ELI STEALS THE SHOW ON THE FINAL DAY AT THE ACTION SPORTS READY AUSTRALIAN JUNIOR SURFING TITLES PRESENTED BY SOUNDWAVE
THE FINAL DAY of the Action Sports Ready Australian Junior Surfing Titles presented by Soundwave saw high flying action as Australia’s top junior surfers decided Australian Junior Champions for 2011 across individual and school divisions.
Eli Steele (Sunshine Coast Qld) was the standout surfer of the day taking out the premier Boy’s under 18 title.
Steele’s performance was so strong in the final he left his fellow competitors chasing a combination of scores with the final score-line seeing Steele on 16.65 ahead of Sydney surfer Jordan Lawler on 13.65, Tommy Boucatt (Ocean Shores NSW) 12.60 and Kelly Norris (Sunshine Coast Qld) 10.95.
“I’m really pleased to win this event – it sets me up for a shot at the World under 18 championships early next year in South America and there’s been heaps of great surfers win this event in the past so it’s a great feeling – I was never over confident here, just took every heat as it came and did my best and luckily that was enough to take the title” said Steele.
Steele displayed great aerial skills in the final along with a powerful and precise style throughout the event to take a deserved win.
The under 18 Girls final was a much closer affair with Currumbin Queensland surfer Eden Putland taking the win ahead of Ellie Jean Coffey, Nikki Van Dijk and Mikaela Greene.
Putland scored a decisive excellent 8.25 ride early in the final to secure the win over the more fancied Coffey and Van Dijk.
The closest final of the day was definitely the under 16 Boys with Michael Wright (Lennox Head) and Jacob Wilcox (Margaret River WA) going wave for wave in a dynamic shoot-out which saw Wright take the narrowest win on 16.15 to Wilcox on 16.05.
The under 16 girls saw Holly-Sue Coffey take an exciting come-from-behind win scoring an 8.5 ride in the final minute to take the win over Isabella Nichols (Coolum Sunshine Coast) with Holly Wawn 3rd and Cali McDonagh 4th.
Schools finals were also run today with wins to Margaret River State High WA, Newhaven College Victoria and Palm Beach Currumbin Secondary High.
The highlight of the schools finals was certainly the unprecedented win by Nikki Van Dijk representing Newhaven State College by herself and defeating Palm Beach Currumbin pair Brodie Doyle and Eden Putland.
Van Dijk won with two excellent rides and without a partner in the paired final won on two wave scores while the other two girls had four wave scores.
The overall state team results from 1st to 6th were – NSW, Qld, Vic, WA, Tas and Sth Australia.
All details and results can be found at the event website at http://prosurfinglive.com/live/surfingaustralia
ABOUT THE ACTION SPORTS READY PRESENTED BY SOUNDWAVE AUSTRALIAN JUNIOR SURFING TITLES -
Sunday November 27 to Saturday December 3rd 2011
Coffs Harbour North Coast NSW
AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONS ACROSS UNDER 18 AND UNDER 16 GIRL AND BOY DIVISIONS ARE CROWNED AT THIS EVENT. THE EVENT IS ALSO CRUCIAL IN DETERMINING THE AUSTRALIAN JUNIOR TEAM TO COMPETE AT THE WORLD JUNIOR TITLES IN SOUTH AMERICA EARLY NEXT YEAR.
SCHOOL SURFING TEAMS FROM ALL OVER AUSTRALIA ALSO COMPETE AT THIS EVENT REPRESENTING INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS AND THEIR STATE SCHOOL SYSTEMS.
THE EVENT RUNS ALL THIS WEEK WITH WINNERS AND FINALISTS DECIDED THROUGH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.
A live broadcast will be available through the official website http://prosurfinglive.com/live/surfingaustralia/junior/, which will also provide the latest news, photos and videos.
The official contest location and running schedule for each day will be confirmed at 6.45am (AEDT) on the Event Hotline 0458 247 212.
In a boost for competitors a fin test station provided by FCS and Futures will allow them to test drive the latest fins to ensure they have the right equipment to match the condition on the day.
The Action Sports Ready Australian Junior Surfing Titles presented by Soundwave is proudly supported by Billabong, Hurley, Quiksilver, Coastalwatch.com, Surf Dive ‘n’ Ski, Jetty Surf, Tracks, Waves, Future Fins, FCS, Guvera, Surfing NSW, Australian School Surfing Association, Destination NSW, Coffs Harbour City Council, Australian Sports Commission, the Federal Government’s Illicit Drugs in Sport Program, TravelSIM, Blunt, Suncorp, Media Monitors, Mac & Me, Vertra.
