ANNA Bay surfing prodigy Eden Hasson has ticked another box in his illustrious sporting career.
The 19-year-old Port Stephens sensation won his first Pro Junior event recently at Redhead Beach – claiming the Let’s Surf Lake Mac tournament title in the last event of the Australia/Oceania region’s Pro Junior series.
Hasson shone in the rippable three-foot surf to edge out Fingal Head’s world junior champion Dane Henry in a classic final, enhancing his reputation as one of Australia’s best young surfers.
“I’m stoked to have won my first Pro Junior title,” an ecstatic Eden told News Of The Area.
“It was definitely a goal of mine and to beat an outstanding young international surfer like Dane in the final just makes it an even more special achievement.”
From the opening Round of 64, the accomplished Hasson posted solid wins in each heat and used his speedy attack in the surf to secure the title from the in-form superstar Henry.
In the final, Hasson opened with a poppy forehand air reverse for a 6.50 before quickly backing it up with a 5.60 to establish the lead before Henry responded with a sharp two-turn backhand combo earning a 7.50, plus a whippy reverse to re-entry combo.
Hasson then launched an even loftier reverse to pick up an 8.10 and reclaim the lead.
Needing a 7.11, the 7.00 delivered by Henry fell just shy of the mark to give the electric Hasson his maiden Pro Junior title triumph by 0.10.
Seventeen-year-old Milla Brown, the reigning Australian Under 18 National Junior Champion from Sydney’s northern beaches, took out the Girls title.
Despite finishing runner-up, the gifted Henry, 19, was crowned Australia/Oceania Region champion – just four weeks after capturing the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games gold medal in El Salvador.
As the Australia/Oceania Region’s junior champion, Henry qualifies for the 2025 edition of the World Junior Surfing Championships to be staged in the Philippines next January.
By Chris KARAS
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