Merewether surfer Wes Bainbridge is the winner of the Red Bull Junior Surf Masters regional qualifying event in Newcastle. The popular local surfer was a crowd favourite all day and continued his commanding form in the final with some critical lip bashes and a series of swooping roundhouse cutbacks.
Bainbridge defeated one of his good mates, Merewether’s Jesse Adam who also surfed amazingly in the tightly contested final. “I surf against Jesse all the time so it was great to come up against him today in the final. I think local knowledge helped us out there today. We knew where to sit and which waves to pick. It’s been a big day. I’m tired but really stoked with the result.”
At just 16 years old, Bainbridge showed spectators today he can surf well beyond his years.”This is the best contest win I’ve had in ages,” he said. “It’s been such a great event and I’m frothing to go to Sydney to see if I can make it through to the Final.”
The surf conditions maintained great form throughout the day and the surfing was spectacular. Avoca’s Dane Atcheson finished third in the final and Sam Lendrum came fourth.
All four finalists will go through to the next stage of the Red Bull Junior Surf Masters at Queenscliff (Aug 29-31). They will compete against the best four surfers from the other regional qualifying events (20 surfers in total). The top four surfers from that battle will then face a field of the best 16 Pro Juniors in Australia, handpicked by current ASP World Champion, Mick Fanning.
Head Judge, Steve Evans said the standard of surfing was exceptional across the field today. “When you get great waves like we had today, it lifts everyone’s standard and makes it a much more exciting day for everyone involved,” said Evans.
Evans has been judging junior surfing for over twenty years and has seen a number of young Newcastle surfers go on to become international surf stars (including Matt Hoy and Luke Egan). “There are at least 12 surfers here today who are capable of making a fulltime career out of surfing,” he said. “Red Bull Junior Surf Masters is a great motivator because it shows the kids what level they need to reach to achieve their goals and the type of treatment you can expect at major contests. I hope it becomes an annual event!”
Contest Director, Matt Wilson explained the concept behind Red Bull’s innovative Junior Surf Masters: “The idea is to encourage junior surfing at a grass roots level and to help aspiring professional surfers launch a career in the sport. At the final we will be launching a new contest format called ‘Torched’ which offers an exciting new approach to contest surfing.”
The remaining qualifying events for Red Bull Junior Surf Masters will be held at Sydney’s Avalon and Cronulla Beaches on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th August, respectively.
About Red Bull Junior Surf Masters
Red Bull Junior Surf Masters, is a first time event being held in NSW this July and August giving young surfers an amazing opportunity to go head-to-head with Australia’s best Pro Junior surfers. The first prize is the biggest ever awarded for a junior surf event in Australia and is designed to help up-and-coming surfers launch their pro career into the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and beyond.
To apply all young surfers have to do is head to www.redbull.com.au, follow the links to Red Bull Junior Surf Masters, and download an application form for the qualifying events. Applications cost $30, with all proceeds going to SNSW Surfing Development.
