WA’s biggest and most prestigious junior surfing event, Taj's Small Fries will celebrate it's 13th event next week, with over one hundred frothing grommets preparing to converge on wave-rich Yallingup for three-days of non-stop stoke.
Taj’s Small Fries presented by Flight Centre and the City of Busselton, will see WA’s most successful professional surfer Taj Burrow, play host to some of the best junior surfing talent from across Australasia.
After a 19 year career competing on the World Championship tour, Burrow is buzzing with anticipation to see a horde of impressive junior surfers tackle the same waves he grew up surfing as a grommet.
“It's a blur of great waves, good times and outstanding performances, I can't believe how lucky we've been for this event over the years,” he said.
“Each year I look forward to seeing the new talent that's coming through, who's been ripping, who's stepping it up and of course the rivalries between the WA crew, East Coast and international surfers who come to Yallingup to compete.”
Launching Surfing WA's extensive competition program for 2018, Taj's Small Fries will see boys and girls line up in seven separate divisions including; 16 and under, 14 and under, 12 and under and Burrow's favourite division of them all, the 10 and under micro groms.
“WA has produced some of the best surfers in the world and the conditions over here are pretty unique and can be pretty extreme, so I think that gives the locals the advantage, but all the children are getting better and better each and every year,” he said.
Since it’s inception in 2006, Taj's Small Fries has become a rite of passage for many of the country's best young surfers and has become the launch pad for many aspiring surfing prodigies.
2018 will be no different, with a record field of surfers converging from right across WA, as well NSW, QLD and VIC.
There will again be an international flavour to this years Small Fries with surfers from Japan and Brazil also lining up to compete.
City of Busselton mayor Grant Henley said the community was exceptionally proud of our surfing heritage and culture here in the South West.
“Taj Burrow's Small Fries event is integral in developing young talent and enabling local children to mix it with some of the best young champions in what can only be described as a world-class surfing arena,” he said.
“The City is proud to sponsor the event and I wish everyone involved the very best.”
As well as three days of red-hot surfing action, there will be no shortage of fun and interactive opportunities for competitors and families to enjoy throughout the event.
Surf fans will get the chance to rub shoulders with Taj at the opening ceremony next Thursday, the first ever Small Fries launch party on Friday, the Small Fries movie night on Saturday and the presentations and closing ceremony on Sunday.
Taj will also hand pick one lucky Small Fry to attend the Surfing World Grom Bash, which is a money can't buy surfing experience and editorial feature reserved for the best and most outstanding performer.
For the first time ever Taj's Small Fries will be streaming live heat scores and results for people to follow from anywhere in the world via Surfing WA's new live event at surfingwalive.asn.au.
