Australian Junior Surfing Titles set to go on the Sunshine Coast this week-end

Written by Surfing Australia

Jordi Watson from South Coast NSW is the number 1 seed in the under 18 Boys at the Arnette Australian Junior Titles – In this photo Jordi proved himself in Australia’s biggest waves earlier this year - expect him to be ripping in much smaller surf next week in Coolum on the Sunshine Coast! Photo: Surfing Australia/Robertson.
The Sunshine Coast in Queensland is ready to host the hottest young surfers from all over Australia as they head to Coolum Beach for the annual Arnette Australian Junior Surfing Titles.

For most of these surfers, who have qualified to represent their respective states via state junior surfing championships, the Arnette Australian Junior Titles will be the biggest and most important event of their careers.

With a list of former Australian Junior Champions that includes surfers Joel Parkinson, Stephanie Gilmore, Chelsea Georgeson and going back to legendary surfers like Tom Carroll, Wayne Lynch, Pam Burridge and many more, winning a title is an opportunity of a lifetime.

With Australia presently boasting the richest talent of young surfers in the world the field is absolutely stacked with outstanding surfers, many who have already established big reputations in the sport.

South Coast NSW surfer Jordi Watson is the number one seed in the under 18 Boys. The 17 year old from Currawong opened eyes nationally earlier this year when he charged probably the biggest competitive surf ever in South Australia with waves up to 20 feet taken on fearlessly by the talented natural foot surfer.

There’s no chance he will be faced with those waves next week on the Sunshine Coast, more likely they’ll be super fast quality small beach breaks but Jordi is so talented in all conditions he’ll be the surfer to beat no matter what the conditions.

Winners of the Girls and Boys 18’s and Boys 16 divisions are not only rewarded with a prestigious title, they’ll also automatically be selected into TravelSim Team Australia’s Junior Team which heads to New Zealand next January for the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Titles. Finalists in these divisions go into an elite training camp at Surfing Australia’s High Performance Centre (HPC) at Casuarina NSW where they will also attempt to be selected into TravelSim Team Australia.

Without doubt the highest profiled and most successful surfer in the draw is Lennox Head surfer Tyler Wright.

Wright has the greatest ever junior record in surfing, and at only 15 years of age, she has years to add to her already amazing list of wins.

Multiple Australian Junior Titles, current World Junior Champion and even an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour victory achieved in 2008, Tyler Wright will be near unstoppable in the 18 Girls.

Reputations will mean nothing when these surfers hit the water and with emerging young talents like Nikki Van Dijk (Vic), Thomas Woods (Qld), Khai Adams (SA), Felicity Palmeteer (WA) and Hamish Renwick (Tas) along with many other great surfers, the surfing and competitiveness that goes with representing the state will ensure a week of amazing performances.

School Surfing also makes up a significant component within these titles as a cross-over of excellent school surfers compete for both their schools and their state chasing Australian School Surfing Association (ASSA) Titles.

The Schools Surfing component includes numerous teams’ events which see surfers relying on teamwork, coaching and depth in talent to chase Australian Titles for both individual schools and states.