The lineup at Bells Beach is one of the most picturesque in surfing. WSL / Ed Sloane
The Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Billabong is set to get underway this weekend at the iconic Bells Beach in Victoria.
Competitors will be keen to get off to the best possible start in the three-leg event series that then moves to the Gold Coast and Cronulla.
A south west swell with waves in the 2-3ft range are forecast to greet competitors on both days with variable winds in the moderate to light range on the cards.
Mikey McDonagh won the Bells JQS last year and will be hopng for another big result in 2018. WSL / Matt Dunbar
Hydralyte Sports ambassador Zahli Kelly, who won the respective women's WSL Australasian Junior Qualifying Series crowns in 2017, is pumped for the new series and the prospect of some bigger surf at the famous Victorian right-hander.
"I am super excited to kick off the Hydralyte Sports Surf Series at Bells this weekend and hopefully we can get some fun waves for the event."
Zahli Kelly WSL / Tom Bennett
Surfing Victoria CEO Adam Robertson is looking forward to seeing the latest batch of future stars leave their mark at the location that has been home to so many big moments in surfing.
"It's fantastic to start the Hydralyte Sports Surf Series on the Surf Coast! Last year we saw some incredible surfing from the best 18 & Under surfers in the country and I am looking forward to watching the new crop of surfers go head to head over the weekend."
The World Surf League (WSL) sanctioned Pro Junior events, which includes 18 and under boys' and girls' divisions, form part of the 2018 WSL Australasian Junior Qualifying Series (JQS), providing the winning athletes with an opportunity to win a coveted world title at the World Surf League Junior Championships in 2019.
Proudly supported by WSL, Billabong and Surfing Australia, the Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Billabong will provide an important event platform at a crucial point in the development of Australia's leading junior surfers.
It represents an important link in the ‘Pathway to the Podium' developed by Surfing Australia, with surfers now able to progress from the Weet-Bix SurfGroms program, onto the Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps presented by Wahu, into the Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Billabong, followed by the nudie Australian Boardriders Battle series.
Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Billabong Event Dates and Locations:
Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Billabong - EVENT 1 - Bells Beach, VIC - Jan 13 - 14, 2018
Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Billabong - EVENT 2 - Gold Coast, QLD - April 28-29, 2018
Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Billabong - EVENT 3 - Cronulla, NSW - August 4 - 5, 2018
2018 WSL Australia / Oceania JQS Set to Kick Off at Iconic Bells Beach
WSL
The Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Billabong is set to get underway this weekend at the iconic Bells Beach in Victoria.
Competitors will be keen to get off to the best possible start in the three-leg event series that then moves to the Gold Coast and Cronulla.
A south west swell with waves in the 2-3ft range are forecast to greet competitors on both days with variable winds in the moderate to light range on the cards.
Hydralyte Sports ambassador Zahli Kelly, who won the respective women's WSL Australasian Junior Qualifying Series crowns in 2017, is pumped for the new series and the prospect of some bigger surf at the famous Victorian right-hander.
"I am super excited to kick off the Hydralyte Sports Surf Series at Bells this weekend and hopefully we can get some fun waves for the event."
Surfing Victoria CEO Adam Robertson is looking forward to seeing the latest batch of future stars leave their mark at the location that has been home to so many big moments in surfing.
"It's fantastic to start the Hydralyte Sports Surf Series on the Surf Coast! Last year we saw some incredible surfing from the best 18 & Under surfers in the country and I am looking forward to watching the new crop of surfers go head to head over the weekend."
The World Surf League (WSL) sanctioned Pro Junior events, which includes 18 and under boys' and girls' divisions, form part of the 2018 WSL Australasian Junior Qualifying Series (JQS), providing the winning athletes with an opportunity to win a coveted world title at the World Surf League Junior Championships in 2019.
Proudly supported by WSL, Billabong and Surfing Australia, the Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Billabong will provide an important event platform at a crucial point in the development of Australia's leading junior surfers.
It represents an important link in the ‘Pathway to the Podium' developed by Surfing Australia, with surfers now able to progress from the Weet-Bix SurfGroms program, onto the Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps presented by Wahu, into the Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Billabong, followed by the nudie Australian Boardriders Battle series.
Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Billabong Event Dates and Locations:
Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Billabong - EVENT 1 - Bells Beach, VIC - Jan 13 - 14, 2018
Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Billabong - EVENT 2 - Gold Coast, QLD - April 28-29, 2018
Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Billabong - EVENT 3 - Cronulla, NSW - August 4 - 5, 2018
Zahli Kelly
Competitors get back to work post lay-day and take on a windy lineup.
Tancred and Fulton Take wins While Butler and Kelly take the 2018 Australia Oceania JQS title.
The Mexican junior contest kicked off with the biggest swell in event history, testing the limits of men and women juniors.
Tandler takes his first JQS win and Robinson takes her second at the Hydralyte Sports Pro Junior Gold Coast pres. by Billabong.
The Aussie pair has won the Hydralyte Sports Surf Series event at Bells Beach, the first JQS for 2018.
Hydralyte Sports Pro Junior Cronulla
The Hydalyte Sports Pro Junior Cronulla Kicks Off in fun beach-break peaks.
The final stop of the season, the Hydralyte Sports Pro Junior will hit Cronulla this weekend.