Coast in Pro double
RISING Snapper Rocks surfrider Dextar Muskens has taken out the first Australian Pro Junior final of the year at Bells Beach.
Making it a doubly good day for the Gold Coast region, Tweed talent Zahli Kelly emerged as champion of the girls’ final at the renowned Victorian surf break.
Muskens is now leading the Australian Pro Junior ratings and will step up this week to compete in the Open Men’s Carve Pro World Qualifying Series at Maroubra beach in Sydney.
He cruised through the final yesterday with two exceptional rides to nail a combined 17.40 score out of a possible 20 and put himself clear of New Zealand’s Kehu Butler (16.00) and Byron Bay’s Joel Paxton (11.65).
“It still hasn’t sunk in yet,” Muskens said.
“It was my goal this year to win a Pro Junior and to do it so early is awesome.
“I have been coming here to compete for about five years now. Bells is such an iconic break, I’m stoked to get it done and take the win.”
Kelly meanwhile soared to victory the hardest way: charging to the front in the last minute of the heat with a stunning 9.50 score to bump her total up to 15.40. It left American Alyssa Spencer stranded in second on 15.00.
“I’m so happy to win, especially because I did it on my last wave,” Kelly said.
“I knew that I needed a big score and I couldn’t really hear the scores because of the wind.
“I didn’t feel any pressure because I didn’t think I was going to win, so I just wanted to have fun on my last wave.”
Gold Coaster Piper Harrison placed fourth.
The second round of the Hydralyte series will be held on the Gold Coast on April 28-29.