Bowen Revels In Pounding Wa Swell
Illawarra Mercury
Thursday December 4, 2008
GERROA'S Dean Bowen has made a promising start to the Australian Junior Surfing Titles in pounding 3m surf at Margaret River, Western Australia.
Bowen, who won the state under 18 boys' title at Boomerang Beach near Forster-Tuncurry in the winter, is a renowned big wave charger, having already built a reputation in some of the world's gnarliest waves, including Teahupoo in Tahiti.He won his opening heat on Monday in emphatic fashion."I love it here. Bring it on as big as it can because I like the wave heaps," Bowen said."I need some power and space on a wave to perform and Margaret River gives me both."On the opening two days sets of up to 3m pounded Western Australia's famous south-west surf coastline as Australia's top junior surfers were put to the test, many revelling in the power of the ocean while broken boards and big wipe-outs were commonplace.Wombarra's Leroy Davies made a successful start to his national junior campaign by taking out his heat in under 16 boys' division.In the under 16 girls' division yesterday, Culburra's ASP World Tour event winner Tyler Wright put on a great show, posting an event-high 9.25 wave score on her way to a solid opening round.Tyler's older sister, Kirby Wright, had already scored a convincing win in her opening heat in under 18 girls division on Monday.Conditions yesterday were heavily windswept by onshore winds and the waves were still high performance, serving up plenty of size and power. The forecast indicates perfect conditions for the finals this weekend, with offshore winds creating a good swell.Winners across the boys' and girls' 18 division and boys' 16 division will become automatic selections for the Australian junior team to compete at the ISA World Junior Titles in Ecuador in March.
© 2008 Illawarra Mercury
