Local surfers riding up north

THE Surf Coast and Bellarine is being well represented this week in Queensland as four surfers from Jan Juc and Torquay brave the waves at the Australian Junior Surfing Titles in North Stradbroke Island.

The Queensland event, which began on November 26 and concludes tomorrow (Saturday, December 3), will host 180 athletes with teams from each surfing state competing in the prestigious event.

Among the athletes from the Surf Coast and leading Team Victoria is current ISA World Champion Willis Droomer (Jan Juc), Victorian State Champions Emily McGettigan (Torquay), Jarvis Barrow (Jan Juc) and Dune Pruvot (Jan Juc).

From the Bellarine, Jack Bassett (Barwon Heads), Isaiah Norling (Barwon Heads), Max Bassett (Barwon Heads), Jay Phipps (Pt. Lonsdale), Harry Farrer (Barwon Heads) and Billie Cook (Wallington) also bolster the ranks up north.

“It is really exciting to be gearing up for the return of the Australian Junior Surfing Titles,” Surfing Victoria high performance coaching director Cahill Bell-Warren said.

“It feels like a decade ago Victoria won our maiden Champion State trophy in WA back in 2019.

“This squad of junior athletes are ready to rip in at Straddie, effectively they’ve put in three years of work with the Surf Better Now team in preparation for this event.”

Surfers are competing in individual divisions including Under 14, 16 and 18 age groups along with Allstars and MR Shield Schools divisions.

North Stradbroke is serving as a home to beach break and point breaks that work in a variety of conditions.

The main base for the event has been Main Beach, Point Lookout.

However, the event is mobile with several nearby options available, including Cylinders beach.