Matt Banting and Tim Macdonald advance to Round 5 of CHIKO Pro Junior at Newcastle’s Surfest
Australia’s Matt Banting and Tim Macdonald continued their excellent run of form to prevail in Round 4 (Round of 32) of CHIKO Pro Junior at Newcastle’s Surfest at Merewether Beach in New South Wales, Australia, on Saturday, March 10.
The conditions turned out to be favourable once again, with the waves lying in the four feet range. With the field of young talented surfers from around the globe managing to put on impressive performance during the demanding conditions in the earlier rounds,
the action was expected to become even more exciting as it became easier to catch waves on the third day of the 4-Star Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Men’s Junior Qualifying event.
An in-form Banting made use of the favourable conditions to put on an exquisite performance in the opening heat of Round 4 that pitted him against his compatriot Josh Radford, France’s Maxime Huscenot and Japan’s Arashi Kato.
Banting locked his first business-wave to earn a 6.00 off it and soon added an additional 7.50 points to his account off his second business-wave, moving to a heat-total of 13.50 points. His effort remained unmatched by his rival throughout the course of
the heat, eventually allowing him to walk away with top honours and securing his place in Round 5 (Round of 16).
Huscenot survived the heat as well after clinching runner-up place through his heat-total of 10.40 points, which included a 4.75 and 5.65-point wave.
Kato finished in third place with a heat-total of 9.25 points, while Radford rounded out the bottom position with a two-wave total of 6.25 points. Both the surfers consequently got removed from the contention for the event title.
Macdonald continued to show an intimidating form in his Round 4 heat as he took on his fellow countrymen Asher Wales, Jake Scott and Matt King for the Round 5 slot.
Macdonald remained pretty busy throughout the course of the heat, catching wave after wave to eventually get to a heat-total of 13.75 points, which comprised of a 6.25 and 7.50-point wave. The score turned out to be a decisive one, bringing him victory and
taking him into the next round.
Wales managed to extend his life in the event as well after finishing in runner-up place with a heat-total of 10.65 points, which included a 4.15 and 6.50-point wave.
Scott was forced to settle for third place after scoring an over-all 7.35 off his best-two waves while King finished in fourth place with a heat-total of 6.55 points. Both the surfers were forced to make a premature exit from the event as a result.
Tags: