Jan Juc’s Willis Droomer has had the perfect start to the Victorian Junior Surfing Titles, taking out the first round of the series at the weekend.
Droomer was the standout in the under 18 boys’ competition on Saturday at Cape Woolamai, taking out a tight heat against Barwon Heads’ Willem Watson.
Droomer resorted to innovative aerials to secure victory, earning himself a high scoring 8.33 wave, and a 16.66 total.
Watson’s sharp turns collected him a 7.83 ride, also securing him a finals berth.
On the second day of competition the location was changed to Smiths Beach at Phillip Island to escape the fresh onshore wind.
The change didn’t phase Droomer, who continued his form on Sunday, scoring an 8.23 using progressive aerial surfing.
Droomer was able to create a separation between himself and his competitors by riding out of a clean air reverse in his 8.23 wave.
That wave combined with his 7.43, in which he also displayed innovative surfing, gave him a total of 15.66 and earned him the win.
“The slight onshore created excellent waves for airs which suited my plan for the heat,” Droomer said.
“Overall it was a really good final in fun conditions.”
In a close second was Watson who earned a 15.47 total with his strong open face surfing.
Fellow Barwon Heads surfer Jack Bassett finished in fourth.
In the under 18 girls’ competition, Emily McGettigan and Cielle Bouvier, both from the Surf Coast, finished in third and fourth respectively
The region also had some strong results in the younger age groups.
Billie Cook took out the win in the under 14 girls’, while Jarvis Burrow took out the under 14 boys’.
The second round of the series will take place next week on the Mornington Peninsula, before the winners are crowned at the final round in Jan Juc in early May.
The win capped was backed up by another strong performance for Droomer on Monday, when he finished second in the under 16 boys’ competition at the Rip Curl GromSearch National Championship at URBNSURF.
Droomer scored a heat score of 16.60, to fall short of Sunshine Coast’s Tim Bain with 17.20.
