surfing

WEST Australian Felicity Palmateer claimed the biggest title of her short career when she won the Quiksilver Jetty Surf Pro Junior at Jan Juc.
In crumbly 1m surf, Palmateer, 17, posted her highest-scoring wave early in final, earning 7.25 out of 10 for a series of smooth top-to-bottom backhand turns.

Palmateer’s two-wave total of 11.0 edged New South Wales’ Sarah Mason (10.35) in the final, giving her a flying start in the 10-event Australian Pro Junior series.

“It’s the greatest start to the year for me,” Palmateer said.

“Now I’ll really aim to win the series or at least make the top two for the season and try and qualify for the ASP world junior championships.”

Palmateer said she had been struggling to find confidence, despite winning a pro junior event in Perth last year.

“Now I’ve won here I’m starting to believe more in myself,” she said.

.
“I feel I’m ready to really challenge for the entire season. It feels good.”

Queenslander Dimity Stoyle and Newcastle’s Phillippa Anderson tied for third