Mandurah surfer April McPherson carved her way to a maiden open women’s state championship at the final event of the WA Pro Am Series at Flat Rocks, south of Geraldton over the weekend.
The junior star made her presence felt as she defeated an exciting group of young ladies on her way to her first ever open women’s title.
McPherson’s backhand attack was on point all event and she used it to devastating effect scoring the Air Asia 'Wave of the Weekend' for a near-perfect 9.50 (from a possible 10).
Her outstanding performance saw her edge out Taiana Duncan (Kalbarri), Sophie Butcher (Dongra) and Chloe Weir (Ocean Reef).
The young gun was ecstatic after notching the win.
“This has been the funnest event I can remember being part of, two days of great waves, with the sun shining and offshore winds,” she said.
“I’m frothing to be crowned the open women’s state champion.”
The win comes off a stellar few months for McPherson, and follows on from her second-place finish in round one of the WA Pro Am Series.
But the budding star wasn’t the only Peel surfer to take out a state championship, with Secret Harbour’s Frank Gray claiming the over 60 men’s title with his third-place finish doing enough to secure the prize.
Gray also wrapped up the day in second in the over 55 men’s.
Shane Drew (Silver Sands) managed to finish fourth in the over 40 masters men and fifth in over 45 men’s, while Guy Bennett (Secret Harbour) ended his campaign in third spot for the over 50 men.
After two hugely successful HIF Pro Am Series events in Margaret River and Geraldton, focus now shifts to preparing the 17-strong WA Surf Masters team for the upcoming Australian Surf Festival in NSW in August.
There will be a great mix of youth and experience in this years team with surfers hailing from all corners of the state.
“I’d like to congratulate all our winners today and thank all of our competitors who have participated in an epic 2018 HIF Pro Am Series,” Surfing WA events manager Justin Majeks said.
“I wish our WA State Team representatives the best of luck at the upcoming Australian Surf Festival.”
Visit surfingwa.com.au for more information.
