14 December 2019
THE LAKE MAC CITY Pro Junior trials saw a coveted wild card up for grabs at Redhead beach today, with the winners guaranteed a start in the World Surf League’s Junior Qualifying 1000 boys and girls events at the same beach next February.
Sixteen boys from Leggy Point, Redhead, Dudley, Frenchman’s and Catherine Hill Bay board riding clubs in the Lake Mac City local government area contested waves up to one metre near first creek, around 100 metres south of the Redhead shark tower.
Frenchman’s Dom Thomas led from the start in the four-surfer final before locking-in victory with an 8.17 with five minutes remaining. That score saw the 14-year-old combing the field and booking a competitor’s singlet for the Lake Mac City Pro Junior Redhead in February
The Swansea High student, who “really started getting into surfing when I was four”, is the reigning under-14 Sanbah Cadet Cup champion. He was also part of the Frenchman’s team that won the 2019 Orica Teams Challenge at Stockton.
“It’s so exciting because I’m 14 and it’s going to be an under-18 comp. It’s going to be a really big learning curve for me,” Dom said.
Securing the wildcard into the Lake Mac City Pro Junior will kick-start Dom’s determination to become a regular at Australasian pro junior events in 2020.
In the girls division, 15-year-old Ava Doyle from Redhead Board Riders Club secured the wildcard for the girls after scoring a walk-through in the small waves on offer near first creek today.
The Whitebridge High student, who has been surfing for around five years, surfs against the boys in the cadet division at her club. She did the same again today when no other girl competitors fronted.
“I’ll have the opportunity now to surf against some really competitive girls,” Ava said.
Results:
The Lake Mac City Pro Junior Trials
Junior Boys
1. Dom Thomas (Frenchman’s) (blue jersey) 13.84
2. Phoenix Visscher (Redhead) (red jersey) 9.47
3. Noah Litchfield (Redhead) (green jersey) 5.97
4. Max Chisek (Catherine Hill Bay) (white jersey) 5.20
Junior Girls
1. Ava Doyle (Redhead) Walk-through
