Surfing Western Australia

Billabong Taj's Small Fries

Yallingup, Western Australia

January 14th - 15th, 2012

www.billabong.com.au

www.surfingwa.com.au

 

Saturday, January 14th 2012 (Yallingup, West Australia): Day 1 of Taj's Small Fries U/16 surf event has been completed with more than 90 competitors across four divisions hitting the water in ideal conditions at "Shallows" north of Yallingup.

 

Shallows, a sand covered reef within paddling distance of Yall's main break, is a well-known swell magnet that today revealed every inch of the three-to-four foot south swell on offer. Groomed by five-to-10 knot, offshore winds, conditions were again perfect for Australia's next gen of pint-sized rippers.

 

Round 1 of the 12 Boys, 14 Boys, 14 Girls and blue-ribbon 16 Boys were completed with surfers representing West Australia and farthest states - New South Wales and Queensland.

 

Organisers set up a temporary camp - shade tents, green and yellow heat flags, and sponsor banners; an oasis of primary colours set amid WA's searing heat and pristine hues of blue - and by midday everyone was reminded why the event is sometimes nick-named, Taj's Small "Flies".

 

And along with the insects and temperature, the Fries soared. Every entrant showed potential and a few showed calculated class. Standouts to progress through to Day 2 include two-time Fries and defending U/16 dominator Jack Robinson (WA), James Fleming (Geraldton, WA), Jacob Willcox (Margaret River, WA), Shaun Manners (Margaret River, WA) and East Coast entrant Jeames Young (Angourie, NSW).

 

U/14 Boys to impress included Manners (competing in two age divisions), Liam O'Brien (Surfers Paradise, Qld), Riley Laing (The Entrance, NSW) and Zac Whiteman (Skennars Head, NSW) who scored the highest individual wave of the day, an excellent 9.1 out of a possible 10.

 

Event namesake, Burrow, spent the day taking advantage of the excellent conditions and the presence of a state-of-the-art "Red camera" and its operator to record surf footage at a nearby haunt.

Tomorrow, the 33 year-old performance maestro and current ASP Men's World number four, will commentate, surf, assist with the U/8 ‘Push in' surf session and hand-out prizes.

 

Competition is expected to conclude on Sunday at 2pm local time, with the presentation for all finalists and prize-winners at Caves House wrapping by 4pm.

 

Full results from all divisions can be found at the end of each day at: www.surfingwa.com.au 

 

The 2012 Taj's Small Fries is supported by Billabong, Von Zipper, DaKine, Sony, Surfing Western Australia, Caves House & the Community of Yallingup

 

For more information see below contacts:

Surfing Western Australia

Event Manager Justin Majeks

T: +61 8 9448 0004

justin.majeks@surfingwa.com.au

JJ - Billabong International Media

jj@billabong.com.au

Aust +61(0)421 384 431

skype_jj_skype

jj@premiummedia.com.au

www.premiummedia.com.au