Jan Juc’s Huxtable win headlines West Coast Surf Festival

LOCAL Surf Coast surfer Xavier Huxtable (Jan Juc) and Sophie Fletcher (Phillip Island) have each taken round one wins at the Victorian Open Series as part of the West Coast Surf Festival last weekend.

The days started with a slight hiccup when a small swell and onshore winds saw the event moved to the secondary location of Jan Juc on Saturday.

Nobody could fault Huxtable, as he rode his way to securing 16 out of the 20 possible points up for grabs in each heat he surfed, finishing with a heat total of 16.10.

Bohdie Williams (Point Lonsdale) placed second on 15.60 points. Tully Wylie (Jan Juc, 14.80 points) and Willis Droomer (Jan Juc, 10.87 points) finished in third and fourth respectively.

In the women’s division, Sophie Fletcher gradually picked up steam as the rounds went on, finishing with an impressive 14.70 heat total to finish ahead of former Australian Junior Champion Ellie Harrison (Barwon Heads) who allotted a 13.17.

Finishing in third was Zoe Clarke (Jan Juc) on 10.77 points, with Emily McGettigan (Torquay) in fourth on 7.86 points.

The festival shifted back to the Bells Beach on Sunday following a swell increase that was absent the day before. Fortunately for those in attendance, it saw the reignition of Boardrider Club rivalries at the Victorian Team Titles.

One of the most prestigious clubs in the State, Phillip Island, were in strong form throughout the event on their way to re-claiming the Teams Trophy.

Carl Wright and Sophie Fletcher led the run home in the final, as Phillip Island finished with a combined total of 35.87 ahead of reigning champions Torquay Boardriders Club on 35.50 points.

“It was great to come down to Bells and surf with everyone,” Wright said.

“The conditions were better than previously anticipated throughout the week leading up to competition and I’m stoked the club got the win!”

Torquay Boardriders Club came out swinging in the final, however, were delivered a blow when they were deducted points due to an incorrect board swap over when Xavier Huxtable broke his board in the final.

Huxtable swapped his board with fellow teammate Cahill Bell-Warren, who was waiting in the water in the change-over zone as the next surfer for Torquay. This was not allowed according to the Surfing Australia rule book. They were delivered a five-point penalty.

Jan Juc Boardriders finished third with a heat total of 28.71 and 13th Beach Boardriders finished in fourth position with a combined total of 19.63.

Torquay Boardriders Club continued their dominance in the junior division with a combined heat total of 40.93.