SunSmart presents Xtreme Surf & Sk8 State Junior Series 2005 - Final State surfing round lives up to it’s name.

Monday, 8 August 2005

SunSmart presents

XTREME SURF & SK8 STATE JUNIOR SERIES 2005

Supported by West Surfing Products, Hot Buttered, Odyssey 20/20


Final State surfing round lives up to it’s name.

The final State round of the Xtreme Surf & SK8 State Junior series for 2005 lived up to it’s name on the weekend with extreme the key word in surfing displayed by competitors.


They came from afar as Esperance in our states South through to Kalbarri in the North to vie for a berth in the state team to represent WA at the national titles in Tasmania later this year.


Sun screen was applied liberally on what was a perfect sunny day with clean offshore winds and a 1 to 1.5 metre swell for contestants to display their talent.


In the under 18’s boys final all four competitors put the waves and judges through their paces with the lead constantly changing as the surfers pushed the boundaries of new school surfing. Rockinghams Tom Clarke was tipped the man to beat in the final after a scintillating performance that saw him win his semi final more than comfortably, but unfortunately could not find the waves or form in the final to live up to the expectations placed upon him.


Kalbarris Cortney Brown and Geraldtons Jake Molloy along with Jack Bestall from Trigg were all more than eager for a win in the final round which showed as Brown made a costly mistake of receiving an interference call which saw him lose half the score of his second best wave which eventually relegated him into fourth place.

At one point in the final only 2.15 points separated first to fourth, but Triggs Jack Bestall picked one of the better looking lefts of the day smashing through the lip with two vertical manouvres and a searing cutback to seal victory and the overall under 18’s State championship for 2005.


“I just want to thank all the sponsors and mine and all those involved for putting on a great series, I’m pretty much stoked with the win and to go out there and have some fun in some fun waves on a great day just adds to the euphoria of the win” said Bestall.


Hillarys' Jaala Baldock out scored her nearest rival by a total of 4 points in the under 18 girls final.


Baldock selected the longer scoring right handers and it payed off when she unleashed her well known back hand attack racking up some impressive manouvres and a score of 9 points out of a possible 10 to send her flying to the lead. Baldock hung onto the lead ahead of Palmyras Jaimee Eidsvold who spent her time fending off Mt Claremonts Isobell Woods for second place. Eidsvold and Woods were tied at the end of the final and a count back had to be done to separate the two for second and third. 0.5 of a point gave Eidsvold second and woods third with Baldock claiming the win in the final.


“Firstly I would like to also thank my sponsors and all those involved with this years series. I had to win this one, Jaimee has beaten me in the last two and I had to even the score (laughs). We have always had this friendly rivalry between us and it’s good to see her take out the state championship. It was a great series and hopefully we can be blessed with the same good waves next year as we had this year” said Baldock.


The under 16 boys division 0.10 of a point separate first to second place in the final with just two points separating first to fourth.


Triggs Darcy Maynard surfed fast and furiously while Mandurahs Tod Quartermaine surfed conservatively leaving his best till last.

Mitch Taylor Trigg who was looking like the surfer to beat during the preliminary rounds seemed to run out of steam and luck in the final as he and Margaret Rivers Matt Baldock were left with the smaller waves of the sets to contend with while Quartermaine and Maynard picked off the larger ones.


With Kalbarris Shaun Howe out of the picture who was plagued with the flu through out the event eliminated it was going right down to the final siren to see who would be crowned overall state champion for 2005 season.


Quartermaine hung onto first place and also claimed the overall state championship for his division, but only by the slimmest margin ahead of Maynard, Baldock and Taylor respectively.


Felicity Palmateer from Hillarys dominated the final of the under 16 girls. Palmateer exuded experience with her stylish and controlled manouvres and

with a new crop of girls coming up through the ranks including Bronte Macaulay, daughter of former world professional surfer Dave Macaulay, who has made her debut in state competition, things are looking bright for girls junior competitive surfing. Along with Macaulay and Palmateer, Geraldtons Leah Wright is making a comeback to competitive surfing after an absence of two years. Wright and Bunburys Katie Fletcher were battling it out for second place, but in the end Wright started to show her form and slotted ahead of Fletcher.


Margaret Rivers Creed Mc Taggart comboed the pack in the under 14 final. The 11 year old who posted the highest heat score for the whole event (18.27 pts out of a possible 20) surfed beyond his age bracket to easily account for Jake Fawcett (Geraldton) 7.84pts, Liam Van den ham (Wangara) 7.34pts, Sean Baldock (Hillarys) on 7.20pts. But it was Geraldtons Danny Williams who stole the glory for over all state champion in 2005 after winning the first two events.

Williams did not show for the final round as the damge had already been done.


