Crystal Cylinders
Mikey McDonagh from Lennox Head, has started his 2017 World Surf League Australia Oceania Junior Qualifying Series campaign with a win at the first event at Bells Beach on the weekend.
Solid well-shaped, four foot waves at Bells Beach gave McDonagh a great canvas to work with. In only his second competition at Bells Beach, Mikey proved that he will be a force to be reckoned with in future years.
Putting together multiple power carves throughout the final, McDonagh was able to best Lucas Wrice with a heat total of 12.25 points.
‘I’m stoked. This is only the second time I have surfed at Bells competitively and to be able to get waves in the Bells Bowl was a dream,’ McDonagh said.
‘The event had some really good surfers in the draw so I’m over the moon to be able to come out on top.
‘The Subway Surf Series is the first step to the big leagues and to have the first event at Bells is incredible. I hope I can continue my run and get a few more good results throughout the year,’ he said.
Australian surfers Macy Callaghan and Ethan Ewing have both claimed World Junior Championship titles at Kiama on the South Coast of NSW with crushing wins over their international rivals.
They overcame a great deal of pressure as home favourites, but also had to endure media hype focused on their competitors from the USA.
The future of Australian surfing is in good hands with Callaghan and Ewing as they delivered masterful displays of surfing and strategy, as well as equally impressive displays of humility during their interviews.
Ethan recently qualified for the Dream Tour and Macy, at only 16, is well on her way to qualifying in 2017.
The World Pro Junior has evolved from the very first pro-Junior competition held at North Narrabeen in 1977, which was called the Golden Breed/Pepsi Pro Junior and was won by Tom Carroll.
In 1992 Kelly Slater was the first international to win the Ocean and Earth Pro Junior at North Narrabeen.
At first it was for men only and under-18s; it changed to include women in 2005 and was for under 20-year-olds. This year the age limit was dropped back to 18 and under.
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