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Freestone and Palmateer Claim Victory at The Chill Pro Junior

(Sunday, 6th June) The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) sanctioned Chill Pro Junior was completed today at Trigg Point in WA, with Perth’s premier surf location delivering clean 1-2 feet swell, for what was a perfect day of finals with light offshore winds and sunny skies bringing people from far and wide to see the action unfold.

The Chill Pro Junior presented by the City of Stirling was a feast for the spectators, as the best surf of the event was saved for the finals where some true high performance surfing shone through, with all finalists stepping up to the challenge. In a fairy tale finish, Jack Freestone (Coolangatta, QLD) claimed his maiden ASP Australasia Pro Junior win, and local girl Felicity Palmateer (Hillarys, WA) claimed back to back Chill Pro Junior wins, and her second win on the 2010 Pro Junior Series.

Spectators were treated to a fine display of surfing from Brent Savage (NSW) and Jack Freestone (QLD) in the men’s final, with Freestone making his intentions known early in the final posting an 8.5 out of a possible ten, which he backed up with another solid score to take out the final with a combined total score of 15.95 out of a possible 20.

Freestone’s precise and consistent surfing saw him win each heat leading into the final apart from one, and his small wave talent allowed him to make the most of the dying swell at Trigg Point today. Freestone’s scores in the 35 minute final against Brent Savage (Casuarina Beach, NSW) reflected his total dominance of the three day event. He locked in a 7.00 ride in the opening minutes and used his priority to perfection to set him up for the rest of the final. He went on to score a near perfect 8.50 and a back up 7.45 to finish with a combined total of 15.95 from a possible twenty, one of the highest total for the entire event.

With his smooth style and quality manoeuvrers, Freestone caused an eruption of applause from the crowds at Trigg Point, keeping them entertained from start to finish. Freestone was pushed by a determined Brent Savage who persisted with a counter-attack and scored a combined total of 13.50 from a possible twenty. Despite Savage’s impressive surfing, it wasn’t enough to keep up with Freestone’s white hot form.

Freestone couldn’t wipe the smile off his face, clearly thrilled to take home his first ASP Pro Junior Title.

“It feels so good to win, I’m stoked and I’m pretty sure that was best Trigg ever,” Jack said during the presentations.

“Brent and I are really good mates, so to surf against him in the final was such a thrill, but I didn’t want to loose sight of my goal here at the event.” He continued.

The win at the Chill Pro Junior moves Freestone into the top four on the ASP Australasia Pro Junior ratings and on track for a place at the World Junior Championships later this year.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling, I’ve been training hard and working on surfing a variety of waves. Im looking forward to spending a week in the South-West with Paul ‘Antman’ Paterson.” Freestone concluded.

Local favourite Felicity Palmateer continued her impressive run in 2010, defending her title in the women’s final against Naomi Stevic (Sunshine Beach, QLD) and her second pro junior title of the year. Both girls matched each other with powerful performances, but Stevic couldn’t keep up with Felicity’s local knowledge and skill.

Scoring a combined total score of 17.20 out of a possible 20, which included two eight point plus rides, Felicity impressed the local crowds with an exciting performance.

“The conditions at Trigg were really good this weekend, I’m not sure if everyone from over east understands Trigg that well, but I was really stoked with the conditions and am so happy to have won again.” Felicity said.

“There was a lot of pressure on me earlier in the week to do well again, but I just had to put that out of my mind and I managed to come through with the goods, so it feels really good to take home another win at my home break.”

Felicity will be home for the next week before making her way to surf the infamous waves of Gnarloo Station in the state’s north-west, before she joins most competitors heading to the next event of the Pro Junior Series in South Australia, during July.

After the huge success of the Chill Pro Junior at Trigg Point over the past two years, major sponsor Brownes Chill have solidified their commitment to junior surfing in WA, continuing their support a range of events over the course of the next two years.

Surfing WA Event Manager Justin Majeks said, “It’s great to have Chill on board for a long-term partnership, the brand is a great fit with surfing and their support is greatly appreciated. It’s important for WA to have an ASP Pro Junior event and we’re all looking forward to an even bigger and better Chill Pro Junior in 2011.”

If you missed the amazing action from the Chill Pro Junior click chillprojunior.com for a daily highlights package.

The Chill Pro Junior is presented by the City of Stirling and is proudly supported by Surfing Western Australia, 92.9, Community Newspapers, West, The Wire Magazine, Waves Surfwear, Sorrento Beach Quality Resort, Power Balance, Nature Play WA, Department of Sport and Recreation, Illicit Drugs in Sport Education Program and ASP Australasia.

SPECIAL THANKS SURFINGWA.COM