Yallingup’s Jack Thomas claims home ground advantage at Cape Naturaliste Pro
Yallingup’s Jack Thomas has claimed the men’s crown at a prime event held in his backyard at the weekend.
The Cape Naturaliste Pro was the second in a series of two high-profile competitive surfing events held in WA this month, supported by Surfing WA and the World Surf League.
Thomas as well as Queensland surfer Charli Hately took out the top spots in a packed field of hungry up-and-coming surf talent.
The contest held at Injidup provided some epic South West waves and a significant change up from meagre conditions at the previous week’s Peel Pro.
The windswept three-to-four foot conditions were an appropriate cap to what organisers described as an epic week of homegrown surfing.
“The WA Pro Surf Series has made a triumphant return this year,” Surfing WA event manager Justin Majeks said.
“We’ve had incredible waves in both Mandurah and Yallingup, and the level of surfing has been outstanding.
“We look forward to continuing to build on this success and bringing the series back bigger and better in the future.”
Thomas took on the best local, interstate and international riders to win through to a showdown with former world champion junior Willis Droomer from Victoria.
Thomas was well known for his powerful yet fluid style.
He dug deep in the last stage to drop an excellent nine-point ride, for a clutch two-turn combination of manoeuvres in the dying minutes to overhaul Droomer’s lead and finish on a combined total of 16.10 out of 20.
“To win in front of friends and family in my hometown is just incredible,” he said.
“That was a tough final with Willis. We were going toe-to-toe the whole way.”
Thomas said the level of surfing was exhausting but he was cheered to secure his first-ever Qualifying Series event that would give him his passport to further international competitions later this year.
The women’s competition was a nailbiter for Margaret River surfer Willow Hardy who – along with a star-studded field of local talent – took on eventual winner Hately in the final.
The 15-year-old goofyfooter from Burleigh Heads was lauded in the showdown for her powerful backhand attack.
That was despite a fierce challenge from local favourite Hardy, who came in second on the siren with just 0.4 separating her from the winner’s podium.
Hately posted a two-wave combined total of 13.07 (from a possible 20), edging out Hardy who finished on 12.67.
Hardy remained pleased to get into the finals at Cape Naturaliste as well as her win at Peel the previous week.
Hardy locked in the highest score of the final as well, despite not winning.
“I’m pretty stoked to make the final,” she said.
“The Cape Naturaliste Pro was the first QS I ever competed in, so to make the final this time is pretty special.
“This gives me great confidence going into the next events in Asia, and hopefully we score some good waves over there.”
Competitors will ride their momentum into a series of QS5000 events starting in the Philippines, followed by Taiwan and China as the final events of the year.
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