First Semi-Finalists Decided At Surf Dive 'n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles In West Oz
December 5th, 2019
In an action-packed day of competition at Margaret River’s Surfers Point, semi-finalists were decided across all Under 18 and 16 divisions in consistent 2-3ft surf.
Western Australian local lad Jed Gradisen almost produced the perfect heat in the Under 18 Boys division quarter-finals, nailing down a 19.10 point heat total to progress to the semis with Victorian former two-time Australian Junior Champion Xavier Huxtable. Earlier in the day, Huxtable posted a 17. 95 point heat total in round three and then backed it up with a 15.75 point total score in the quarter-finals.
Finn Cox (WA) then made it a day to remember for the west with an 18.25 point heat total to post the second-highest heat score of the day, just short of teammate Gradisen. Cox had New South Welshmen Jamie Thomson nipping at his heels in their quarter-final encounter, Thomson (17.50 points) finishing behind Cox by under a point.
In the Under 18 Girls draw Coral Durant (WA- 13.35 points), Ellia Smith (14.85 points), and Holly Williams (15 points) were impressive in winning their quarter-finals to book places in the semi-finals.
New South Wales dominated the quarter-finals in the Under 16 Boys division with Xavier Bryce (16.70 points), Lennix Smith (17.50 points) and Winter Vincent (16.60 points) posting solid wins.
Victoria’s stylish natural footer Ellie Harrison crushed quarter-final one of the Under 16 Girls division with a huge 17.75 point heat total. She joins the likes of Zali Hewson (WA-15 points) and Jazz Wylie (VIC-13.85 points) in tomorrow’s semis.
Xavier Bryce - photo by Blainey Woodham (@blainey_woodham) / Surfing Australia / Nikon Australia
SEMI-FINALISTS - 2019 Surf Dive 'n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles:
U18 Boys
Semi-final 1
Oscar Berry QLD
Jamie Thomson NSW
Xavier Huxtable VIC
Semi-final 2
Jed Gradisen WA
Finn Cox WA
Mike Clayton-Brown NSW
U18 Girls
Semi-final 1
Holly Williams QLD
Emma Cattlin WA
Arabella Wilson VIC
Semi-final 2
Coral Durant WA
Ellia Smith QLD
Sage Goldsbury VIC
U16 Boys
Semi-final 1
Winter Vincent NSW
Oscar Salt NSW
Ty Richardson QLD
Semi-final 2
Xavier Bryce NSW
Lennix Smith NSW
Matt Boyle QLD
U16 Girls
Semi-final 1
Jazz Wylie VIC
Cedar Leigh Jones NSW
Oceanna Rogers NSW
Semi-final 2
Ellie Harrison VIC
Zali Hewson WA
Grace Crawford Kama QLD
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Cedar Leigh-Jones - photo by Blainey Woodham (@blainey_woodham) / Surfing Australia / Nikon Australia
Winter Vincent - photo by Blainey Woodham (@blainey_woodham) / Surfing Australia / Nikon Australia
First Quarter-Finalists Decided At 2019 Surf Dive ‘n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles At Margaret River
December 4th, 2019
Windy conditions didn’t stop the Under 14 divisions from putting on a great show today as they maximised scoring opportunities at Margaret River Main Break on day four of the 2019 Surf Dive ‘n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles.
Two West Australians led the charge into the quarter-finals with great surfing in rounds two and three of the Under 14 Girls division. Kaleisha Launders and Isi Campbell posting 15 and 14.15 point heat totals in the tricky conditions. Urara Saito (QLD), Ruby Berry (WA) and Eva Bassed (VIC) also impressed on their way to booking spots in the quarter-finals.
Campbell, from Denmark right here in West Oz, was stoked to get through a solid heat draw, with the support of her team.
“It was a bit windy out there but the waves are fun. I’ve got Stomper (Mike McAuliffe), Luke Campbell and mum and dad are in my corner this week which makes it easier. They relax me and get me to calm down before my heat. The support of the whole team down on the beach, cheering us on is awesome,” said Campbell.
On the Under 14 Boys side of the draw, more homegrown talent was on display, this time Otis North (15.50 points) and Phoenix Wilson (13.50 points) impressing with wins in their round three heats. They join the likes of Hugh Vaughan (NSW), Dane Henry (NSW) and Rico Haybittle (QLD) in the quarter-finals.
Hugh Vaughan - photo by Blainey Woodham (@blainey_woodham) / Surfing Australia / Nikon Australia
Under 14 Athletes Get Going At 2019 Surf Dive ‘n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles At Margaret River
December 3rd, 2019
The youngest divisions at this year’s Surf Dive ‘n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles hit the water this morning and did not disappoint in the clean 3ft waves.
The first two heats of the day were dominated by Victorians with Willem Watson (13.97 points) and Lucas Hickson (15.43 points) getting their 2019 campaigns off to the best possible start.
Heats three and four were then taken out by New South Welshmen Fletcher Kelleher (13.33 points) and Dane Henry (13.34 points). Rico Haybittle (QLD-13.80 points) got one back for the banana benders in heat five before the biggest heat score of the round got the locals on their feet and cheering for Otis North. The young West Australian belted out a huge 15.50 point heat total to advance in style.
