Team Rider Josh Cattlin Wins 16 & Under Boys
TB presenting his award to Josh Cattlin
Josh Cattlin
Josh Cattlin
Team Rider Jed Gradisen Wins 14 & Under Boys
About Taj’s Small Fries Yallingup:
Taj’s Small Fries Yallingup, is a specialty junior surfing event named after Yallingup resident and international surfing star Taj Burrow. The annual event first started in 2006 and attracts some of the best junior surfing talent in the country to Yallingup in South-West WA.
From Surfing Australia:
Six new champions have etched their name into Taj’s Small Fries prestigious honor roll, after an exciting finish to the annual event today in Yalligup, Western Australia.
After two consecutive days of pumping waves at Honeycombs, a strong southerly change brought about a lumpy and bumpy ocean on finals day.
The second stop of the Billabong Bloodlines Series presented by Flight Centre concluded literally in Taj Burrow’s front yard, with wind affected random peaks on offer at the ever-reliable back up locations of Shallows.
As the day went on conditions begun to deteriorate, 30 knots of wind and a pulsing ocean meant competitors had to battle hard against the elements to secure their place into the finals.
With Taj and Jack Robinson on the beach to watch and commentate the finals, the groms went all out to impress their surfing idols.
“It’s a serious southerly buster out there today,” said Burrow. “The conditions are pretty rough and rugged, but the kids have all been ripping all event and I couldn’t be happier with how things have turned out this year for the event.”
…The 14 & Under Boys final was an all star shootout, with four of the best surfers of the event all featured.
Jed Gradisen (Gracetown, WA) was on fire, using great wave selection and a powerful backhand attack, scoring a near perfect 9.50 (from a possible 10).
Finishing on a combined total of 16.05 (from a possible 20), Gradisen was too strong for Seth Van Haeften (Margaret River, WA), Finn Cox (Margaret River, WA), and Kian Martin (Bali, IND), with just 0.20 separating second, third and fourth.”
“I’m so stoked right now,” said Gradisen. “It was pretty tough out there and I just managed to jag a couple of good ones.”
…The 16 & Under Boys division finished the event with a bang, as Josh Cattlin (Yallingup, WA), Ben Spence (Margaret River, WA), Cyrus Cox (Margaret River, WA) and Jolan Bonelli (Margaret River, WA) went head-to-head in an enthralling battle of the big boys.
Showing his knowledge of the Shallows line up, Cattlin picked off the best two waves of the final and blew them to pieces with his great away of forehand turns. Cattlin locked in a heat high 8.50 (from a possible 10) and backed it up with a 7.90 to finish on 16.40 (from a possible 20). Cattlin left Margaret River trio of Ben Spence, Cyrus Cox and Jolan Bonelli to fight for the minor positions.
“This is one event I’ve always wanted to win, but never quite achieved it,” said Cattlin. “I’m stoked to put my name on the Small Fries honour roll with all the other great surfers who have won over the years. Caves House hosted the event presentations with a full house on hand to see the winners announced and specialty prizes awarded.
Ruby Berry (Margaret River, WA), Koda Killorn (Maroubra, NSW), Seth Van Haeften (Margaret River, WA), Arabelle Gibson (Margaret River, WA), Ben Spence (Margaret River, WA), and April McPherson (Mandurah, WA) all pick up brand new custom Mayhem surfboards for their efforts across the event.
Ben Spence was announced away as the winner of the Future Legends trip thanks to Mentawaii Surf Charters, while Josh Cattlin won the spot on the Surfing World trip later this year.
Spectators and competitors are encouraged to interact via Instagram and use the hashtags: #TBSmallFries, #NoTxtNoWrecks.
Stay tuned to www.surfingwa.com.au for news, photos and updates relating to the event.
TAJ’S SMALL FRIES YALLINGUP 2016 FINAL RESULTS:
12 & UNDER GIRLS:
1ST – Willow Hardy (Margaret River, WA) – 16.00pts
2ND – Ruby Berry (Margaret River, WA) – 9.30pts
3RD – Zali Hewson (Margaret River, WA) – 8.50pts
4TH – Lilli Cox (Margaret River, WA) – 5.55pts
12 & UNDER BOYS:
1ST – Koda Killorn (Maroubra, NSW) – 12.75pts
2ND – Daniel Bennedetti (Margaret River, WA) – 12.40pts
3RD – George Simpson (Gracetown, WA) – 9.60pts
4TH – Alistair Williams (Gracetown, WA) – 7.90pts
14 & UNDER BOYS:
1ST – Jed Gradisen (Gracetown, WA) – 16.05pts
2ND – Seth Van Haeften (Margaret River, WA) – 14.10pts
3RD – Finn Cox (Margaret River, WA) – 14.05pts
4TH – Kian Martin (Bali, IND) – 13.90pts
14 & UNDER GIRLS:
1ST – Coral Durant (Red Bluff, WA) – 13.50pts
2ND – Emma Cattlin (Yallingup, WA) – 13.25pts
3RD – Pemba Spargo (Albany, WA) – 13.00pts
4TH – Arabelle Gibson (Margaret River, WA) – 9.55pts
16 & UNDER GIRLS:
1ST – April McPherson (Mandurah, WA) – 15.50pts
2ND – Taina Izqueirdo (Bali, IND) – 10.01pts
3RD – Chinta Hansel (Bali, IND) – 8.55pts
4TH – Arabelle Gibson (Margaret River, WA) – 7.35pts
16 & UNDER BOYS:
1ST – Josh Cattlin (Yallingup, WA) – 16.40pts
2ND – Ben Spence (Margaret River, WA) – 14.50pts
3RD – Cyrus Cox (Margaret River, WA) – 12.85pts
4TH – Jolan Bonelli (Margaret River, WA) – 11.80pts
The 11th Taj’s Small Fries Yallingup presented by Flight Centre
Supported by Billabong, The City of Busselton, Surfing Western Australia, The Health Insurance Fund of Australia (HIF), SunSmart, Von Zipper, Globe, Modom, Mayhem, Country Waves,Caves Hotel, Surfing World & Mentawai Surf Charters.