Surf Fest Moves Into Quarters Action.

     Surf Fest Moves Into Quarters Action.

By Mark Humphrey

The 2014 Piping Hot Surfwear Surf Fest continued at Bells Beach today in conditions that would eventually see a halt in proceedings for the day. With strong off-shore breezes and a declining swell organizers had no other option but to call it a day having partially completed the day’s program.Grace Styman-Lane on her way to a quarter final heat win

The WQS 1 men’s event failed to get a contest in the water and have to date only completed round 1 of their program. Like their male counterparts the WQS 1 women’s event also failed to run a heat today and will resume at the quarter final stages of their program when proceeding re-commence.

The Pro Junior Men’s division were lucky enough to get in their 2^nd and 3^rd round of heats with the Pro Junior Women’s conducting their quarter finals.

Round 2 of the Pro Junior Men’s division had the nations hot shots going head to head looking to advance from the round of 32. Australian junior representatives such as Hynd and Bailey had their work cut out to advance to the round of 16 with Luke Hynd scratching through to the next round.

Elliot Paerata-Reid posted the highest wave score of the round with an 8.50 to win his heat with Jake Thompson, Kalani Ball and Kelly Norris all posting heat scores of 13.50 to safely move through to the next round. Other heat winners were Jacob Willcox, Harrison Mann, Hamish Renwick and Bells Beach local Cody Robinson.

The round of 16 in the Pro Junior Men’s had some big match ups with a couple of the hot guys eliminated from the event in conditions that were now uneven to say at best. Wave selection was so critical and the odd bit of luck certainly was an advantage.

Heat 1 started the ball rolling with one of the fancied surfers in Jake Thompson finishing 4^th and being eliminated along with Jordan Lawler. After posting the equal highest combination in the round of 32, Thompson was unable tore- capture the same form and subsequently said good-bye to the Pro Junior Men’s division. The heat was tied with both Kelly Norris and Johnnie Keith advancing to the quarters.

Heat 2 had Elliot Paerata-Reid sensationally follow on from his previous heat and post the day’s highest combination score of 18.50 to dominate his heat. His combined total of 18.50 consisted of a 9.50 and a 9.0 wave score to follow on from his previous round high of 8.50. Joining Paerata-Reid in the quarters was Kalani Ball with Harrison Martin and Josh Hay dropping out of the event.

Heat 3 had a couple of the pre-tournament favourites in Jacob Willcox and Soli Bailey go head to head with both guys advancing to the next round. Willcox comfortably took the heat from Bailey with Louis Gillick and Harrison Mann knocked out.

The final round of 16 heat was won by local surfer Cody Robinson. Robinson a member of the strong Torquay Boardriders Club used his local knowledge to safely win through to the quarters with Sheldon Simkus closely following. Unfortunately for Hamish Renwick and Luke Hynd the Pro Junior Men’s tournament has finish for both of them. It wasn’t that long ago that Hynd was dominating for Australia at the ISA World Juniors and now finds himself eliminated from the ASP rated Surf Fest.

Match ups for the next round will no doubt provide plenty of interest with Keith up against Ball in the first heat. Norris will take on in-form Paerata-Reid followed by Willcox up against Simkus. The final heat of the quarters has Robinson taking on Soli Bailey which should be a fantastic heat. Bailey is no stranger to success at Bells having dominated at last year’s indigenous titles at Bells Beach.

The other action of the day came from the Pro Junior Women’s section where the quarter finals were contested with some close results.

In QF 1 Grace Styman-Lane proved too strong for Lucy Callister and comfortably moved into the semis where she will go head to head with Billy Melinz who posted the 2^nd highest heat score of the round on her way to beating a gallant Bronte Macaulay. Macaulay surfed well and posted a combo that would have won the next heat. The next heat was in fact taken out by Sophia Bernard over Isabella Nichols. This was a huge win for Bernard as Nichols looked to be the in-form surfer from day 1 of the championships. Bernard will take on event favourite Keely Andrew in the other semi-final after Andrew posted the highest heat score of 16.90 to comfortably beat Eden Putland who like Nichols had been surfing strong throughout the event. Well done to Putland, Nichols and all the other Pro Junior Women who had managed to get this far in the tournament. The strength of Australian women’s surfing is at an all-time high and sits well for the future of the sport.

PRO JUNIOR WOMENS IMAGESKeely AndrewSophia BernardLucy CallisterBronte MacaulayBillie MelinzIsabella NicholsEden PutlandEden PutlandGrace Styman-Lane

Action will resume tomorrow at Bells Beach depending on conditions.

For more info go to http://www.pipinghotsurffestival.com

or Surfing Victoria on http://www.surfingaustralia.com/vic/

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