Matt Banting and Maxime Huscenot exhibit promising forms in Round 3 of CHIKO Pro Junior
Australia’s Matt Banting and France’s Maxime Huscenot claimed victory in the first and second heat of Round 3 (Round of 64) respective at CHIKO Pro Juniors at Newcastle’s Surfest that continued at Merewether Beach in New South Wales, Australia, on Friday,
March 9.
The conditions turned out to be much better as compared to the first day of the competition, with the waves lying in the four-to-five foot range, making it relatively easier for the surfers to ride them and post big scores on the score-board.
The first heat of the day saw Banting, winner of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Pro Junior and Men’s ASP 6-Star event at the Australian Open of Surfing last month, take on fellow countrymen Matty King, Joel Ford and Lumsden in the battle
for the Round 4 (Round of 32) spot.
As the heat kicked off, Banting got off to a blazing start, posting a 7.00 on the score-board off his first business-wave early in the battle and later backing it up with a spectacular 8.50-point wave. The resultant heat-total of 15.50 points remained unbeatable
until the end to seal the fate of the heat in his favour, consequently confirmed his place in the next round.
King successfully extended his life in the event as well after securing runner-up place with a heat-total of 4.65 points, which comprised of a 3.25 and 1.40-point wave.
Ford and Lumsden apparently succumbed to the offshore conditions at hand and only managed to reach a heat-total of 3.15 and 2.35 points respectively, with the latter only managing to catch one wave during the contest. Both the surfers were ejected from the
competition as a result.
The second heat pitted Huscenot against Australia’s Asher Wales and Jack Scollard, as well as Indonesia’s in-form Hairil Anwar.
Huscenot got down to business right from the word go and opened his account with 6.25 points in the opening minutes of the heat. He later added an additional 4.75 points to his account, getting to a heat-total of 11.00 points. The score held up until the
end to seal the fate of the battle in his favour and add him to the Round 4 line-up.
Wales also survived the Round 3 heat after scoring a 6.35 and 4.00 off his best-two waves to finish with a heat-total of 10.35 points, which proved sufficient to earn him runner-up place.
Anwar was unable to continue his excellent run of form in his latest heat and only managed to get to a heat-total of 6.85 points to settle for third place. Scollard rounded out the bottom position after finishing with a heat-total of 5.25 points.
Tags: