Round 2 Of The Woolworths Victorian Junior Surfing Titles Commences In Substantial Surf At Gunnamatta Beach

The adrenaline-pumping action of the Woolworths Victorian Junior Surfing Titles kicked off its second round at Gunnamatta Beach today, where junior surfers from across Victoria battled the fierce waves and competition. As a large ground swell hit the coastline, Gunnamatta’s rip bowls provided the best platform for the groms to show what they had to offer on some larger waves. 

With the series poised to determine the Victorian state team, the stakes couldn’t be higher with every ride counting towards the ultimate goal of surfing in the 2024 Australian Junior Titles.

Early in the day the Under 18 Girls showed the rest of the field how it’s done with Sara Hickson dropping a 9.17 on her first ride, attacking the lip multiple times with commitment. Ava Holland also decided to show a point of difference by heading out the back of the lineup and belting a huge lip-line re-entry to score an 8.00 point ride.   

Among the standout performances of the day, two finals day contenders emerged, showcasing their talent and determination in the face of challenging conditions.

The first of these, Jack Lindsay, found his rhythm with the ocean as he entered the Under 16 Boys Quarterfinals, his board slicing through each turn with ease. He kicked off the heat with a 7-point ride. His timing was impeccable as he carved through the medium-sized wave, displaying early signs of his unwavering commitment to the competition.

Aware of the level of skills possessed by his competitors, Lindsay sought out even larger waves, determined to push his performance even further. In the later stages of the heat he spotted a towering set approaching. Lindsay rode the wave’s face with intent to go all out. He started off with a massive forehand carve before unleashing on an imposing end section with unmatched skill, earning a remarkable 9-point ride.

Seizing the opportunity, Lindsay swiftly transitioned to another set wave. With a daring maneuver, he dug his rail into the critical section, executing a powerful carve well beyond his years. The judges rewarded this exceptional display of surfing with an 8-point ride, securing his well-deserved place in the finals.

“I was just trying to find a big wave and get two turns on it,” said Lindsay.

“Yeah, it feels good to get through to finals day and I can’t wait to surf a few more waves,” he continued.

On the other side of the competition in the Under 18 Girls, Sara Hickson’s wave selection remained impeccable as she went into the semi-finals. Utilizing her local knowledge of the break she positioned herself to catch a lofty right-hand wave within minutes of the heat starting. As she stood up she was determined to charge fearlessly into a massive whitewater section. She went flying into a huge forehand re-entry and as the spray flew Hickson rode out smoothly. The judges, recognizing the commitment to big sections, awarded her a commendable 9.00-point ride, setting the tone for the great surfing to come.

As the ocean slowed down Hickson maintained her composure, patiently waiting for her chance for the next promising wave with an open wall to capitalise on. In the closing moments of the heat Hickson seized her opportunity, finding a long open left hand wave to open up on. She went straight into a carving forehand arc across the face before unleashing a rapid snap off the lip. As the hooter sounded the judges awarded her an excellent 8.60 point ride, placing the rest of the competitors in combination. With a combined heat total of 17.69 points, Hickson’s performance showcased her as the one to beat in tomorrow’s final showdown.

“It’s always a good way to start the heat, with a 9 point ride – it gets you in a really good  head set,” Hickson said.

“Moving onto finals day is pretty exciting and hopefully the waves are a bit better tomorrow as well,” she added.

The finals of all the divisions are set to run tomorrow with the call being made at 7:00am for a possible 7:15am start at Gunnamatta Beach.

Live scores and heat draws for the event can be accessed via www.surfingvic.com/live

The Woolworths Victorian Junior Titles is supported by No TXT No Wrecks, VicRoads Community Safety Grants, Cancer Council Sunscreen and Surfing Victoria.