Groms attack solid waves to crown state championship winners

STATE champions have been crowned at Round 3 of the Woolworths Victorian Junior Titles, with surfers putting it all on the line in powerful waves at Gunnamatta Beach on the Mornington Peninsula.

In pulsing four to six-foot conditions, competitors went as large as they could to try to take home the coveted state title and inch closer to booking a spot in the Victorian State Team for the Australian Titles later this year.

The Under 16 Girls division was said to be one of the highlights of the weekend, with Peninsula stars Ava Holland (Dromana) and Sara Hickson (Rye) going toe to toe.

In the final, Hickson kicked off proceedings with a huge 9.17 for three hammering powerful snaps, putting her in fantastic stead early on.

Seconds after, Hickson’s wave, Ava Holland received a large set wave to the head, which also snapped her board before she could even get a wave.

After swimming to collect her replacement board, Holland threw everything at her next wave but came unstuck, leaving Hickson to steady for the event win and state title crown

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Hickson said she was thrilled to use her home break knowledge to book a spot at the Australian Titles later this year.

“I just knew I had to head out the back and find a couple of good waves to get the win.

“It [feels] really good to win the state title.”

On the other side of the draw, Rye Cicero (Sandy Point) was able to take a commanding win, stopping a potential three-peat by Jerry Kelly (Barwon Heads), who had already claimed the state title by winning the first two events of the state series.

Cicero showed he wasn’t going to hold back on any section or big powerful manoeuvres, securing two solid scores for a hammering range of turns.

“It was a good final, I managed to find a few waves which were enjoyable to surf on,” he said.

“I picked up a bit of a rhythm in this round which made the final really fun to surf.”

Other winners from the third round of series included Sarsha Pancic (U/18 Girls, Blairgowrie), Lucas Hickson (U/18 Boys, Rye), Rose Holland (U/14 Girls, Dromana) and Dusty Rayner (U/14 Boys, Inverloch).

Overall state champion honours were awarded to Sarsha Pancic (U/18 Girls, Blairgowrie), Willem Watson (U/18 Boys, McCrae), Sara Hickson (U/16 Girls, Rye), Jerry Kelly (U/16 Boys, Barwon Heads), Rose Holland (U/14 Girls, Dromana) and Arch Rayner (U/14 Boys, Inverloch).

For full results from all divisions and scores, head to surfingvic.com/live