Swells push junior limits

Cowaramup Bay Boardrider junior surfers pushed their limits at their season’s first competition at North Point at the weekend.

With the swell reaching almost 2.5m, North Point offered barrels and heavy sections off the ledge, with an end section for less experienced surfers.

The under-18 boys’ final was a display of progressive surfing.

Ry Dempsey attacked North Point like it was a two-foot beach break.

In the final, he pulled off a full air rotation, as well as some critical lip smacks on the solid 2m sets to take out the win.

Dempsey also had the top-scoring wave of the event with a 9.33 in the final.

Jed Gradisen also charged hard to take out second place.

Gradisen took some late drops into heavy barrels, smacked huge lips — and also copped some heavy wipeouts.

The senior girls revelled in the opportunity to surf North Point by themselves. Just 0.5 points separated the top three, with Willow Hardy coming out on top.

Hardy laid down some powerful snaps on a beautiful peeling wave to get a 6.5. Zali Hewson surfed consistently and confidently throughout the day, taking some critical drops for second place, just 0.03 points ahead of Mia Scott.

Scott won the Hillzeez Charger award for her commitment to pulling into barrels throughout the day.

The under-16s was another close-fought battle between all four finalists, with less than one point separating first from last.

Former Mandurah resident Macklin Flynn showed he’s settled into Margaret River by pulling into some of the heaviest, throatiest barrels of the day. Flynn just took the win over Josh Willcox who had the highest-scoring wave of the final with a 6. Tom Scott, Mia Scott’s brother, also won a Charger award for his efforts.

Sid Englert was the standout in the under-14s. He sat deep, took off on the bombs, and pulled into some huge tubes that were well over double his size.

Consistent Cruz Sheridan was second. Okie Fraser got one good scoring wave in the final, but wasn’t able to get a back-up score to move beyond third.

In the junior girls, Kaleisha Launders sat deep and took a few heavy beatings but also pulled into some solid, memorable waves to take first place. Olive Hardy impressed with committed take-offs and carves to get second and power paddler Leila Fraser was third.

Charging hard on the end section in the under-12s was Max Ghiretti. Ghiretti pulled some late air drops and impressed with power carves throughout the day.

In second and third, Reef Lange and Lenox Hayward showed confident and committed surfing.

The novice division had a n hour-long heat at Huzzas, which was much more user-friendly for the youngsters.

Taylor Flynn took out the win in his first Cow Bay competition. Close behind were Ethan Anderson and Cahn Sheridan.