FORSTER’S Sam Schumann and Pacific Palms’ Kate Raines stormed to the Quiksilver State Junior semi-finals on the weekend, but local hopes were dashed as four new champions emerged at Boomerang Beach.
Schumann took crowds on a roller-coaster ride to the Under 18 boys’ final four. A series of critical manoeuvres and deep barrel rides cemented his second round spot, and another strong ride swept Schumann to the quarter-finals along with Under 16 world junior champion Garrett Parkes.
The local favourite shot past Old Bar’s Oscar Scanes to reach the semis, where he was narrowly eclipsed by rising star Jordi Watson and eventual winner Dean Bowen. Schumann’s performance relegated Parkes to fourth in the heat, but the pair’s head-to-head record is tight.
“When we go against each other I beat him and he beats me. It’s pretty even,” Schumann said.
“I was pretty glad to make the semis, because NSW is the hardest State. There were a lot of good surfers out there.”
The weather was erratic for the five-day tournament.
“There was some really good surf down at South Boomerang, and on Friday it reached six to eight feet. It was really pumping.”
Schumann has been picked for the State team to surf at the Australia Junior Titles at Margaret River in December, and he said it’s long been a dream. “It’s been one of my goals, and it means I’ll take on the best surfers from other states,” Schumann said.
“I think over the last few years my surfing’s got stronger and more mature.”
Raines scraped through her opening Under 16 girls heat with second place behind Cronulla’s April Charles. The draw pitted Raines against Charles in the next round, but this time the Pacific Palms surfer finished on top.
A place in the final beckoned, but Port Macquarie’s Emily Clapoudis and Illawarra’s Rachael Campbell squeezed Raines out of contention. Crescent Head surfer Ellie-Jean Coffey beat the South Coast’s Tyler Wright in the final.
Raines missed Friday’s big surf, and had to hunt for much smaller waves.
“It was pretty small and kind of not that good,” she said.
“It was definitely a challenge to find decent waves.”
The Pacific Palms 14-year-old, whose sister Maddie reached the Under 18 quarter-final, was pleased at her improvement as the tournament progressed.
“It was good to turn it around [against Charles]. I think I got over my nerves.”
The Raines sisters moved from Victoria’s iconic Bells Beach two years ago, and more exposure to choppy surf has given both a new dimension. Kate said a place in the NSW team is in her sights, but knows it won’t be easy.
“They only take the top three girls, but I’d definitely love to make that step up.”
Port Macquarie’s Matt Banting won the Under 16 boys title and Byron Bay’s Soli Bailey clinched the Under 14s. South Coast surfer Kirby Wright took out the Under 18 girls, and the Central Coast’s Indianna Green easily won the Under 14 girls.