Pro surfers inspire Margaret River regions groms
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WA U14s State Champion Zalli Hewson. Photo: Surfing WA /Majeks
South West surfers Jed Gradisen and Seth Van Haeften. Photo: Ethan Smith
2017 Australian Junior Titles Champion Maddie Cawood. Photo: Surfing WA/Woolacott
Three time Taj's Small Fries winner Willow Hardy with Taj Burrow. Photo: Surfing WA/Woolacott
Margaret River's Jacob Willcox in action. Photo: Surfing WA/Cestari
Excitement is building as the countdown continues to this years Margaret River Pro, the third stop on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour held from 11 to 22 April 2018.
Young local surfers are keen to take in all the action of the event with a keen eye on the hometown favourites.
2017 Australian Junior Titles Champion Maddie Cawood said Bronte Macaulay was an inspiration.
“I love seeing all our role models and people you look up to surfing where we surf locally,” the 15-year-old Margaret River Shield Champion said.
“We all learn so much from them. We saw Bronte surf before she made the CT, shes such a lovely role model to look up to. She shreds so hard. I want to see the girls surf the Box or a solid North Point – just making the women push themselves to really see how they go in heavy, sucky barrelling waves,” Maddie said.
WA U14s State Champion Zalli Hewson said it was good experience for groms to watch professional surfers compete.
“Having the professional surfers compete in Margaret River means we can see how to improve and what to do. It inspires me to push harder and go to the WSL so I can get better and do what they do,” the 12-year-old said.
“It was just really cool to see them get barrelled and surf at North Point. I love carrying the surfers boards and getting the rashies. Its really fun.”
Three-time winner of Taj Small Fries (Under 12s) Willow Hardy, 11, said the competitors give her inspiration.
“Its cool watching them surf and then comparing yourself to them – I screenshot my bottom turn and then I screenshot their bottom turn. Then I see what they are doing and what Im doing wrong. I think it really helps my surfing,” Willow from Margaret River said.
The 2016 Small Fries (Under 14s) winner and 2017 Australian Junior Titles fifth place finisher Jed Gradisen said that having a WSL event in Margaret River was good for all young surfers.
“Its good experience for all the kids to see what the pros actually do and to get up close to see all the action. You learn heaps more when you actually watch them in person, you see how they prepare and stuff. You dont see that in the live cast,” he said.
“The Box is probably most exciting. You get to see what the surfers can do because theres not really any slabs on tour. But North Point is probably one of the best waves in the world. To see the best surfers in the world surf it was pretty special.”
2016 Taj Small Fries fourth place finisher Alistair Williams said the Pro inspired him to try new manoeuvres.
“It makes you want to compete a lot better and surf to the best of your ability so one day you get on tour and it inspires your manoeuvres. You dont have to continue to do top turns, you can do an air reverse or you can even do a backflip,” Alistair from Gracetown said.
Two-time winner of Tajs Small Fries (Under 16s) Finn Cox said the Margaret River Pro provided a stepping stone to a surfing career.
“If you can get into the WA Trials, then you have a chance to get in to the big comp,” the 15-year-old said.
“Its good to get the strategies from the pros and how they do moves and their techniques. I definitely watch what they do and it gives me a different understanding of what turns I can do on those waves and how I can do it.”
Local surfer Jacob Willcox has won the WA Trials for the last two years and earned a wildcard entry to compete in the Pro.
“Whenever you surf at the Pro, you learn about competitive surfing and push yourself more because youre against best in the world. It does makes you raise the bar as a competitor and you push yourself more, for sure,” said Willcox.
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Margaret River Mail
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