SURFERS Point produced large and powerful waves over the weekend for the opening of the SunSmart WA Junior Surfing Titles.
For the first time since 1986, Surfers Point played host to a Western Australian Junior State Title event, with the iconic location bringing out the best from WA's new generation of surfing superstars.
Close to 100 male and female competitors aged between 10 and 17 years of age, tackled a building swell that peaked in the six to eight feet range this afternoon.
"This weekend has provided our junior surfers with an invaluable experience to compete at a world class location," said Surfing WA Events Manager Justin Majeks said.
"It's been a great opportunity for the children to surf the same patch of reef as the world's best surfers soon will for the upcoming Drug Aware Margaret River Pro."
Margaret River’s Jed Mattinson was a popular winner in the blue ribbon under 18 junior boys division.
Mattinson's superior wave selection and powerful rail-to-rail surfing impressed the judges and spectators alike. Catching just two waves during the 25 minute final, Mattinson opened with a 6.67 and back it up with a 7.17 to finish on a combined total of 13.8 from a possible 20.
Yallingup’s Josh Cuttlin finished fourth in the same division, unable to better Mattinson.
"It's been such a sick weekend with such amazing waves," said Mattinson.
"It's great that we can have competition here at Surfers Point with some much support behind me here, I'm wrapped with the result."
Gracetown’s Bailee Hastie finished second to Cottesloe’s Denver Young who was the only non-local winner in the event.
Young took out the under 18 girls division Hastie second, Denmark’s Emi Campbell third and Yallingup’s Phoebe McGregor fourth.
While Cattlin couldn’t take out the under 18 division, he dominate the under 16 cadet boys category.
Cattlin put in a iron-man like effort, surfing seven times to reach two divisional finals. Cattlin displayed textbook surfing on the right-handers at Surfers Point, going top to bottom at every opportunity.
"It's been a big day for me, but to come away with a win in the 16's makes it all worth it." Cattlin said.
Not to be out done by the boys, the under 16 cadet girl's divisions also provided many highlights.
Parading the depth of female talent now on offer in WA, Margaret River’s Jamaica Selby. Mandurah’s April McPherson, Albany’s Evie Dupuy and Yallingup’s Emma Cattlin went head-to-head in the 25 minute showdown.
It was Selby who was able to execute the best turns on the bigger set waves to snatch the win by less than two points from McPherson, with Dupuy in third and Cattlin in fourth.
"It's my first year in the 16's age group so to win in my first event is a really good feeling." said Selby.
Margaret River’s Finn Cox won the under 14 grommet boys division with his display of courage to take on biggest waves and sections of the weekend.
Cox scored a heat high 8.33 from a possible 10 to edge out a determined and hungry group of young surfers including; Margaret River’s Ry Dempsey in second, Jed Gradisen in third, and Trigg’s Giam Nation in fourth.
In other results from the weekend, an impressive backhand attack from Cattlin saw her capture the under 14 grommet girls division.
While Gracetown’s George Simpson edged out some of his closest surfing buddies to win in the under 12 micro groms division.
After a memorable start, all attention now turns to the second event of the series which will head north to the Perth metropolitan beaches on the June 6 and 7.
Trigg Beach will play host to WA's best juniors, where the journey towards crowing the 2015 WA Junior Surfing Champions will continue.
Photos by Anthony Pancia.