It was a case of flued out for Jake Perkins (Kalbarri) in the under 12 final. The normally perky Perkins looked sluggish and tired in the final which saw him relegated into fourth place. WA’s wonder boy Creed Mc Taggart won another final yet again with a flawless performance in the under 12’s. New kids on the block are starting to come up through the ranks of the younger division and amongst these are 8 year old Louis Eastaugh (Palmyra) son of world renown big wave tow in expert Damon Eastagh and Matt Connel son of former competitive surfer Pat Connel. Eastaugh along with Connell showed gusto in the final with Eastaughs first ever surf contest providing him with a good result.



The Coca-Cola junior surfer of the event was awarded to Tom Clarke (Rockingham).



The West surfing Products Manouevre of the Event went to Creed Mc Taggart (Margaret River), while the West Surfing Products girls Eave of the Event was awarded to Jaala Baldock (Hillarys).


FINAL RESULTS XTREME SURF & SK8 State Junior Series 2005 - Event 3


Under 12 Boys final
C. Mc Taggart (Margaret River), 2. Louis Eastaugh (Palmyra), 3. Matt Connel (City Beach), 4. Jye Perkins (Kalbarri), 5. Jesse Carter (Kalbarri ).


Under 16 Girls final
Felicity Palmateer (Hillarys), 2. Leah Wright (Geraldton), 3. Katie Fletcher (Bunbury), 4. Bronte Macaulay (Gracetown).


Under 18 Girls final
Jaala Baldock (Hillarys), 2. Jaimee Eivsfold (Palmyra), 3.Isabell Woods (Mt.Claremont), 4. Sarah Refeld (Hillarys), 5. Jasmine Fawcett (Geraldton)


Under 14 Boys final
Creed Mc Taggart (Margaret River), 2.Jake Fawcett (Geraldton), 3. Liam Van Den Ham (Wangara), 4. Sean Baldock (Hillarys).


Under 16 Boys final
1. Tod Quartermaine (Mandurah), 2. Darcy Maynard (Trigg), 3. Matt Baldock (Margaret River), 4. Mitch Taylor (Trigg).
Overall State champion: Tod Quartermaine (Mandurah).


Under 18 Boys final
Jack Bestall (Trigg), 2. Tom Clarke (Rockingham), 3. Jake Molloy (Geraldton) 4. Cortney Brown (Kalbarri).
Overall State champion: Jack Bestall (Trigg).


Coca Cola Surfer of the event: Tom Clarke (Rockingham).


Proudly supported by XTreme Surf & Sk8, West Surfing Products, Hot Buttered, Odyssey 20/20, SunSmart, Surfing WA, Coca Cola, Access 31 and 96fm



Photos Available

For images of surfers from your particular area contact Mario Vassallo

Complimentary high resolution images for newspapers are available via official SWA event photographer: Mario Vassallo, marz@srosurf.com ph: 0416 535 193

TOOHEYS EXTRA DRY PRESENTS ODYSSEY 20/20 STATE OPEN SERIES - North West surfers assert dominance on home turf at second state open surfing championships.

Monday, 4 July 2005

Tooheys Extra Dry presents

ODYSSEY 20/20 STATE OPEN SERIES 2005

Supported by West Surfing Products, Hillarys Fast Ferries, Rottnest Island Authority, Scarborough Beach Association

2nd – 3rd JULY Flatrocks Beach Geraldton.


North West surfers assert dominance on home turf at second state open surfing championships.


Warm weather, offshore winds and clean waves of between the 1 to 1.8 metre mark greeted competitors throughout the weekend for the second round of the Odyssey 20/20 State Open Series in Geraldton.

Local surfers proved to be a force to contend with pushing the visiting competitors to breaking point as round after round witnessed surfers from the region advancing to the finals.

Geraldton’s Ben McGay led the charge in the Oydssey 20/20 Open Men’s final clocking up an impressive 8.93 points out of a possible 10 on his first scoring ride. The powerful natural footer intimately knew the break knowing where to push himself and his board at the most critical position on the wave. Racking up the points with a series of well placed and committed manouvres Mc Gay opened the gap enough to win the final ahead of former Geraldton local, now residing in Kalbarri, Kerby Brown. Brown and McGay took it to the final siren, where the judges eventually split the pair by just 1.12 points with Rockinghams Ryan Wordsworth who was surfing impressively in the semi finals needing a 6.47 point scoring ride to sneak into second place and Margaret River’s John Davies requiring a 6.91 scoring ride to do the same.


“It was hard going out there. You had to wait for the ones with walls to score anything above average, everyone was constantly turning around to see what the surfer was doing on the waves they caught. Knowing that Kerby was the man to beat with his local knowledge of the break I knew I had to really keep my eye on him. It’s always great to win at one of your local breaks and I’m pretty damn happy with the win” said Mc Gay.

In the Hillarys Fast Ferries Open Women’s final, local knowledge again proved to be the deciding factor with not one competitor making it to the final from outside the region from the preliminary rounds, it was a case of four finalists from Geraldton battling it out for a win.

