Coast guns head Queensland surfing charge
GOLD Coast whiz kids Kai Tandler, Jay Occhilupo and Ty Richardson head an impressive Queensland squad heading for the Australian junior titles in NSW.
Tandler (under-18s), Occhilupo (under-16s) and Richardson (under-14) are among 22 of Queensland’s best young riders chasing titles at Culburra Beach on the NSW South Coast starting November 25.
As expected Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast surfers dominate the team and the name Occhipulo is a standout among members.
Ty is the son of 1999 world champion Mark Occhilupo and is rated by those in the sport as having every bit as much ability as his esteemed dad. Sunshine Coast star Amber Dods heads the under-18 girls with some pretty quality back-up from Piper Harrison from Coolangatta.
The junior team was determined by four massive Queensland junior and grommet titles earlier this year when more than 150 of the best surfers battle it out for precious spots in the state team.
Surfers aged between 13 and 17 will make the trip south to the wave-rich Culburra Beach for a full week of competition in hope of securing a national title.
The carrot at the end of the lure are spots spot in the Australian team set to compete at the International Surfing Association’s 2018 ISA world junior titles.
Under-18 boys team members Tandler (Coolangatta), Noah Stocca (Peregian Beach) and Maddy Job (Burleigh Heads) will make their return to the national titles after a solid performance in 2016.|