Woolamai Beach plays up for Australia’s best juniors
WHERE Cape Woolamai can often present as one of the best beach breaks in the world, it was anything but that at the weekend. The weather was fine enough on Saturday for the 2023 Woolworths Australian Junior Surfing Titles opening ceremony, until...
WHERE Cape Woolamai can often present as one of the best beach breaks in the world, it was anything but that at the weekend.
The weather was fine enough on Saturday for the 2023 Woolworths Australian Junior Surfing Titles opening ceremony, until a blustery squall hit the area in the afternoon.
But by Sunday, a stiff westerly was blowing sideways along the beach producing very challenging on-shore or cross-shore waves which the competitors nonetheless attacked with enthusiasm.
“It’s less than ideal and you’d usually see a break in the weather after a couple of days but unfortunately, we’re not going to see that this week,” said Surfing Australia official Max Wells.
“But they’re used to surfing in all conditions and they’re doing pretty well considering.”
The competition was loosely located on the “clubhouse right” at Woolamai but with waves breaking every which-way, it was a matter of taking off on anything with a bit of shape and trying to link a few turns for a decent score.
And highly skilled juniors from all over Australia, including WA, were able to do just that, somehow finding clean faces on the waves to produce some thrilling rides.
But according to Max, they’re going to have to get used to it because the conditions look set to be similar right through the week.
Contest Director, Liam Robertson, was upbeat.
“We’re stoked to kick off the Woolworths Australian Junior Surfing Titles at Cape Woolamai on Phillip Island this morning. There is 3-4ft of increasing swell and moderate onshore winds today with tomorrow expecting to have similar swell and lighter winds.”
“The sand banks are in excellent condition and the surfing we have seen so far has been amazing.”
The Woolworths Australian Junior Surfing Titles encompass individual divisions for U14–U18 Junior Men and Women as well as school surfing divisions for U16–U19 (Allstars & MR Shield) Junior Men and Women and is the final major counting event on the National Junior Rankings, awarding 10,000 points to every age division winner.
