Gascoyne surfer Coral Durant claims WA under-18 girls’ title

Another State surf title is heading to the Mid West. Gascoyne surfer Coral Durant added the under-18 girls’ gong to her national under-18 crown on Sunday at Flat Rocks, and will be hoping to score another Aussie title later this year in her last ever junior State contest. She’s now set to surf her last junior event at the national titles before she focuses on pro tour qualification. “I’m really happy to win,” Coral said after the State round. “I’m very excited, very happy. “The first day was pretty small, but the second day was pretty fun. “The girls were ripping.” She said her dad, Reid, and Surfing WA head coach Mike McAuliffe had played big parts in helping her get there. Big things are expected for the junior champion, who has already surfed the world’s most famous wave at Pipeline on the Hawaiian island of Oahu and is a team rider for several top surf brands. The top seed in her division ahead of the event, the victory means she joins WA names like Taj Burrow, Creed McTaggart, Jacob Willcox, Bronte Macaulay, and Kalbarri local Ry Craike as a state title winner. Coral said the next stop would be World Surf League Qualifying Series events when they restart. Challenging conditions expected ahead of the event came through, with offshore winds and solid swells rolling through the line-up although the swell eased slightly on the second day. Geraldton Board Riders member Jake Hagan won the under-16 boys’ event, while Mylee Grant was fourth in the girls’ under-18s.