Cody Robinson putting on a show in his hometown. Pic ASP/Robertson
Torquay, VIC/AUS (Sunday, January 5, 2014) - Day 3 at the Piping Hot Surf Festival saw Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Pro Junior Men’s Quarterfinalists and Pro Junior Women’s Semifinalists decided in clean dropping swells at Bells Beach.
The solid summer swell from yesterday went into an unexpected rapid decline today, and while the morning heats enjoyed clean 1 meter surf by midday strong winds and a deteriorating swell forced the event to stop and wait for bigger waves – which are forecast for tomorrow.
The Piping Hot Surf Festival Pro Junior men’s division shredded the clean morning surf and local youngster Cody Robinson was the standout with a polished display of powerful surfing to win through his Round2 and 3 heats and goes into the Quarterfinals as a serious threat.
Robinson will take on highly seeded Byron Bay surfer Soli Bailey in a much anticipated clash in Quarterfinal 4 tomorrow.
New Zealand’s Elliot Paerata-Reid is the only international through to the Quarterfinals and has been impressively progressing through the rounds with his smooth yet powerful approach.
Kelly Norris, Jacob Wilcox, Kalani Ball, Sheldon Simkus and Johnnie Keith make up the high quality final 8 surfers.
The Piping Hot Surf Festival Women’s Pro Junior Quarterfinals completed the day on the high tide at Bells and it was Sunshine Coast’s Keely Andrew who dominated the clean long peeling waves to score the days highest heat scoring win with an impressive 16.90 out of a possible 20.
“I’m using this event as a serious warm-up to the season ahead,” said Keely after her impressive Quarterfinal win. “My goal this season is to qualify for the elite ASP World Championship Tour this year – that’s what I’m focused on and I feel good about my surfing here and I’m ready. The waves have been fun to date and hopefully we finish in bigger waves over the coming two days.”
Keely will face fellow Australian Sophia Bernard in the second Semifinal while Grace Styman-Lane takes on young Billie Melinz in the first Semi when the Pro Juniors resume.
Round 2 of the Piping Hot Men’s ASP Qualifying 1-Star were scheduled to surf around midday but the swell dropped off so quickly that contest director Adam Robertson called it a day and had decided to wait for a new solid swell which is forecast to fill in overnight.
“No-one thought the swell would disappear this quickly,” said Robertson. “Tomorrow’s swell is looking strong so we’ll push for an early start and long day and I expect to start with the Men’s before 7:00am.”
Number one seed Jay Thompson from the Gold Coast should be in the days opening heat.
Finals across all divisions will run through tomorrow and Tuesday and swell at Bells is very likely.
Piping Hot Surf Festival Men’s 1-Star QS Round 2 Match-Ups: (Australian unless otherwise stated)
Heat 1: Jay Thompson, Nick Callister, Tom Allan, Jack Reginato
Heat 2: Jack Perry, Nic Jones, Jacob Wilcox, Joshua Sherwell
Heat 3: Brent Dorrington, Daniel Ross, Tristan Forass, Jaymes Triglone
Heat 4: Matty King, Quinn Bruce, Nic Squiers, Jack Duggan
Heat 5: Nathan Hedge, Mitch Parkinson, Mark Matthews, Caiden Fowler
Heat 6: Elliot Paerata-Ried (NZL), Blaine Robinson, Soli Bailey, Kai Hing
Heat 7: Cody Robinson, Jackson Baker, Max Longhurst, Harrison Mann
Heat 8: Connor Leary, Jackson Coffey, Cahill Bell-Warren, Kelly Norris
Piping Hot Surf Festival Women’s 1-Star QS Quarterfinals Match-Ups:
QF 1: Keely Andrew vs. Bronte Macaulay
QF 2: Amiya Doyle vs. Laura Macaulay
QF 3: Tayla Hanak vs. Stephanie Single
QF 4: Laura Poncini vs. Freya Prumm
The Piping Hot Surf Festival is presented by the Victorian Government, Surfing Victoria, ASP Australasia and supported by Coastalwatch PLUS, K-Rock, Target and Team Up.
