“I had hoped that this year the infamous Trigg Point would be pounded with a solid west swell…”

You think these bikes are cool? You should see the brewery.

Who is Todd? Todd Rosewall’s is a 20-year-old natural-footer from Torquay, Victoria. Todd’s mission in life? “To achieve all my life goals and be happy”. No doubt the young chocoholic would include winning a Pro-Junior event in that list of goals – why else would he go all the way to French Polynesia? It certainly wasn’t just to write this blog. Luckily for us though, the karaoke virgin, did pen some words for us – and will continue to do so from every Junior event he enters this year…

Welcome to ‘The Todd Blog’ [all pics also by Todd Rosewall]

– Perennial Perth

For the third year running junior competitors made their way across the Nullarbor to Western Australia’s capital Perth. Once again Chilli put up a hefty prize purse of $32,000 for both male and female entrants. I personally was quite excited about heading westwards, however this excitement was quickly washed away upon first arrival at Trigg Beach where we found ankle high crests landing on a well-compacted sandbank.

Though I had hoped that this year the infamous Trigg Point would be pounded with a solid west swell, I wasn’t surprised to see a forecast that read along the lines of “…residual swell to 1ft for the contest period.” Aside from the lack of swell this event seems to attract it makes up for it with its stunning weather. Disembarking from my flight in Perth, I was greeted with a balmy 24-degree breeze and a cloudless, aqua sky.

A competitor readies himself for the treacherous Trigg backwash approaching.

Needless to say the Chill Pro Junior kicked off on Friday with a women’s champ to be crowned by days end. The inside sandbank provided small clean waves and an excellent canvas for Australia’s best junior girls to strut their stuff. In the end it was the sister of free surfing phenom’ Craig Anderson, Phillipa, who took the victory. After the girls, half of the boys round one was run and won with some impressive small wave surfing seeing out the glary afternoon.

Perth streetscape.

After a dawn grovel on Friday morning and with a clear schedule for the day’s remainder, I grabbed my West Australian counterpart Jethro Hedstrom and dashed into the city to see what Fremantle had to offer. We treated ourselves to a gourmet lunch by the bay, complimented by a cappuccino-flavoured gelato. After a tour of the West Australian Maritime Museum we found ourselves perched outside the Little Creatures Beer brewery sampling some of WA’s finest ale while the sun slowly sunk deep in the West sky.

Contest Director Justin surveys the lineup.

Saturday morning was a pleasant surprise after a minor west swell increase saw knee to hamstring high waves peeling along the short sandbar. The remainder of round one was first up and from then on heats were powered through – contest directors desperate to maximise the neat little waves on offer. At days end 16 remained and those to impress were Ryan Callinan, Garrett Parkes, Dean Bowen and Matt Banting, all fighting for a ratings top five finish at years end.

Sunday was much the same; though with another slight swell increase which had officials jumping for joy and raring to get the event underway. Kiwi Matt Hewitt boosted his way to the pointy end of competition with some lofty forehand punts. Hewitt was met by Byron local Garrett Parkes in the man-on-man final, to decide who would be lifting the novelty cheque. The siren signalled the start of the final and also the arrival of the Fremantle Doctor or the simply, “The Doctor.” This onshore wind whipped up the small bank and made for testing conditions for the 30-minute bout. Matt Hewitt did enough to overcome Parkes taking out his second win for the year and the official Chill Pro Junior title.

Untill next event, cya.

Todd’s first session back home in Victoria. Pic: Ed Sloane