Local frother takes State Title

Local surfer Billy Daniel has won his age division at the Grommet State Titles which wrapped up with a marathon day of surfing in Maroubra yesterday.

The Fingal Head resident took out the Under 12 title, his first State Title win.

Billy won all three of his heats in this event with his best score, 7.0, in round three.

But it was his spectacular finals effort that solidified his crown. His third and final wave scored a 6.0 to sneak the win off Andy Blanchfield.

‘The waves were a bit average, but I got a good score at the end that took me into first place,’ Billy said after the win.

‘It was pretty fun out there.’

A powerful southerly swell that arrived last week surged on Sunday with dangerous and inconsistent conditions making the Under 12 and Under 14 events too dangerous to contest.

Event organisers made the decision not to run on Sunday with the option of running two competition areas on Monday to complete the remaining rounds and finals.

The state’s youngest athletes were keen to get back in the water after a lay-day, as with 5,500 points up for grabs, the event plays an important part of the Surfing NSW junior pathway as the first chance for the young athletes to accumulate rankings points.

The Under 12 divisions are always impressive at the State Titles. With some athletes as young as nine years old, it’s eye-opening each year to watch them paddle out and perform with so much progression. This year was no different.

Nine-year-old Everly Morgan from Ulladulla was beyond stoked to win her very first State Title in the Under 12 Girls division.

The south coast surfer caught seven waves in the final and said: ‘It’s my first time winning State Titles and I’m super happy about it. The surf was fun, I caught two good rides, a left and a right and it was a tough heat.’

Other winners on the day included Maroubra local Jaggar Phillips who took out the Under 14s boys division, and Lucy Durragh from Werri Beach who won the girls Under 14s event.