Macdonald and Rodden fall short in finals at Yallingup’s Taj’s Small Fries competion

Geraldton surfers Cruz Macdonald and Edel Rodden put in strong performances at the Taj’s Small Fries but fell short in the finals in the first marquee event of the 2023 season. Battled out over three days, the 18th instalment of Taj’s Small Fries saw 130 competitors take on the waves at Yallingup. The competition wrapped up at Shallows, with clean two to three feet waves on offer for event finalists who sliced and diced their way through the Indian Ocean in hopes of joining an illustrious list of previous event winners that includes the likes of Jack Robinson, Felicity Palmateer, Jacob Willcox and Bronte Macaulay. Macdonald, last year’s under-12 State champion, was competing in the under-14 division while Rodden was pulling double duty competing in the under-16 and 18 divisions. Macdonald in the second round of heats picked up where he left off in 2022, winning his heat thanks to a six on his third wave. It saw him move through to the quarterfinals where a combined total of 10.40 from his first two waves was just enough to see him progress to the semis, just 0.25 ahead of Ethan Anderson. Macdonald was trailing late in his semifinal needing a 7.3 in the dying stages to qualify and got their firing in a 7.75 to move through to the final. However, he was outclassed by Ace Flynn as the dynamic goofy footer proved too strong with a combined score of 15 backing up his 16.40 in the semi to ease home as Macdonald finished in fourth with a 9.55. Rodden breezed through her heat but left it late in her semifinal, pulling out a 6.7 on her final wave to get through to the under-16 final. After a slow start she mounted a late charge with a 7.35 on her fourth wave leaving her needing a 8.16 in the closing stages to take the title. She fell just short with a 7.25, enough for second place behind Dunsburough’s Rosie Gillett. Rodden fell in the semifinal stage of the under-18 competition, only able to muster a 4.00 on her final wave in chasing a 6.16 to qualify. However, Rodden won’t leave the event empty handed as she picked up a new custom Lost Surfboards for her outstanding performance efforts throughout the event.