Far North Coast surfer Lachlan Arghyros celebrates first pro junior title

KINGSCLIFF’S Lachlan Arghyros etched his name into the history books, becoming just the second local male surfer to win the World Surf League Traeger Grills Pro Junior at Lennox Head.

Talia Tebb won the Pro Junior and under-16 girls division at the Soundboks Oz Grom Open. Photo: WSL.

The 16-year-old claimed his first Pro Junior title with a buzzer-beating aerial in the dying seconds of the final, defeating New Zealand’s Rico Haybittle at the annual Soundboks Oz Grom Open.

Arghyros joins current World Junior Champion Dane Henry, from Fingal Head, as the only local winners in the pro junior men, with both surfers representing Kingscliff Boardriders Club.

Trailing in the closing minutes of the final and needing a score of 4.77, Arghyros landed a backhand reverse aerial that earned 5.10 points to snatch victory from Haybittle.

“Last year I was watching Dane Henry, and I wasn’t really expecting much this year either,” Lachlan said.

The best pro junior surfers from around the country took part in the event at Lennox Head. Photo: WSL.

“I think that’s what brought me to the win, just surfing and not putting pressure on myself, and sometimes that’s the best thing that can happen.”

The event wrapped up in clean two-to-three-foot surf after a week of varying conditions, attracting many of the best under-20 surfers from across the Australia/Oceania region.

In the women’s Pro Junior, 15-year-old Central Coast surfer Talia Tebb secured her first World Surf League Pro Junior victory after backing up her Under-16 triumph earlier in the event.

Fresh from a runner-up finish at the previous tour stop at North Narrabeen, Tebb defeated former Challenger Series competitor Willow Hardy in the final with a two-wave total of 12.67, including the highest scoring wave of the final, a 7.50.

“Coming off the Under-16s win felt good, and then to go out there and back it up was pretty crazy. I was feeling super confident with my surfing after Narrabeen,” she said.

Talia Tebb celebrates her doubin win after the Pro Junior final. Photo: WSL.

“I’m just stoked to have so many good people in my corner. Thanks to everyone at home, my dad for always supporting me and bringing me to all these comps.”

Other Soundboks Oz Grom Open winners were:

Under-18 Boys: Benji Lowen

Under-18 Girls: Olive Hardy

Under-16 Boys: Locana Cullen

Under-16 Girls: Talia Tebb

Under-14 Boys: Jaya Suhendra

Under-14 Girls: Estella Carbonelli