Excellent conditions greeted the Under 14 Girls for round one with almost no wind making for smooth, rippable wave faces. It was again a local in Willow Hardy (16.34 points) top-scoring for round one in what shapes as a great event for West Oz.
Other winners in round one women’s action included Jahly Stokes (QLD-14.50 points), Shyla Short (NSW-10.53 points), Urara Saito (QLD-12.44 points) Zahlia Short (QLD-9.90 points) and Isi Campbell (WA-10.57 points).
Surfers Point will be the primary event location for the Australian Junior Surfing Titles. One of the most consistent and reliable waves in the region and home to WSL Margaret River Pro. This event offers a unique opportunity for surfers to compete at a current Championship Tour stop.
Fletcher Kelleher - photo by Blainey Woodham (@blainey_woodham) / Surfing Australia / Nikon Australia
Under 18’s Light Up Second Day Of 2019 Surf Dive ‘n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles At Margaret River
December 2nd, 2019
The level of surfing and swell ramped up on day two of the Surf Dive ‘n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles as the Under 18 Girls and Boys went mental at Margaret River’s Main Break.
Queensland’s Oscar Berry set the tone in the first heat of the day, going to the rail in magnificent fashion, hammering a huge 18.25 point heat total with his power and precision being rewarded on two right-handers.
Western Australia’s Jed Gradisen was another big performer on day two, local knowledge evident in the natural footer’s aggressive approach to Main Break, racking up a huge 17.40 point heat total to win his round one encounter and almost match Berry’s performance.
Former Under 16 World Champion Grayson Hinrichs (NSW) also fired an early warning shot to his competition, nailing down a whopping 17.25 points out of a possible twenty in heat six of the Under 18 Boys draw.
In what was one of the heats of the day, competition favourites Coral Durant (WA) and Nyxie Ryan (NSW) went wave for wave in heat four of the Under 18 Girls draw, both laying down serious scores. Durant (16.50 points) just getting the better of Ryan (15.25 points) in an exchange that could easily be replicated at the back end of the tournament.
Durant said: “It was really fun with nice waves and good to get a couple under my belt. To me, it’s such an honour to have the Surf Dive ‘n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles in my own back yard. It gives the Western Australian crew the chance to show our skills in bigger waves.”
Arabelle Gibson (WA) was another local to fire on day two, smashing her competition with a 14.50 point heat total to join the likes of Lily Macdonald (NSW-15.65 points) as frontrunners for the crown come Saturday’s finals.
Surfers Point will be the primary event location for the Australian Junior Surfing Titles. One of the most consistent and reliable waves in the region and home to WSL Margaret River Pro. This event offers a unique opportunity for surfers to compete at a current Championship Tour stop.
Lily Macdonald - photo by Blainey Woodham (@blainey_woodham) / Surfing Australia / Nikon Australia
Magic Margaret River Turns It On For Day One Of 2019 Surf Dive 'n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles
December 1, 2019
The Under 16 Divisions got the 2019 Surf Dive ‘n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles underway today at Margaret River’s Main Break with 2-3ft clean conditions on hand.
It was New South Wales teammates Xavier Bryce (13.25 points), Nate Hopkins (10.05 points), Jarvis Earle (14.00 points) and Kobi Clements (11.10 points) impressing early on in the day, all winning their round one heats. West Australian local lad Danny Benedetti (11.50 points) progressed directly to round three after finishing second to Bryce in heat one of the day.
In round one of the Under 16 Girls, Grace Crawford (QLD -11.65 points), Lilli Cox (WA-12.25 points), Gabi Spake (NSW-14.40 points), Cedar Leigh-Jones (NSW-13.40 points), Mia Huppatz (VIC-14 points) and Jazz Wylie (VIC-12.50 points) all had wins to get their campaigns underway.
Allstars and MR Shield Schools divisions also got underway on day one of competition.
Surfers Point will be the primary event location for the 2019 Surf Dive ‘n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles. One of the most consistent and reliable waves in the region and home to WSL Margaret River Pro. This event offers a unique opportunity for surfers to compete at a current Championship Tour stop.
A summer swell magnet, Main Break can deal with a variety of conditions and handles the prevailing afternoon sea breeze as well as any other wave along the coast. South Point in Gracetown is the backup location if the swell gets BIG.
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 2019 Surf Dive 'n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles, which will run from the 30th November to 7th December, will again host individual divisions incorporating Under 14, 16 and 18 age groups along with Allstars and MR Shield Schools divisions.
The 2019 Surf Dive ‘n Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles are proudly supported by Shire of Augusta Margaret River, Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Margarets Beach Resort, Woolworths, 2XP Sunscreen, Hydralyte Sports, Pics Peanut Butter, Hyundai, Sport Australia, mySURFtv, Surfing Western Australia and Surfing Australia.
Cedar Leigh-Jones- photo by Blainey Woodham (@blainey_woodham) / Surfing Australia / Nikon Australia
