GRACETOWN’S Bailee Hastie is ready to hit the swell for a new junior surf contest in Margaret River on Saturday.
The Subway Summer Surf Series was created to fill a competition void at a crucial point in the development of Australia’s leading junior surfers. Margaret River will be the ninth stop on the tour.
I’m kinda hoping it will be at Gas, I think that’s the best wave of all of them.
- Surfer Bailee Hastie, 17
Ms Hastie, who just hit 17, said the weekend’s competition could take place at any of her local breaks including Gas Bay, Sewers or Mainbreak, located between the suburbs of Gnarabup and Prevelly in Margaret River.
“I’m kinda hoping it will be at Gas, I think that’s the best wave of all of them,” she said.
A crew of the state’s South-West best will compete, including surfers such as Margaret River's Jed Mattinson and Mia McCarthy, and Yallingup trio Duke Nagtzaam, Josh Cattlin and Phoebe McGregor.
Pascal Hutchinson (Sorrento), Moses Le Grice (East Fremantle) and Kash Cook (Trigg) will be leading the charge for the metropolitan surfers.
Ms Hastie’s talent has blossomed since she took up the sport at 11, and last year she secured the winning title at the Rip Curl Grom Search WA.
One opponent to look out for will be Perth’s 16-year-old Denver Young.
“We have a little rivalry,” Hastie joked. “We take turns in winning.”
Asked if she had a favourite surfer she looked up to, Hastie said there were too many, but “if I had to pick one it’d be Steph Gilmore”, ranked number one on the World Championship Tour.
Hastie said she attended the Margaret River Pro every year to watch Gilmore and the other WCT surfers.
If the Summer Surf Series is Hastie’s time to shine, she could be in the running to win a place at a three-day training camp in Casuarina, New South Wales.
If she takes out the under 21 girl’s division, she will be given a free wildcard into the Australian Surfmasters Titles open women’s contest.
Hastie said she has visited the renowned Hurley Surfing Australia High Performance Centre in NSW before and was keen to return for the great coaches.
With guidance such as this, and gathering little wins here and there as much as possible, the Gracetown grommet hopes to follow her dream to become a professional surfer.
Stay up to date with results from the Summer Surf Series here.
EVENT 1 - Dee Why, NSW - September 13-14, 2014 - Entries Open Friday July 11th, 2014
EVENT 2 - Newcastle Beach, NSW - September 27 - 28 - Entries Open Friday July 11th, 2014
EVENT 3 - Sunshine Coast, QLD - October 25 - 26, 2014 - Entries Open Friday July 11th, 2014
EVENT 4 - Torquay, VIC - November 1 - 2, 2014 Click - Entries Open Friday July 11th, 2014
EVENT 5 - Kiama, NSW - November 22-23, 2014 Click - Entries Open Friday July 11th, 2014
EVENT 6 - Clifton, TAS - December 13, 2014 - Entries Open Friday July 11th, 2014
EVENT 7 - Gold Coast, QLD - January 3 - 4, 2015 - Entries Open Friday July 11th, 2014
EVENT 8 - Phillip Island, VIC - January 17 -18, 2015 - Entries Open Friday July 11th, 2014
EVENT 9 - Margaret River, WA - Jan 31 - Feb 1, 2015 - Entries Open Friday July 11th, 2014
EVENT 10 - Victor Harbor, SA - February 14 - 15, 2015 - Entries Open Friday July 11th, 2014
EVENT 11 - Cronulla, NSW - March 7 - 8, 2015 - Entries Open Friday July 11th, 2014
EVENT 12 - Trigg, WA - March 14 - 15, 2015 - Entries Open Friday July 11th, 2014
EVENT 13 - Yamba, NSW - March 21 - 22, 2015 - Entries Open Friday July 11th, 2014
