Sign of the Times!

FINGER SIGN: Adin Masencamp rips up the small surf on offer in Australia Photo WSL / Dunbar

Masencamp decided to rain on the parade of Mateus Herdy (BRA) at Kiama, who burst onto the scene last year with an equal 5th in his maiden appearance. The progressive young Brazilian has been turning heads with his super fast aerial attack and looked to dominate in the smaller surf.

“I feel like Mateus and I are a closer match if the waves are a bit bigger but thought he might have an edge in the smaller waves today,” Masencamp said. “I knew he would bring his air game but I just focused on my strengths and it paid off. I surfed earlier and was really familiar with where to sit, so that definitely helped me through what was always going to be a hard heat.”

Masencamp found a gem of a left to post an excellent 8.33. Herdy scoured the lineup looking for an answer, but it was to no avail as Masencamp went on to win with a two-wave total of 14.33.

SMALL BREAK: Small glassy surf has tested the youngsters this year. Photo WSL / Dunbar

Small conditions have plagued the event although there are four days left in the World Surf League's iteration of the ISA world junior champs. Organisers were able to complete Men’s Round Two and six heats of Men’s Round Three in the 2-3' waves before the high tide swallowed the dwindling waves.

The South Africans have had mixed fortunes in the event after a great start by Max Elkington who won his three-man Round 1 heat. He moved direct to Round 3. All the other South Africans had to surf in relegation rounds.

Sadly for Joshe Faulkner and compatriot Max Elkington, they had to surf against each other in elimination Round 2. One South African had to win, and one had to lose. Sadly for Elkington, he fell in the latter category. He joins Ford van Jaarsveld - the other South African to drop out of the event, defeated by Ryland Rubens of the US in Round 2.

SLASH-BACK: Nothing like the elasticity of youth to maximise a 1 foot wave. Photo WSL / Dunbar

Masencamp won his Round 2 heat, and is the only South African to have made Round 4 after his upset over Herdy. The other two Saffas - Elkington and Faulkner - remain in contention, and are still to surf their Round 3 heats.

The opening heat of the day saw a much-anticipated battle between local ripper Lucas Wrice (AUS) and Lennox Head’s Mikey McDonagh (AUS). The two good friends left their mateship on the beach and got to work in the small clean conditions. McDonagh built slowly through the heat consistently upping his wave scores to eventually win with a heat total of 13.27. Wrice was eliminated in equal 25th place.

Indonesia’s Rio Waida (IDN) continued his great run in Kiama posting another heat win and progressing into Round Four. He will join other Round Three winners Yuji Nishi (JPN) and Joh Azuchi (JPN) in Round Four when competition resumes. The 2017 WSL Jeep World Junior Championship runs until 12 January 2018. For more information, highlights and images, head to www.worldsurfleague.com and on the WSL App.

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Men's Round Three Results Heats 1-6
Heat 1: Rio Waida (IDN) 15.10 def. Leo Paul Etiene (FRA) 14.26
Heat 2: Yuji Nishi (JPN) 14.97 def. Momoto Tsuzuki (JPN) 14.27
Heat 3: Adin Masencamp (ZAF) 14.33 def. MateusHerdy (BRA) 11.57
Heat 4: Joh Azuchi (JPN) 12.73 def. Ryland Rubens (USA) 11.80
Heat 5: Sandon Whittaker (AUS) 14.00 def. Cole Houshmand (USA) 13.30
Heat 6: Cody Young (HAW) 12.83 def. Erwan Blouin (FRA) 7.23