SOME of the State’s best young surfers will converge on Mandurah for the second round of the WA State Junior Surfing Titles this weekend.
With a series of cold fronts due to hit the coast over the next few days, the forecast is for a solid swell pushing into the Mandurah area.
Surfing WA events manager Justin Majeks said the conditions could make it an event to remember with about 80 competitors likely to take part.
“It looks like we’re going to get a new swell around the 4m to 4.5m range over the weekend, which is good, because Mandurah has a lot of reefs and points that need some swell to get working,” he said.
“It’s probably not the best case scenario for a junior event, but at least it won’t be dead flat.”
Hillarys surfer Felicity Palmateer is the standout female in the competition and is hoping to continue her outstanding form.
The goofy footer is coming off success at the Chill Pro Junior at Trigg two weeks ago and also won the WA State Open title at the weekend.
“I’m really looking forward to the event. I’ve got some good confidence at the moment and I feel like my preparation and equipment is just right at the moment,” Palmateer said.
Margaret River teenager Creed McTaggart, who will compete in the under-16 boys event, is one of the star attractions in the male competition.
A recent member of Team Australia, McTaggart represented his country at the ISA World Juniors in Ecuador and is keen to make a big impression at his first junior event of the year.
In the under-18 boys, Cottesloe’s Mitch Nesbitt and Padbury’s Jayden O’Neill and local boy Lachlan Mazzuchelli, of Mandurah, are among the favourites.
Competitors have a chance to qualify for the State junior team to compete at the Australian Junior Surfing Titles in Queensland later this year.
Depending on conditions, the competition is likely to be held at Avalon Beach.