14 Boys heat with both surfers making the most of the tiny conditions. Both Harrison and Earle opted to remain busy on opposing ends of the contest bank with both surfers catching a multitude of decent waves. After the lead pinballed back and forth between the two, Earle was able to get the nod thanks to an impressive 16.17 two-wave heat total.

 

Zeph Lamperd (Barwon Heads, Vic), Touma Cameron (Byron Bay, NSW) and Solomon Pogue-Englert (Gracetown, WA) all posted respective heat wins and cemented their spot in the semi-finals and will face off against Harrison and Earle for a spot in the finals.

 

Liliana Bowery (Tewantin, Qld), Cedar Leigh-Jones (Whale Beach, NSW), Ellie Harrison (Barwon Heads, Vic) and Poppy Corbett (Cape Woolamai, Vic) all surfed exciting quarterfinals with each competitor notching up heat totals in excess of 12.00 to claim wins and earn their spot in the semi-finals. They will be joined by all respective runner-ups when the division resumes.

 

The semi-finals of the Under-14's division can be found here. 

Ty Richardson (Qld.) - Photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW.

The 2017 Surf Dive n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles saw its first round of champions crowned today with the Schools divisions of the event winding up in windy three-to-four foot waves.

 

Western Australia ensured they left their mark on the Surf Dive n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles, taking out the Under-16 Boys and Girls MR Shield and Under-19 Boys MR Shield. The strong team put on a stellar performance over the course of the day with the team taking three out respective titles. The teams most dominant performance came in the 16 Boys, thanks to some powerful surfing from Margaret River Senior High School’s Seth Van Haeften (Margaret River) and Jed Gradisen (Gracetown) who notched up an impressive 16.33 two-wave heat total to get the edge over the NSW team of Finn Hill (Kincumber High) and Olly Bolton (Kincumber High) who finished in second position.

 

Hot on Western Australia’s heels was the host state of NSW who managed to claim wins 19 Boys and Girls All-Stars division as well as the Under-16 Girls All-Stars division. Jay Brown (Cronulla) and Darcy Crump (Avalon) were able to get the highest scores across the Schools divisions, posting a giant 16.34 heat total to get the win ahead of Victoria’s Tully Wylie (Jan Juc) and Taj Sleeman (Wonthaggi) who finished in second.

 

Other victories came at the hands of Victoria’s Xavier Huxtable (Jan Juc) and Indi White (Jan Juc) who managed to take out the Under-16 Boys All-Stars for St.Josephs College with a heat total of 14.84. Meanwhile, the three lady team of Sophie Fletcher, Lannia Fostin and Daisy Corbett propelled Newhaven College to a victory in the Under-19 Girls MR Shield.

 

All results and heat totals can be found at www.australianjuniorsurfingtitles.com

 

The 2017 Surf Dive n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles will wrap up tomorrow. 

The 2017 Surf Dive n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles has concluded today with six new Australian champions being crowned in sizey four-to-five foot surf at Warrain Beach.

Noah Stocca (Peregian, Qld) will be taking an Aussie Title back to the Sunshine Coast, thanks to an impressive performance in the Under-18 Boys. Stocca showed little restraint in the punchy surf, hammering giant sections with gusto to post a 7.93 scoring wave and a 7.00. West Australian surfer Cyrus Cox (Margaret River, WA) remained hot on Stocca’s heels over the duration of the final, but was unable to find the 7.93 score needed to take the win.

 

Piper Harrison (Coolangatta, Qld) still seemed to be carrying the same momentum she had when she took out the recent Phillip Island Pro WSL Qualifying Series event, bagging herself the Under-18 Girls Australian Title. Harrison attacked the punchy lefthanders in her heat to be rewarded with a 14.00 heat total which gave her the upper hand against fellow Queensland competitor Sasha Baker (Mudjimba, Qld) who took out second place.

