Reef Heazlewood is one step closer to taking out the Australia / Oceania JQS. - WSL / John Andrews
Two junior champions from Queensland were crowned on finals day at event six of the World Surf League (WSL) sanctioned Subway Surf Series Junior Qualifying Series event on the Sunshine Coast today. Reef Heazlewood and Kobie Enright claimed victory to take home the trophies for this event for 2017.
A small drop in swell was a welcomed sacrifice for a decrease in wind for the final day of competition at sunny Coolum Beach. Waves in the head high region provided ample scoring opportunities throughout the entire day, with the top tier surfers taking advantage from start to finish.
Reef Heazlewood throwing buckets on the Sunny Coast. - WSL / John Andrews
Sunshine Coast local Heazlewood kicked things off early in the day and lit up the stage in his quarter final against Jack Murray (Lennox Head, New South Wales). Heazlewood impressed the judges with an incredible display of aerial maneuvers on the low tide and was rewarded accordingly with the highest two wave combination score of the competition, a 19.10 (out of a possible 20.00).
In the boy's final, a suspenseful blow for blow battle between the top two seeds kept spectators on the edge of their chairs late in the afternoon. For the first time all weekend Heazlewood trailed for part of the heat, but was quick to respond with the highest single wave score of the competition, a 9.80 (out of a possible 10) to lock in his victory over Avoca Beach's Sandon Whittaker.
Heazlewood will be heading back to the World Junior Championship in Kiama this year. - WSL / John Andrews
"Sandon got some good scores out there. I was a little stressed when I was behind but I knew I'd been able to get some solid scores throughout the day. I just stuck with my game plan and it paid off." Heazlewood said. "I started off 2017 really wanting to win the Australasian region title so I'm stoked to win my third series event. To possibly be unbeatable going into the last event is amazing, I'll be doing the math tonight."
With three first place finishes, Heazlewood is now at the top of the event series leaderboard going into the final event on the Gold Coast in May.
The 18 & Under Girl's did not fail to provide entertainment throughout the final heats of the competition. In the quarter finals a top seed super heat saw event favourite and 2016 World Junior Champion Macy Callaghan (Avoca Beach, New South Wales) taken down by Gold Coast local Kobie Enright (Coolangatta, Gold Coast) in a tight battle. Enright continued to impress the judges with her renowned combination of style and power to overcome Sophia Fulton (Mollymook, New South Wales) to clench the trophy.
Kobie Enright has increased her chances at taking out the JQS in 2017. - WSL / John Andrews
"I've been taking it heat by heat all day. The waves weren't too during my heat so I was just hoping for the best waves." Enright said. "I'm pretty stoked, this is the first final I've made at a Pro Junior this year. The Gold Coast is home for me so I'm really looking forward to the last event of the series in two weeks."
Champions Crowned on Sunshine Coast
WSL
Two junior champions from Queensland were crowned on finals day at event six of the World Surf League (WSL) sanctioned Subway Surf Series Junior Qualifying Series event on the Sunshine Coast today. Reef Heazlewood and Kobie Enright claimed victory to take home the trophies for this event for 2017.
A small drop in swell was a welcomed sacrifice for a decrease in wind for the final day of competition at sunny Coolum Beach. Waves in the head high region provided ample scoring opportunities throughout the entire day, with the top tier surfers taking advantage from start to finish.
Sunshine Coast local Heazlewood kicked things off early in the day and lit up the stage in his quarter final against Jack Murray (Lennox Head, New South Wales). Heazlewood impressed the judges with an incredible display of aerial maneuvers on the low tide and was rewarded accordingly with the highest two wave combination score of the competition, a 19.10 (out of a possible 20.00).
In the boy's final, a suspenseful blow for blow battle between the top two seeds kept spectators on the edge of their chairs late in the afternoon. For the first time all weekend Heazlewood trailed for part of the heat, but was quick to respond with the highest single wave score of the competition, a 9.80 (out of a possible 10) to lock in his victory over Avoca Beach's Sandon Whittaker.
"Sandon got some good scores out there. I was a little stressed when I was behind but I knew I'd been able to get some solid scores throughout the day. I just stuck with my game plan and it paid off." Heazlewood said. "I started off 2017 really wanting to win the Australasian region title so I'm stoked to win my third series event. To possibly be unbeatable going into the last event is amazing, I'll be doing the math tonight."
With three first place finishes, Heazlewood is now at the top of the event series leaderboard going into the final event on the Gold Coast in May.
The 18 & Under Girl's did not fail to provide entertainment throughout the final heats of the competition. In the quarter finals a top seed super heat saw event favourite and 2016 World Junior Champion Macy Callaghan (Avoca Beach, New South Wales) taken down by Gold Coast local Kobie Enright (Coolangatta, Gold Coast) in a tight battle. Enright continued to impress the judges with her renowned combination of style and power to overcome Sophia Fulton (Mollymook, New South Wales) to clench the trophy.
"I've been taking it heat by heat all day. The waves weren't too during my heat so I was just hoping for the best waves." Enright said. "I'm pretty stoked, this is the first final I've made at a Pro Junior this year. The Gold Coast is home for me so I'm really looking forward to the last event of the series in two weeks."
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Australia / Oceania 2017 JQS continues at Coolum Beach on the Sunshine Coast.
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