Pair rule Trigg titles

Local surfers have again dominated the State junior competition, with Willow Hardy and George Simpson snatching the top honours at Trigg at the weekend.

Smaller surf greeted the region’s competitors as they vied for the State championships while cyclone weather bore down on Perth, though bigger waves came through for Sunday’s shootout.

Hardy claimed the under-18 junior girls’ State title with some lightning-fast backhand surfing.

She edged out Augusta’s Ruby Berry and fellow local Zali Hewson, rising to the occasion when it mattered most by dropping a heat-high 7.83 as part of a combined total of 13.50 out of 20.

“The waves have been challenging, but pretty fun when you got a good one,” she said.“I’m happy to have won and I’m glad the swell came up for the finals.”

Gracetown’s Simpson snagged the under-18 junior boys’ State title, backing up his win from Margaret River last month with impressive small-wave surfing.

Simpson won each of his heats leading into the final.

The win was also a victory for other Capes surfers, with Simpson edging out up-and-comers Solomon Pogue-Englert, Jack Mitchell and Brock Launders.

“The waves have been small, but really fun,” Simpson said after the final.

“I’m stoked to be State Champion and I’d like to thank the boys in the final and everyone for their support.”

Other Capes surfers represented in their division finals.

Budding junior Grace Cook from Cowaramup was a first-time winner in the under-14 Grom Girls against Olive Hardy and other Perth surfers, and reached finals in two other divisions despite her diminutive stature.

Another Cowaramuppet, Jahli Clarke, sliced and diced his way to a memorable win in the hotly contested under-12 Micro Groms.

Surfing WA events manager Justin Majeks said Clarke was a hot one to watch for future years and congratulated all competitors battling through the conditions.

The final event for the calendar kicks off in Geraldton in July to determine who’ll represent WA at the Australian Junior Surfing Titles in Queensland later this year.