Prime conditions at Wild Surf Co/Billabong Pro Teen

Adam Melling : photo Robertson/SurfingAustralia.com

ORGANISERS weren’t pulling anyone’s leg when they predicted that April Fool’s Day would provide the biggest and cleanest waves of any of the surfing contests held during the professional tour’s four Australian events. Prime conditions were on offer at Newcastle Beach for competitors on the second day of the $10000 5 Star Wild Surf Co/Billabong Pro Teen being held as part of EnergyAustralia Surfest.

At least seven surfboards were smashed in the easterly 2 – 2.5 metre swells that were held up and blown open throughout the morning courtesy of an offshore wind. Three metre clean up sets caught numerous competitors inside but fortunately Newcastle’s Shark Alley provided an express rip to get competitors back into the take-off area.

None took better advantage of the perfect conditions than lanky Blake Wilson from Alexandra Headlands. The Sunshine Coaster, ranked 40th on the Pro Teen Tour, gave the judges no option other than to award the only perfect score of the event after he launched an absolutely devastating series of backhand lip smacks that could be heard by photographers gathered near the water’s edge.

“I just took off and it was a bit fat but I knew it would reform and would give me a great chance to just wack it and wack it,” Wilson said. And wack it he did! “I want to celebrate but I can’t even have a beer cause I’m not 18 till August,” the amiable Queenslander grinned.

The day’s honors for highest average heat points in the mens' competition(16.25)went to fifteen year old dynamo Owen Wright from Culburra on the south coast of New South Wales. Wright won his heat in the under 16 boys’ event being held 3 kilometres away at Bar Beach and then backed that solid win up by saluting the judges in the Pro Teen. Nineteen-year-old Heath Irving from Manly on Sydney’s northern beaches was close behind Wright with a 15.75

Others to impress in today’s round of 96 included Angourie duo Laurie Tanner and Zane Byrne. The best friends, who have been surfing together since they were 8 years old, met each other in the same heat where Tanner just accounted for Byrne. Eliminated from the same heat was 2003 and 2004 Australian Schoolboy Champion Brett Power from Avoca on the Central Coast.

Source: Global Surf News

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