Shepherd goes-back-to-back, Mitchell edges out defending champion at Albany Boardriders Junior Wavefest

More than 40 grommets tackled pristine surfing conditions on Sunday for Albany Boardriders’ annual Junior Wavefest competition. The sun was out and so were the smiles as budding surfers from Albany, Denmark and surrounds carved their way up and down Nanarup Deserts. Surfing sensation Tyce Shepherd made it back-to-back under-18 boys victories after seeing out strong challenges from Zephyr Simmons and Luke Anderson, while Maisie Mitchell knocked off defending under-18 girls champion Alaia Williams to lift the wooden fin. In the under-14s Mikayla Reddington clinched the girls title pipping Tory McDonald in second and Ezra Prince beat out Kalgan Simmons for the boys trophy. Ivy Guilfoyle proved too strong for the in-form Reddington in the under-12s girls and Finn Sappwell took out the boys competition. Jarrod Shuttleworth won the rookie category and Luca Holloway was named the best push-in wave rider. Albany Boardriders president David Beeck said the day was contested in high spirits and the smaller sized waves accommodated all surfers on the day. “It was an awesome day for everyone and good conditions,” he said. “The waves were small which was great for the younger kids because they could have more of a crack. “The 18s boys would have liked bigger ones but they all scored really well because of the smaller waves. “But it was just a perfect day.”