After finishing runner-up in several Pro Juniors last year, Wrice (Coledale) was able to go one step further at Bombo on the weekend, taking top honours over Sandon Whittaker (Avoca) in the boys’ division.

Wrice, who is coming back from a recent injury, showed no signs of restraint on Sunday as he attacked the tricky sections to post a 15.00 heat total (out of a possible 20 points) and claim the top spot on the dais.

“It feels amazing to win,” Wrice said. “I’ve been trying to win a Pro Junior for some time and came second a few times, so to go one step further feels awesome. I tore my meniscus and cartilage and was out of the water for two months and only really returned to surfing last week.”

Despite Whittaker managing to muster up the highest wave score of the final - an excellent 8.00 – he was unable to find a 7.00 to knock Wrice from the top position.

Fulton (Mollymook) claimed her maiden Pro Junior victory, taking the win with a respectable 13.65 heat total. Fulton remained in the runner-up spot over the course of the heat, only to strike in the final ten minutes, posting an impressive 7.50 wave score for a barrage of backside snaps. The victory has given Fulton a solid jump in the JQS rankings going into the final two events of the series in Queensland.

“I’m so stoked to have won,” Fulton said. “The lineup was definitely tricky, but I knew if I got the best waves of the heat then I could get the score.

“Alyssa (Lock) and I have shared a few heats in the past and it definitely feels good to get one over her.”

Surfers came from throughout the world to contest event five of the series, with competitors representing Chile, Hong Kong, Italy, Indonesia and New Zealand as well as around Australia.

The Pro Junior events, which includes 18 and under boys’ and girls’ divisions, form part of the 2017 WSL Australasian Junior Qualifying Series, providing the winning athletes with an opportunity to win a coveted world title at the World Surf League Junior Championships in 2018.