The Surf Coast pair of Emily McGettigan (Torquay) and Xavier Huxtable (Jan Juc) have claimed top honours at the opening round of the Victorian Open Series at Bells Beach / Djarrak on Saturday.
In unruly four to six-foot surf, 40 of the best Victorian surfers battled the elements in the race to be crowned Victorian Open Champion and gain a spot in the Rip Curl Pro Trials.
Utilising local knowledge, Emily McGettigan was solid throughout the day, winning all of her heats on the way to the final.
“The conditions were really tricky and there was a lot of water moving, so heaps of paddling and duck diving, but once you found a wave it was really fun” McGettigan said.
“I’m super stoked to surf bigger Bells with just the girls! We all had a laugh when we got a few sets on the head,” she said.
Finishing with a heat total of 12.17, McGettigan finished ahead of Ava Holland (Mornington Peninsula) on 8.13 points.
On the Men’s side of the draw it was Xavier Huxtable who was in form all day scoring the event highest heat total, a 17.33 (out of a possible 20), in his Round 2 heat.
He continued this form into the final locking in a heat total of 15.10 to take the final over fellow Surf Coast surfer Todd Rosewall (Jan Juc) who finished on 13.47.
“It was an awesome day with amazing waves all day long,” Huxtable said.
“I’m stoked to get great waves which can help showcase everyone’s surfing all day long.”
The series will now move to Phillip Island on 17 February.
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