It's been a whirlwind year for Ethan Ewing. In January the 17-year-old from North Stradbroke Island approached the 2016 season merely hoping to gain enough points on the Qualifying Series to earn himself some seeds into the QS 10,000 events. He did quite a bit better.
Ethan Ewing and Macy Callaghan made it a clean sweep for the Australian contingent at the World Junior Championship in Kiama on Monday. - WSL / Kelly Cestari
On Monday in Kiama Ewing clinched the men's World Junior Championship for 2016. He defeated California's Griffin Colapinto in what was ultimately an anticlimactic Final due to dropping swell. Fortunately Ewing had put enough of his crisp powerful surfing on display to justify the result.
Now 18 years of age, Ewing entered the event as a Samsung Galaxy Championship Tour rookie -- the only CT player in the entire event. That made him the odds on favorite coming in, and he delivered.
Ewing's lethal hack attack at Kiama was relentless this week. The 18-year-old from North Stradbroke demonstrated why he's going to be highly touted coming into the Championship Tour in 2017. - WSL / Kelly Cestari
As a junior surfer in 2016 Ewing went on a certifiable tear during the Australian leg, winning four-straight Pro Junior events as well as a QS 1000 at Burleigh Heads. Feeling confident, he then decided to dabble on the world stage, traveling to Africa, Europe, California and Hawaii to compete in those big QS events. After a runner up finish at the U.S. Open in August, Ewing jumped to No. 6 on the QS.
California's Griffin Colapinto advanced to the Final with Ewing on the strength of his electric air game, but finished as the runner up after struggling to find any opportunities during their clash. - WSL / Kelly Cestari
He wasn't done.
He followed up with a dominant run in Hawaii, where he earned Rookie of the Year honors at the Vans Triple Crown and finished the year at No. 2 on the QS, earning himself a spot on this year's Championship Tour.
Ewing's performances continue to strike an uncanny resemblance to his hero, Andy Irons. - WSL / Kelly Cestari
The Junior World Title was the perfect way to cap his year. "This has been such an incredible season for me," Ewing said afterward. "I've worked really hard to get here but I never imagined I'd be where I am."
Ewing was joined on the podium by fellow Australian Macy Callaghan, who clinched the World Title for the junior women over Hawaii's Mahina Maeda, the 2014 champion.
Macy's backhand attack was lethal all week at Bombo Beach. - WSL / Ethan Smith
Like Ewing, Callaghan got very familiar with the podium in 2016. She too won four events on her way to clinching the Australasia region title sharing several of the same stage's with Ewing. But unlike Ewing, Macy just turned 16 in October and has two more full years on the junior platform.
"This has been a dream season for me," Macy said afterward. "I'm really excited to be bringing this title home to Avoca Beach, and I can't wait to see what the future holds."
Callaghan's dream run has resulted in her first World Junior Championship. - WSL / Kelly Cestari
Callaghan finished No. 15 on the 2016 women's QS, which means she's not that far removed from having a shot at the elite world tour, and she intends to start chipping away at that dream. "I'm going to do my best this year to see how it goes."
Given the performances she turned in on the South Coast of New South Wales this week, there's few who doubt Callaghan's ability to break through to the elite ranks, and the same goes for her counterparts like Maeda and fellow Hawaiian Brisa Hennessy.
Hawaii's Mahina Maeda looked unstoppable until the final heat. The former World Junior Champion capped her junior career with another finals appearance on the world stage, and in 2017 she's dead set on qualifying for the women's Championship Tour. - WSL / Ethan Smith
Indeed the entire World Junior Championship seemed to be a glimpse into pro surfing's future, which is why the Australians have very much to be proud of with their two new champions.
"Pro surfing is in good hands" said Aussie legend Luke Egan from the commentary booth. "The caliber of surfing has been going through the roof all week, and it's really a testament to how much depth there is right now."
Ethan Ewing and Macy Callaghan Crowned World Junior Champions
WSL
It's been a whirlwind year for Ethan Ewing. In January the 17-year-old from North Stradbroke Island approached the 2016 season merely hoping to gain enough points on the Qualifying Series to earn himself some seeds into the QS 10,000 events. He did quite a bit better.
On Monday in Kiama Ewing clinched the men's World Junior Championship for 2016. He defeated California's Griffin Colapinto in what was ultimately an anticlimactic Final due to dropping swell. Fortunately Ewing had put enough of his crisp powerful surfing on display to justify the result.
Now 18 years of age, Ewing entered the event as a Samsung Galaxy Championship Tour rookie -- the only CT player in the entire event. That made him the odds on favorite coming in, and he delivered.
As a junior surfer in 2016 Ewing went on a certifiable tear during the Australian leg, winning four-straight Pro Junior events as well as a QS 1000 at Burleigh Heads. Feeling confident, he then decided to dabble on the world stage, traveling to Africa, Europe, California and Hawaii to compete in those big QS events. After a runner up finish at the U.S. Open in August, Ewing jumped to No. 6 on the QS.
He wasn't done.
He followed up with a dominant run in Hawaii, where he earned Rookie of the Year honors at the Vans Triple Crown and finished the year at No. 2 on the QS, earning himself a spot on this year's Championship Tour.
The Junior World Title was the perfect way to cap his year. "This has been such an incredible season for me," Ewing said afterward. "I've worked really hard to get here but I never imagined I'd be where I am."
Ewing was joined on the podium by fellow Australian Macy Callaghan, who clinched the World Title for the junior women over Hawaii's Mahina Maeda, the 2014 champion.
Like Ewing, Callaghan got very familiar with the podium in 2016. She too won four events on her way to clinching the Australasia region title sharing several of the same stage's with Ewing. But unlike Ewing, Macy just turned 16 in October and has two more full years on the junior platform.
"This has been a dream season for me," Macy said afterward. "I'm really excited to be bringing this title home to Avoca Beach, and I can't wait to see what the future holds."
Callaghan finished No. 15 on the 2016 women's QS, which means she's not that far removed from having a shot at the elite world tour, and she intends to start chipping away at that dream. "I'm going to do my best this year to see how it goes."
Given the performances she turned in on the South Coast of New South Wales this week, there's few who doubt Callaghan's ability to break through to the elite ranks, and the same goes for her counterparts like Maeda and fellow Hawaiian Brisa Hennessy.
Indeed the entire World Junior Championship seemed to be a glimpse into pro surfing's future, which is why the Australians have very much to be proud of with their two new champions.
"Pro surfing is in good hands" said Aussie legend Luke Egan from the commentary booth. "The caliber of surfing has been going through the roof all week, and it's really a testament to how much depth there is right now."
Macy Callaghan
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World Junior Championship
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Ethan Ewing e Macy Callaghan foram os campeões do World Surf League Junior Championship na Austrália.
Ethan Ewing and Macy Callaghan take top honors at the World Junior Championship.