Teen tames surf for state title win

CHAMP: Victorian Open Women's title winner Bella Wilson. ( Liam Robertson)

Jan Juc teenager Bella Wilson has cemented herself as a future talent by taking the Victorian Open Women’s title at the age of 13.
Placing second in the final round of the series saw her finish ahead of fellow Surf Coast surfer Rikki Bell-Warren (Bells Beach) by a tiny margin of 100 points.
Wilson was ecstatic to win the state title in her hometown.
“It feels so good to be the open women’s champion, and it’s even better to win it in my home town,” she said.
“The waves were really good on Sunday. It was super fun at Bells and I had a great time surfing against everyone.”
Bell-Warren used her experience at the famous surf destination to claim the third round win with a heat total of 12.10 points. Wilson finished second with 11.23.
Ellie Harrison (Barwon Heads) placed third on 10.57 points with Jade Ogilvie (Pt Lonsdale) placed fourth on 9.57.
Phillip Island surfer Carl Wright claimed his fourth Victorian Open title.
Needing a win to ensure the title, Wright was eliminated in the first round of the event on Saturday at Bells Beach.
Luckily for him, all other surfers in the running for the title were eliminated in the first two rounds handing Wright the title.
Claiming his first round win was Billy Harrison (Barwon Heads).
After making the Australian Team heading to the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships this month, Harrison was in form going into the event.
Harrison placed first in the final in perfect three-foot waves with a heat total of 15.80 points ahead of Joe van Dijk (Phillip Island) on 13.94 points.
Luke Archibald (Phillip Island) placed third on 13.50 points and Xavier Huxtable place fourth (Jan Juc) on 11.43 points.