Jaimee Wheatley from Geraldton displayed a polished performance in the womens final. Oozing competitive savy from competing around the country in major womens events, Wheatley conquered the final like a season professional. Waiting for the larger and longer waves through experience knowing that the judges would reward her highly for this, Wheatley opened the final with a scoring ride of 7.83 points to take the lead early and keep it to the final siren, defeating fellow Geraldton surfers Leah Wright, Kirra Young and Natasha Parker respectively.

Relative new comer to the State rounds saw Peter Cannon from Margaret River take out the Tooheys Extra Dry award for his efforts in the event. The powerful natural footer posted the highest score during the event and was duly rewarded the wave of the day for his efforts by Tooheys Extra Dry.

While the open mens division is regarded as the blue ribbon division of the event, all eyes were turned towards the lineup for the West Surfing Products Pro Junior Under 21 final.

Like a Wimbledon championship tennis final where spectators heads turn from side to side, spectators heads for the pro junior final were moving up and down as competitors put on a display of flawless top to bottom manouvres much to the delight of the crowd and judges. On edge committed and power driven surfing was being witnessed as world renowned surfer Ry Craike put his fellow competitors through their paces with then doing their best to take up the challenge from Craike. Craike cut his teeth in the junior state rounds at an early age where he progressed onto the world competition scene with good results and is considered by many as a serious WQS contender when he is ready to compete on the circuit. In what can only be described as devastating form, Craike exploded into amazing manouvres during the final which also saw him perform an ariel manouvre on his high scoring 9.07 point ride. It was a case of catch me if you can as the gauntlet was laid for the other competitors to pick up and while Geraldtons Cortney Brown needed a second scoring ride of 9.51 points to oust Craike from first place, he did do his best to keep Craike on his toes, but unfortunately could not knock Craike from his perch and had to settle for second with Craike claiming victory.


“This is where it all started for me right here in the state rounds” said Craike, “I have grown up with most of the competitors in this event and when I’m back home I like to try and catch up with them, but to surf against them again in events like these makes me humble of my beginnings. I’m pretty wrapped with the win and thanks to all the sponsors who support these events and my sponsors” said Craike.

Regarded highly by many as one of Western Australias best surfers with even multiple world championship holder Kelly Slater saying “That he draws inspiration from guys like Ry Craike” the shy and humble Craike now heads off to the USA on a promotional tour with his sponsors.

The second state open championship at Geraldton was hailed a huge success surf wise and the high level of performances displayed with no doubt the next event at Trigg Beach on the 1st to 2nd of October going to be proving to be a nail biter.


FINAL RESULTS

Tooheys Extra Dry presents

ODYSSEY 20/20 STATE OPEN SERIES 2005

Supported by West Surfing Products, Hillarys Fast Ferries, Rottnest Island Authority, Scarborough Beach Association

2nd – 3rd July, Flatrocks Beach Geraldton.



Odyssey 20/20 Open Mens Final

Ben Mc Gay (Geraldton), 2. Kerby Brown (Kalbarri), 3. Ryan Wordsworth (Rockingham), 4. John Davies (Margaret River).


West Surfing Products Pro Junior Final

Ry Craike (Kalbarri), 2. Courtney Brown (Kalbarri), 3. Luke Campbell (Trigg), 4. Drew Wright (Geraldton).


Hillarys Fast Ferries Open Womens Final

Jaimee Wheatley (Geraldton), 2. Leah Wright (Geraldton), 3. Kirra Young (Geraldton), 4. Natasha Parker (Geraldton).


Over 28 Womens Final

Catherine Fletcher(City Beach), 2. Sally Anne Gudge (Rottnest Island), 3. Rebekah Lorimer(City Beach) .


Over 28’s Senior Mens Final

1. Sam Hanson (Yallingup), 2. Damian Lipscombe (Cottesloe), 3. Mick Drmota (Dunborough), 4. Craig Tuesley (Geraldton).



Over 35’s Masters Final

Peter Canon (Margaret River), 2. Damian Lipscombe (Cottesloe), 3. Paul Dupay (Albany), 4. Mick Dramota (Dunsborough).


Over 40’s Masters Final

1. Brent Moss (Safety Bay), 2. Ian Darby (North Beach), 3. Mark Lane (Trigg), 4. John Kildahl (Hillarys).



Over 45’s Masters Final

1. Mick Shaw (Margaret River), 2. Ian Darby (North Beach), 3. Brent Moss (Safety Bay), 4. Mal Caithness (Margaret River).



Over 50’s Legends Final

1. Ian Salmond (Geraldton), 2. Leon Norris (Geraldton), 3. Ross Middleton (Geraldton), 4. Mick Molloy (Geraldton).



Photos Available

Complimentary high resolution images for newspapers are available via official SWA event photographer: Mario Vassallo, marz@srosurf.com ph: 0416 535 193