Surfing: Top start takes Kiwi on to pro junior title

Sarah Mason stormed through the event, eliminating the international field one by one on her way to the top. Photo / AQUASHOT/ASPEUROPE

Kiwi surfer Sarah Mason won the ASP girls pro junior France final over Australian Dimity Stoyle at Les Bourdaines at the weekend.

Europe's finest under-21 athletes faced some of the world's best up-and-comers in the event in an attempt to qualify for the ASP World Junior Series which starts on October 3 in Bali.

Mason, 16, of Gisborne, who impressed with her precise and stylish forehand attack, left little to chance in the 35-minute final, getting off to a quick start to open her account and then built on her two-wave total to claim victory with 11.73 out of 20.

The quietly spoken goofy-footer was a standout performer in the ASP 6-Star Swatch Girls Pro France and backed it up with a commanding performance against her fellow Pro Junior members.

"It is amazing. I am so happy and it is one of my best results for sure," she said. "It was tricky to try and pick the good ones but I picked a couple so it was great. All the girls are definitely ripping so you have to step up the level to get through your heats so I am stoked with the win. It has been super fun and I have enjoyed the entire event so to win is just amazing."

Dimity Stoyle was unable to bridge the gap over her opponent in the final finishing second despite holding priority several times in the later stages of the encounter.

Another Australian, Felicity Palmateer finished equal 3rd against Stoyle where positioning and priority tactics played a major role as the frequency of set waves dropped.

* Richard Christie, of Mahia, made the semifinals at SuperSurf Internacional Prime Event, in Brazil, at the weekend, but his run to the final was cut short by eventual winner Gabriel Medina, of Brazil.