- WSL / Liam Robertson
- WSL / Liam Robertson
Site The Hydralyte Sports Surf Series - WSL / Liam Robertson

The Hydralyte Sports Surf Series presented by Billabong has kicked off on Victoria's Surf Coast bringing together the top Junior surfers from the Australia and Oceana region for the opening event of the 2018 season.

Under grey skies, the event was shifted from its primary break of Bells Beach to nearby Jan Juc due to small 2ft waves on offer.

Surfing with maturity beyond his age, Caleb Tancred made the most of the clean conditions in the opening heats of the Boys division.

Caleb Tancred Caleb Tancred on a tear at Jan Juc. - WSL / Liam Robertson

"We all came down here to surf 4-6ft Bells Bowl like last year, but its still fun out here at Jan Juc," Tancred said. "I'm lucky to be able to stay down here with the Huxtable family, so it feels like home when I surf here. I am just trying to just focus on each heat and not worry about what event to win. Its nice to start out 2017 with a heat win though, hopefully I can get a few more here and keep it going."

Tancered locked in the highest heat score of the Opening round with a 17.50 total, besting Ben Gradisen, Joel Buxton and Jhonny Guerrero.

Other surfers impressing in the opening round of the Boys division was local Xavier Huxtable, Tane Bowden, Dextar Muskens, Jackson Roberts and Kyuss King.

Dextar Muskens Dextar Muskens was a standout on Day 1 at Jan Juc. - WSL / Liam Robertson

The opening round of the Girls division also hit the water as the waves cleaned up throughout the afternoon.

Emma Cattlin looked at home in the increasing swell at Jan Juc, taking out the opening heat of the round with a heat total of 11.67 points.

Emma Cattlin Emma Cattlin taking out her Round One heat at Jan Juc. - WSL / Liam Robertson

"It was pretty tricky out there but I was lucky enough to find a couple of wave," Cattlin said "I love coming to Victoria. The waves over here are so fun. I have surfed here quite a lot and I think that helped me in my heat knowing which waves to go."

Cattlin placed ahead of Sol Aguirre who placed in second. Angela Ball and Laticia Josephson finished in third and fourth.

Victorian surfer Sophie Fletcher also made the most of the improving conditions in the afternoon winning her Round 1 heat.

Sophie Fletcher Sophie Fletcher utilising local knowledge for a Round One heat win. - WSL / Liam Robertson

"It was a good heat for me. I got one wave early in the heat and that set up the rest of my heat," Fletcher "I am heading up north for the next few months to compete in all of the QS1000 events in NSW and some more Pro Juniors so I am hoping to get off to a good start here in Victoria."

Fletcher took down Summa Longbottom who placed second with Holly Williams and Sage GoldsburySage Goldsbury in third and fourth.

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