Top local windsurfing talent dominated in Geraldton over the weekend for Oceania Youth Wave Titles

Locals dominated as a West Australian competitor took the win in every division during the Jaffle Shack Oceania Youth Wave Titles in Geraldton over the weekend.

More than 50 competitors aged from eight to 20 were at Coronation Beach in Geraldton for the Australasian Regional Titles and competing for five-star world ranking points. Competitors came from across the country and overseas.

Home field advantage proved to be the difference as 15-year-old Geraldton local Sarah Kenyon won the under-18 and under-21 pro junior girls division.

This was the first time Kenyon beat last year’s winner and current champion in the LT windersurfer class, Jaiya Marns-Morris, from Perth.

Judges were impressed with Kenyon’s bottom turn/top turn combinations and her progression, which was evident by several forward loop attempts.

Kenyon said the win means a lot for all the time and effort that she had put in.

“It felt amazing to win, because of all the hard effort I’ve put in, I just love the sport so much and to train, I just went sailing every time it was windy, no matter what,” she said.

“I sacrificed a lot of social and sports events, but winning meant it was all worth it, I love being in the ocean with my dad and people I love.

“Being out there is just amazing and so much fun, I feel so free in the water I get to learn something new every time. It makes me really happy.”

Event organiser and current world number six-ranked female wave sailor Jane Seman, said the local talent had improved and stepped up against the tough competition.

“The rise in our local competitors’ standard from last year’s inaugural event to this one has been huge and several show genuine potential to become some of the world’s best wave sailors,” she said.

The under-18 boys division was taken out by 17-year-old Jake Ghiretti from Margaret River, with last year’s world number four-ranked wave sailor also coming second in the under-21 division by one point.

He was beaten by the world number five-ranked wave sailor from last year Oliver Desforges from Fremantle, who said the win came as a surprise.

“I was completely out of sync and not really performing, but I did a bit of relaxation breathing before my next heat and also changed up my equipment to give myself a fresh start,” Desforges said.

“In the final, I landed a pretty great forward loop, and I picked up a couple of nice sets, which gave me good sections to hit.

“I really just took the opportunities that the ocean gave me when they came about.”

Perth youngster Isaac Gill was a stand-out in the tournament, winning the Regional Wave Championships in both the under-13 and 15 boys division at just the age of 10.

Perth 14-year-old, Thura Van Essen, won the girls under-15 regional championship.

Many of the competitors will remain in Geraldton for the wind before heading to the Margaret River Wavesailing Classic, where the points will decide the U18 Australasian Regional Wave Champion.

FINAL RESULTS

U21 Boys

1. Oliver Desforges

2. Jake Ghiretti

3. Quinn Auricht

4. Valters Videneiks

U21 Girls

1. Sarah Kenyon

2. Jaiya Marns-Morris

3. Santina Pillonel

U18 Boys

1. Jake Ghiretti

2. Ben Ilett

3. Tyler Wallrodt

4. Josh Ledger

U18 Girls

1. Sarah Kenyon

2. Jaiya Marns-Morris

3. Santina Pillonel

4. Tania Holldack

U15 Boys

1. Isaac Gill

2. Igor Panagushin

3. Max Ford

4. Henry Geldermann

U15 Girls

1. Thura Van Essen

2. Sophie Brazier

3. Zara Gill

U13 BOYS

1. Isaac Gill

2. Max Ford

3. Kai Wilson

4. Patrick Holldack