 

Grayson Hinrichs (Bondi, NSW) became the first male surfer from Sydney’s eastern suburbs to take out an Australian Junior Title since Bronte’s Tom Whittaker back in 1996 when he claimed the Under-16 Boys final today. Hinrichs gained the edge over his fellow competitors in the exciting final thanks to an outstanding 15.33 two-wave heat total. Event standouts Seth Van-Haeften (Margaret River, WA), Arch Whiteman (Mona Vale, NSW) and Codie Jeffery (Newhaven, Vic) all remained within striking distance over the duration of the final, but were unable to find the excellent scoring waves required to steal the victory.

 

Thanks to a near-perfect 9.33 wave score, Molly Picklum (Shelly Beach, NSW) was able to gain the upper hand against her opposition to claim victory in the Under-16 Girls final. Picklum executed a chain of gigantic backside snaps to post the aforementioned score (the highest score of the day), followed by a 6.37 to round out her 15.70 two-wave heat total. The heat total meant that Sage Goldsbury (Cape Woolamai, Vic), Emma Cattlin (Yallingup, WA) and Raya Campbell (Coolangatta, Qld) all required excellent scoring waves to take away Picklum’s lead.

 

Jarvis Earle (Cronulla, NSW) showed the same level of promise seen from prominent Cronulla goofy-footers like Connor O’Leary, Andy King, Richard Marsh, Gary Green and Mark Occhilupo, when he took out the Under-14 Boys division. Earle posted an excellent 8.67 scoring wave for an extraordinary left-hander, which he proceeded to smash apart and link together a chain of innovative turns and snaps. When the heat wrapped up, Earle got the nod with 14.67 heat total to claim the win against West Australian native Solomon Pogue-Englert (Gracetown, WA) who notched up a valiant 14.06 total and finished in second.

 

Ellie Harrison (Barwon Heads, Vic) posted an impressive 14.34 heat total to take victory in the Under-14 Girls division. Harrison surfed well beyond her years in the final, nailing an eclectic mix of backside turns to take the win ahead of Queensland’s Grace Kama (Elanora, Qld) who claimed the runner-up position.

All results can be found at www.australianjuniorsurfingtitles.com

 

Prime location for the event is Culburra Beach and Crookhaven Heads with back up locations of Seven Mile, Shoalhaven Heads, Tilbury Cove, Culburra Beach, Cudmirrah Beach, Sussex Inlet, Narrawallee Beach, North Mollymook Beach, South Mollymook Beach, Rennies Beach, Ulladulla and Racecourse.

With past winners including World Champions Steph Gilmore, Chelsea Hedges, Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Mark Richards, Tom Carroll and Damian Hardman, a win in this year’s event is a legitimate stepping stone to world stage glory.

 

The 2017 Surf Dive n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The event will also be supported by City of Shoalhaven, Hydralyte Sports, Woolworths, Toyota, mySURF.tv, School Sport Australia, Surfing NSW, Surfing Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport.

 

1 – Noah Stocca (Peregian Beach, Qld)

2 – Cyrus Cox (Margaret River, WA)

3 – Max McGuigan (Maroubra, NSW)

4 – Jack Haslau (Margaret River, WA)

 

1 – Piper Harrison (Coolangatta, Qld)

2 – Sasha Baker (Mudjimba, Qld)

3 – Kiara Meredith (Barrack Heights, NSW)

4 – Anna Toohey (Sunshine Coast, Qld)

 

1 – Grayson Hinrichs (Bondi, NSW)

2 – Seth Van-Haeften (Margaret River, WA)

3 – Arch Whiteman (Mona Vale, NSW)

4 – Codie Jeffery (Newhaven, Vic)

 

1 – Molly Picklum (Shelly Beach, NSW)

2 – Sage Goldsbury (Cape Woolamai, Vic)

3 – Emma Cattlin (Yallingup, WA)

4 – Raya Campbell (Coolangatta, Qld)

 

1 – Jarvis Earle (Cronulla, NSW)

2 – Solomon Pogue-Englert (Gracetown, WA)

3 – Touma Cameron (Suffolk Park, NSW)

4 – Marlon Harrison (Coolangatta, Qld)

 

1 – Ellie Harrison (Barwon Heads, Vic)

2 – Grace Kama (Elanora, Qld)

3 – Cedar Leigh-Jones (Whale Beach, NSW)

4 – Lilliana Bowrey (Tewantin, Qld)