Dakoda Walters and Bodhi Leigh-Jones have taken out stop two on the Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Hyundai, after a day of exciting battles in playful two-foot beachbreak conditions.
Dakoda Walters punting to victory. - WSL / Ethan Smith
Dakoda Walters will jump up into third position on the 2019 WSL Junior Tour rankings thanks to his impressive performance at Cronulla. Walters continued to use his innovative and stylish approach in the final, performing a handful of giant aerial maneuvers and powerful carves to notch up a 14.65 two-wave heat total and get the win ahead of fellow event standout Xavier Huxtable (Jan Juc. Vic) who claimed second position with a 13.80 heat total. Walters dedicated the win to Australian surfing icon, friend and fellow Angourie native Dave "Baddy" Treloar who passed away late last month.
"This is a pretty sick feeling," said Walters. "I began doing a few juniors at the start of the year but didn't really get any results, so to get to this stage and share some fun waves with the guys in the final is pretty cool. Coming into this year, I wasn't sure if I was going to do the Pro Junior events but I really wanted to prove to myself that I could win one. Baddy was the biggest legend ever, so it's awesome to get this win for him."
Bodhi Leigh-Jones. - WSL / Ethan Smith
After years of podium finishes, but never claiming a victory, Bodhi Leigh-Jones (Avalon, NSW) was able to take a Pro Junior win in what is her final year on the series. Leigh-Jones shone in the four-lady final, performing an eclectic array of frontside snaps and carves and as a result finished the final with a respectable 13.85 two-wave heat total. Following a priority interference by fellow event standout, Nyxie Ryan (Lennox Head, NSW), the final turned into a three horse race between Leigh-Jones, Carly Shanahan (Wolli, NSW) and Pacha Luque-Light (Gold Coast, Qld), however Leigh-Jones was able to keep her opposition at arms length thanks to her aforementioned scoreline.
"I've been doing the Pro Juniors for a while now but never won one, so this is a huge relief for me," said Leigh-Jones. "The next stop for me is Burleigh and it's a point break so hopefully we get some good waves there and I can keep the results coming."
Bodhi Leigh-Jones. - WSL / Ethan Smith
The main base for the Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Hyundai was North Cronulla with backup locations of Elouera and Wanda.
The three-event Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Hyundai includes stops at the legendary Bells Beach, Cronulla and North Stradbroke Island.
The WSL sanctioned Pro Junior events, which includes 18 and under boys' and girls' divisions, form part of the 2019 WSL Australasian Junior Qualifying Series (JQS), providing the winning athletes with an opportunity to win a coveted World Title at the World Surf League Junior Championships in 2019.
Proudly supported by the WSL and Surfing Australia, the Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Hyundai will provide an important event platform at a crucial point in the development of Australia's leading junior surfers.
Dakoda Walters and Bodhi Leigh-Jones Win Hydralyte Sports Surf Series at Cronulla
WSL
Dakoda Walters and Bodhi Leigh-Jones have taken out stop two on the Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Hyundai, after a day of exciting battles in playful two-foot beachbreak conditions.
Dakoda Walters will jump up into third position on the 2019 WSL Junior Tour rankings thanks to his impressive performance at Cronulla. Walters continued to use his innovative and stylish approach in the final, performing a handful of giant aerial maneuvers and powerful carves to notch up a 14.65 two-wave heat total and get the win ahead of fellow event standout Xavier Huxtable (Jan Juc. Vic) who claimed second position with a 13.80 heat total. Walters dedicated the win to Australian surfing icon, friend and fellow Angourie native Dave "Baddy" Treloar who passed away late last month.
"This is a pretty sick feeling," said Walters. "I began doing a few juniors at the start of the year but didn't really get any results, so to get to this stage and share some fun waves with the guys in the final is pretty cool. Coming into this year, I wasn't sure if I was going to do the Pro Junior events but I really wanted to prove to myself that I could win one. Baddy was the biggest legend ever, so it's awesome to get this win for him."
After years of podium finishes, but never claiming a victory, Bodhi Leigh-Jones (Avalon, NSW) was able to take a Pro Junior win in what is her final year on the series. Leigh-Jones shone in the four-lady final, performing an eclectic array of frontside snaps and carves and as a result finished the final with a respectable 13.85 two-wave heat total. Following a priority interference by fellow event standout, Nyxie Ryan (Lennox Head, NSW), the final turned into a three horse race between Leigh-Jones, Carly Shanahan (Wolli, NSW) and Pacha Luque-Light (Gold Coast, Qld), however Leigh-Jones was able to keep her opposition at arms length thanks to her aforementioned scoreline.
"I've been doing the Pro Juniors for a while now but never won one, so this is a huge relief for me," said Leigh-Jones. "The next stop for me is Burleigh and it's a point break so hopefully we get some good waves there and I can keep the results coming."
The main base for the Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Hyundai was North Cronulla with backup locations of Elouera and Wanda.
The three-event Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Hyundai includes stops at the legendary Bells Beach, Cronulla and North Stradbroke Island.
The WSL sanctioned Pro Junior events, which includes 18 and under boys' and girls' divisions, form part of the 2019 WSL Australasian Junior Qualifying Series (JQS), providing the winning athletes with an opportunity to win a coveted World Title at the World Surf League Junior Championships in 2019.
Proudly supported by the WSL and Surfing Australia, the Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Hyundai will provide an important event platform at a crucial point in the development of Australia's leading junior surfers.
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