Best of Australia’s Juniors will meet for the National Titles

Source: Surfing Australia -www.surfingaustralia.com-
Press release sent on November the 26th

Australia’s ultimate U/18’s surfing contest will see over 150 qualifiers compete for national crowns in the 43rd annual Quiksilver Australian Junior Titles presented by Samsung in South Australia next week.

Four-time NSW Champion Chris Salisbury (Newport) will be out to cap off an impressive U/18’s career with an allusive Aussie Title. The two-time U/18’s state champion is aware of the exceptional surfing standard that will be required at the national level.

Last year the then 16 year-old finished a credible fourth in the blue ribbon U/18’s Australian boys final.

“It would mean a lot to me to win, it’s definitely the most prestigious event in Australia for this age group,” said the 17 year-old.

“I'd love to claim that title, especially as it is my last year in this event,” added Salisbury.

Adding to the already high stakes is the automatic inclusion of the U/18 boys, U/18 girls and U/16 boy’s champions into Team Australia to contest the 2008 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Championship in Hossegor-Capbreton-Seignosse, France from May 24th – June 1st, 2008.

Earlier this year, Team Australia, defeated 27 other nations in Portugal to win the overall ISA world teams title. Salisbury was apart of the winning side, placing equal 12th overall in the U/18’s boys.

Once again Salisbury is aiming for inclusion into the world championships and a final shot at the highly prized U/18’s ISA world title. Surfing sensation Julian Wilson (Sunshine Coast) was the last Australia to claim the U18/s world crown, winning in 2006.

“It’s definitely my main goal to qualify again and I’m going to give it everything I've got to make sure I get there,” said Salisbury.

“It’s going to be a tough competition, the people that I’ll be keeping a close eye on will be Owen Wright and Chris Friend,” added Salisbury.

U/18’s Queensland Champion Friend (Maroochydore) and former U/16’s Quiksilver ISA World Champion, Wright (Culburra, NSW), both have enormous experience and talent on their side. Friend finished runner-up to Brazil’s Jadson Andre in the 2007 U/18’s ISA world championships last May.

All three contenders have a massive task ahead with U/18’s state champions, Victoria’s Todd Rosewall (Jan Juc), West Australia’s Shaun Howe (Kalbarri), Tasmania’s Zac Grey (Marrawah) and host SA’s Brett Edwards (Stoneyfell) are just a few of the serious challengers.

Despite the absence of defending U/18’s Australian champion Sally Fitzgibbons (Gerroa, NSW) - who is competing in the Roxy Pro, Sunset Beach Trials in Hawaii - the girl’s field is brimming with talent from all states of Australia

U/16’s Australian Champion Laura Enever (Narrabeen) is expected to be among the top finishes in the U/18 girls, as is Victoria’s 13 year-old surfing prodigy Nikki Van Dijk (Phillip Island).

“It’s going to be very tough,” said Enever.

“There is an awesome group of talented surfers coming through at the moment from all over Australia.

“The competition is going to be crazy! I’m sure every surfer there is going to put up a fight for that Australian title,” added Enever.

Dual U/16’s and U/18’s Victorian Champion, Van Dijk, is the youngest ever surfer to represent her state at the coveted titles.

U/18’s state champions, Queensland’s Bridie McNeven (Tugun), West Australia’s Ellie-Marie Macaulay and South Australia’s Gracie Bypass also possess the ability to win.

Surfing’s next generation will turn on a new-wave battle in the U/16’s boys and U/16’s girls.

Tasmania’s duel U/16’s and U/18’s champion Sophie Bourke (Four Mile Creek) has opted to compete for the U/16 Australian Title only and could well prove the dark horse in the highly contested division.

Other U/16’s hopefuls include Billy Bain (Avalon), Jake Fawcett (Geraldton, W.A.), Creed McTaggert (Margaret River, W.A.), Mitch Duggan (Sunshine Coast, Qld), Mitchell Baker (Phillip Island, Vic), Max Longhurst (Pt. Elliot, S.A.), Laura Macaulay (W.A) and Naomi Stevic (Sunrise Beach, Qld).

Local surfers will enter inspired by Teale Vanner, who became the only South Australian to win the U/18’s Australian Title with victory last year.

“If it's held at Middleton, I feel the local knowledge will heavily advantage Team SA,” said Vanner who is too old to contest this year’s tournament.

“It's a wave that I still find difficult to surf after four-five years of comps and free-surfing.”

“There are definitely a few hopefuls in our team and everyone has a chance of winning. I guess it depends on how badly they personally want to win,” added Vanner.

The U/18 boys, U/18 girls, U/16 boys and U/16 girls along with six national school titles will be decided from a qualifying field representing all states of Australia. Prestigious schools and teams titles are also on offer in the Mark Richards Shield and All-Stars school surfing divisions.

Also up for grabs are the prestigious Duke Kahanamoku and Isabel Letham perpetual awards granted to the tournament’s most impressive male and female surfers.

The inaugural Samsung ‘State of Origin’ will see Australia’s top surfing state awarded a perpetual trophy and a top of the line video camera.

The list of past Australian champion reads like a who’s who of surfing including current big names Joel Parkinson (Coolangatta, QLD), Taj Burrow (Yallingup, WA), Phillip MacDonald (Tomakin,NSW), Tom Whitaker (Bronte, NSW), Dean Morrison (Gold Coast, Qld), Ben Dunn (Old Bar, NSW) reigning world champion Chelsea Hedges (Avalon, NSW), Jessi Miley-Dyer (Bronte, NSW) and Stephanie Gilmore (Kingscliff, NSW).

Previous legends include Tom Carroll (Newport, NSW), Damien Hardman (Narrabeen, NSW), Wayne Lynch (Vic), Simon Anderson (Narrabeen, NSW), Peter Drouyn (Gold Coast, Qld) and Nick Wood (Newcastle, NSW).

The eight-day tournament will be mobile for the best waves in South-East SA with Victor Harbor as the main contest site. The tournament will run from Saturday December 1st through to Sunday December 9th.

The Quiksilver Australian Grommet Titles presented by Samsung are proudly supported by Hyundai, Nippys, Surfing Australia, Surfing South Australia, Roxy, Australian School Surfing Association, Victor Harbor and Alexandrina Councils.

JJ
Media Manager
Quiksilver Australasia

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