Exciting finals action at the Woolworths Australian Junior Surfing Titles

The Woolworths Australian Junior Surfing Titles wrapped up at Cape Woolamai with high-quality surfing in all age divisions and tightly contested finals action.

U18 Men’s winner, Eden Hasson (NSW), delivered an incredible performance against Macklin Flynn (WA) and Jimmi Hill (NSW). His powerful rail surfing and a late score of 9.2 secured his victory as Hasson was able to combo the field.

Hasson said: “I got the first two ones and then once I was in a comfortable position I kind of just loosened up and tried to go for some airs and it paid off. Yeah, I’m so happy.”

Hasson said he was stoked to make the team for the 2024 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship.

“I was watching it the last couple days and watching all the boys over there ripping. That made me want to win this to get over there next year.”

Willow Hardy (WA) claimed victory in the U18 Women’s division with a strong back hand attack and her two final rides, which scored 6.33 and 7.00.

Hardy said: “It feels so surreal, so sick to actually get to show that I deserve to go [to the  2024 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship] in this kind of surf. I’m just so grateful. I had pretty good heats leading up to it, some of the best heats I think I’ve surfed. But it could’ve been anyone’s. I was just taking my time, being patient. The weather conditions, being a little bit grovely, you can’t really force anything.”

Maverick Wilson (WA) produced something special to win the U16 Men’s final, scoring a 9.50 on his last wave in an exciting comeback under pressure from Mitchell Peterson(QLD) and Ben Zannatta (NSW).

Ziggy Mackenzie (QLD) secured the U16 Women’s title from state rival Samantha Arderne. While Eliza Richardson surfed an incredible final, posting the highest heat total of the day, a 17.88 (8.38 + 9.50), to win the U14 Girls title.

Locana Cullen (NSW) was another standout, winning the U14 Boys title after landing an air reverse in his semifinal heat, earning a perfect 10.00 score.

Cullen said: “It feel good to get a ten. I was very surprised that I made that. I had two good scores and there was a section so I just went for it. We had a plan, just to catch the set waves, try to do two good turns on them or something like that. Once you’ve locked down two good scores, go for the air.”

Contest Director, Liam Roberston said: “It was a fantastic end to the Woolworths Australian Junior Surfing Titles at Cape Woolamai. We were greeted with playful 2ft waves, which saw some amazing surfing and great battles go down. A massive congratulations to all the champions and overall state champion Queensland. The future of surfing in Australia is in good hands! “

Finals results:
U18 Men
Eden Hasson (NSW) – 17.53
Macklin Flynn (WA) – 13.08
Jimmi Hill (NSW) – 12.98
Willem Watson (VIC) – 12.73

U18 Women
Willow Hardy (WA) – 13.33
Natalie Fensom (NSW) – 12.03
Jordy Halford (QLD) – 9.38
Sarah Young (QLD) – 9.25

U16 Men
Maverick Wilson (WA) – 17.07
Mitchell Peterson (QLD) – 16.45
Ben Zannatta (NSW) – 12.25
Max Mcgillavray (NSW) – 12.10

U16 Women
Ziggy Mackenzie (QLD) – 13.38
Samantha Arderne (QLD) – 11.33
Ava Arghryros (NSW) – 10.35
Meika Locke (QLD) – 10.26

U14 Boys
Locana Cullen (NSW) – 10.96
Jaggar Phillips (NSW) – 10.50
Hunter Sutcliffe (NSW) – 10.11
Cruz Uros (WA) – 8.58

U14 Girls
Eliza Richardson (QLD) – 17.88
Savannah Rielly (QLD) – 10.38
Rose Holland (VIC) – 8.88
Lani Cairncross (NSW) – 6.48

Surfing Australia special awards:
Duke Kahanamoku award: Maverick Wilson
Isabel Letham award: Willow Hardy 

Champion overall state (determines seeding for 2024):
1. QLD
2. WA
3. NSW
4. VIC
5. SA
6. TAS

Find all the results on LiveHeats.

More information on website HERE.

About the Woolworths Australian Junior Surfing Titles:
The Woolworths Australian Junior Surfing Titles encompass individual divisions for U14 – U18 Junior Men and Women as well as school surfing divisions for U16 – U19 (Allstars & MR Shield) Junior Men and Women and is the final major counting event on the National Junior Rankings, awarding 10,000 points to every age division winner.

Surfing Australia would like to acknowledge the Bunurong people as the traditional owners of the land on which the competition will be held and we pay our respects to elders, past, present and emerging and thank them for the opportunity.

The event is supported by major partner Woolworths, presenting partner Surfers for Climate, media partner KommunityTV and supporting partners Le Tan, Ruffie, Wax Fresh, Destination Gippsland, Bass Coast Shire Council and Surfing Victoria.