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 Wollongongs Nick Squires second place and current Hurley event leader |
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Dripping
Wet Pro - Shane Carroll takes out the Title in Style at Freshwater
Beach Shane Carroll (Avalon, NSW) was today crowned champion of the Dripping Wet Pro in challenging conditions at Freshwater. As the second event on the prestigious Hurley NSW Championship Circuit for 2009, the Dripping Wet Pro saw some of Australia’s best, surfers going ballistic at the Northern Beaches famed wave. Having seen the junior divisions postponed only a day previous, the huge four-metre swell that had battered the eastern seaboard for the past week abated substantially overnight, presenting the Open Men with rippable walls – and big scores were the order of the day. With $3,000 up for grabs and a field of some of the finest surfing talent in the country on hand, the action was of the highest order. The final saw two Northern Beaches duo Ben Short (Narrabeen, NSW) and Carroll (Avalon, NSW) pitted against Copacabana’s Dane Atcheson and Nick Squires (North Wollongong, NSW). With all four surfer’s going to town on the powerful beach-break, the lead seesawed as the scores continued to rise.
In what would later be described as one of the most memorable Hurley NSW Championship Circuit final’s to date, it was Carroll who stepped up locking in a huge 9.50 (out of a possible 10) with an incredible display of top to bottom carving turns all the way to shore. “I’m so stoked,” Carroll said with a grin. Coming from the surfing wilderness to claim his first major victory in years, Carroll was over the moon with his performance. “This is my first major win in years,” he said glowlignly. “In the earlier rounds I felt really tense so I went into the final just trying to relax as much as possible and thankfully I was in position for that wave that got me the big score to take the lead.” Carroll pocketed $1400 for his win along with 1500 Hurley NSWCC ratings points to see him move into equal seventh on the standings. Finishing behind Carroll was Squires, who was surfing in his second Hurley NSWCC Final in as many weeks, sneaking ahead of Short and Atcheson, who finished third and fourth respectively. “I’m really happy with my performance here today,” Squiers said after claiming the outright lead on the Hurley NSW Championship Circuit standings. “To make the final again this week is great and it was an incredible final to contest with Shane in great form.” With an all-star lineup on show at Freshwater, upsets were inevitable as both Rhys Bombaci (Kiama Downs, NSW) and Ty Watson (Currarong, NSW), who had finished first and second respectively at last weekend’s Triple Bull Pro, bowed out in their first round heats; whilst Blake Thornton (Maroubra), despite carrying an uncomfortable dislocated toe, powered into equal fifth. The Cadet Boys, 20 & Under Boys and 14 & Under Boys divisions will be held from 8-9 August, 2009 at Freshwater Beach. The next event on the Hurley NSW Championship Circuit is the Bay Action Pro to be held at the picturesque Byron Bay from 30 – 31 May 2009. For more information be sure to check out www.surfingnsw.com.au?? The Dripping Wet Pro is proudly supported by Dripping Wet Surf Manly, Hurley, Australia’s Surfing Life, Surfing Northern Beaches and Surfing NSW.? Final
Results Hurley
NSW Championship Circuit 2009 Schedule:? ? special thanks surfingnsw.com |
