Caption: (AUS) going big in NZ. Credit: WSL/Will H-S Macy Callahan
The New Zealand Home Loans Surf Festival is off to a fast start at Fitzroy Beach Taranaki with Round 1 of the North Beach World Surf League Junior Women’s JQS1000 completed on the opening day.
Clean early waves with multiple peaks allowed plenty of scope for big scores from the talented field of emerging professional surfers.
Round 1 Pro Junior Women’s dealt with shifting wind conditions but all heats were fiercely contested on the higher tides.
Macy Callahan from Australia’s Central Coast continued her strong form to win the opening heat of the round. At 14 years of age Macy’s powerful and progressive style is that of the older Pro Junior and Open competitors.
Most of the Pro Juniors will surf the Women’s QS6000 and like USA’s Frankie Harrer, are using the opportunity the familiarise their performance before Thursday’s open event begins.
“It’s nice to have a junior event before a QS, you get to know the conditions and get the nerves out of the system,” Harrer said. “I don’t think I surfed my best in that heat so hopefully I can do better in the next round, but it’s nice to start an event with a heat win. I’m enjoying New Zealand, it’s really pretty and nice to be somewhere a little different.”
The event is likely to resume tomorrow morning at 8am local time.
More info, results and imagery available here - www.surffest.co.nz
