Rising star steals the surfing show

RISING Jan Juc star India Robinson put on a clinic of backhand surfing to claim another title.

Robinson, an Australian champion, added another trophy to her burgeoning cabinet by winning the girls division of the Island Junior Challenge on Friday.

The Victorian Indigenous Invitational was also run and won as part of the Inaugural Phillip Island Pro at Cape Woolamai.

The events, which aim to reward Victorian surfers for results throughout the year, was held in picture-perfect 2ft waves providing a great canvas for highperformance surfing.

Torquay’s Jordie Campbell clinched the invitational convincingly, having looked at home in the left-hand waves in the inaugural event.

“It’s awesome to surf against these guys and push each other in the surf,” Campbell said.

“There was some really fun waves coming through in the final and some great surfing from everyone.”

Mornington Peninsula’s Rhys Collins placed behind Campbell in second, with Torquay’s Shaun Squires and Phillip Island’s Steve Parker finishing third and fourth, respectively.

But it was Robinson who stole the show. “The waves were really fun out there,” Robinson said.

“It got a bit slow as the tide drained out but it was still fun. I’m stoked to win the event. The level of female surfing in Victoria is really great and it is a perfect lead in to the QS event.”

Placing behind Robinson was Jan Juc’s Bella Wilson, with Cape Woolamai’s Sophie Fletcher and Poppy Corbett in third and fourth.

Newhaven’s Codie Jeffery took out the boys division, showing superior knowledge of his home break.

“It’s great to win the Junior Challenge,” Jeffery said.

Jan Juc’s Indi White was second, with Wonthaggi’s Chad Garrett and Torquay’s Kenta Fergusson in third and fourth.