The YETI Australian Junior Surfing Titles continued today at Woonona Beach in Wollongong, New South Wales, in clean two-to-three foot conditions. The opening rounds of the Under 18 Men’s and Women’s divisions kicked off the competition, with Under 16 and Under 14 rounds following.
One of the standout performers in U18 Men was Will Martin (Coolangatta, QLD) posting a 7.63 (out of a possible 10) single-wave score while Isi Campbell (Denmark, WA) impressed in U18 Women with a 7.48 (out of a possible 10).
Contest Director Jeremy Barnett said: “Tuesday was a carbon copy of Monday’s conditions with fun two-to-three foot waves and light northeast winds at Woonona. The surfers have been frothing on the conditions.”
Bronte Scott (Perth, WA), who has made it through to round 3 in U18 Women, said: “It’s really fun. There’s lots of waves coming through and it’s a really nice day. I got a couple of the right waves at the start of my heat, which helped my confidence and takes a bit of pressure off from the rest of the heat.”
Hudson Brown (Middleton, SA), who progressed in U16 Men after getting a buzzer-beater to take the win, said: “I was stressing, waiting for the right one to come through. I didn’t think I was gonna get that last one, but then it came, and I got a good finishing turn, two good carves, which is good. It’s really clean out there. It’s really clear water, and just bowly and nice.”
Jessica Gardiner (Clifton Beach, TAS), who snapped her board just before her heat and still managed to progress, said: “I’d snapped my nose off before the heat, and I had to duct tape it back on. The whole top of the nose! I was just trying to keep busy and catch a few waves, and then I heard that I needed to get a pretty low score. So I just got a wave, and then I tried to hold my ground, and I just made it through.”
Ava Holland (Dromana, VIC) surfed against her sister, Mia Holland, finishing second in their heat while Mia was knocked out. “Competing against my older sister stresses me out! But it’s good, a little rivalry,” Ava said. “There were quite good waves and it’s very hot here compared to Victoria. On the waves I got, I just tried to surf them the best I could.”
Tomorrow, the wind is forecast to turn to the west in the morning, which will make conditions nice and clean at Woonona Beach.
For the heat draw and full results, please visit LiveHeats.
About the YETI Australian Junior Surfing Titles:
The YETI Australian Junior Surfing Titles encompass individual divisions for U14-U18 junior men and women as well as a school surfing division for U16-U19 (MR Shield) junior men and women.
Champions in U16 and U18 men and women will earn a spot on the Irukandjis Team to represent Australia at the 2025 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship.
Every winner will also join a prestigious honour roll alongside current and former world Tour competitors, including Stephanie Gilmore, Molly Picklum, Sally Fitzgibbons, Laura Enever, Tyler Wright, Nikki Van Dijk, Coco Cairns, Owen Wright, Joel Parkinson, Mick Fanning and Reef Heazlewood.
This year, the finals action will be broadcast live on Surfing Australia’s YouTube channel. Watch live on:
Event website https://australianjuniorsurfingtitles.com.
The YETI Australian Junior Surfing Titles are proudly supported by YETI, Destination NSW, Destination Wollongong, Surfing NSW, BLACKROLL, Wollongong Surf Leisure Resort, KJ Scaffolding and Surfers for Climate.
Image Credit: Aaron Hughes
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