Vic secures podium finish at junior nationals

Point Lonsdale's Jay Phipps in action at North Stradbroke Island. Phipps placed equal fifth in the Under 16 Men's bracket. Photos: SAM WALKERDENE

THE Victorian Junior Surfing Team has managed a podium finish at North Stradbroke Island last weekend.

Team Victoria placed third overall at the Woolworths Australian Junior Surfing Titles recently held in Queensland.

The seven-day event, held each year, brought together the top surfers from across the country to compete in individual, team, and schools divisions.

Although there were no individual Australian Titles won by Victorians in 2022, the Victorian team walked away from the event with a win in the Teams division.

“It was certainly refreshing to be back in the mix with Australia’s best junior surfers after an interrupted few years,” Surfing Victoria High Performance Coaching Director Cahill Bell-Warren said.

“Our overall third position in the State Championship is a fair summary of our performances throughout the week.

Under 16 ISA World Junior Title Champion and Jan Juc local Willis Droomer competing for Team Victoria.

“We were challenged from pillar to post with weather and waves, I’m really proud of the way the team unit stuck together and supported each other without fail.

“On paper we are certainly capable of more and are already planning our assault on next year’s Australian Junior Titles.”

Top Victorian performer in the Individual division was Ava Holland of Mornington Peninsula, who placed fourth in the Under 16 Women division.

Other performers included Mornington’s Lucas Hickson, who finished tied for fifth in the Under 18 Men, and Point Lonsdale’s Jay Phipps, who notched up equal fifth in the Under 16 Men’s bracket.

Jan Juc’s Jarvis Barrow competing in the Under 14 Men’s bracket at the Aussie Junior Champs.

In the AllStars schools divisions, Victoria placed third in the Under 16 Boys, fourth in the Under 16 & Under 19 Girls and fourth in the Under 19 Boys.

In the MR Shield schools divisions Surf Coast Secondary College placed second in the Under 19 Girls, Dromana College finished second in the Under 16 Girls, St Ignatius College Bellarine finished fourth in the Under 19 and Forster Secondary College finished fourth in the Under 16 Boys.

Full results from all seven days of the event can be found online at australianjuniorsurfingtitles.com.

The Victorian Junior Surfing Team was presented by Surf Better Now and supported by Surfing Victoria.