Juniors up for challenge

The revitalised WA Junior Surf Titles move to the Batavia coast this weekend, with the Margaret River region’s key talents expected to charge hard.

After great performances in Margaret River, Gracetown’s Jed Gradisen, Margaret River boys Okie Fraser and Max Ghiretti, and young gun Ruby Berry from Augusta were all highlighted in pre-weekend media.

The local surfers were facing a challenge from respected Geraldton siblings Jake and Shekya Hagan as well as other Mid West talents such as Mylee Grant and Bob Shearer — and also Denmark’s Isi Campbell, Carnarvon’s Coral Durrant, and Yallingup charger Otis North.

After the first leg in Margaret River, and the most recent held earlier this month at Trigg, the titles would place WA’s best juniors in with a chance for the national competition when it kicks off in Queensland later this year — COVID-19 permitting.

The two-day event sees boys and girls aged eight to 17 years spending their last weekend of school holidays competing across seven divisions.

The national competition was a stepping stone towards professional surfing, with Margaret River regional notables including Taj Burrow, Yadin Nicol, Jack Robinson, Claire Bevilacqua, Bronte Macaulay and Jacob Willcox all doing their time on the junior tour.

Event co-ordinators Surfing WA said the forecast was “looking terrific with a good groundswell and favourable winds forecast for both Saturday and Sunday”.

“Surfing WA is excited to be heading north to Geraldton for back-to-back events this month,” events manager Justin Majeks said. “Geraldton is a great winter surfing destination and the Woolworths WA Junior Surf Titles are a launch pad for WA groms to reach bigger and better things.”

Surfing WA will live-stream scores and results via surfingwalive.com.au.