Noah walks on water

RAINBOW Beach surfer Noah Lane has won his first ever Australian Pro Junior surfing title after blitzing the opposition in South Australia.

ON A ROLL: Rainbow Beach surfer Noah Lane on his way to winning the Fantastic noodles Pro Junior in South Australia on Sunday. Lane is now ranked number five on the Australian Junior Pro Tour. Picture: Submitted/ Gympie Times

RAINBOW Beach surfer Noah Lane has won his first ever Australian Pro Junior surfing title after blitzing the opposition at the Fantastic Noodles Pro Junior in South Australia on Sunday.

The win rockets Lane from ninth spot to fifth position overall on the Australian Junior Pro tour, only one spot away from automatic selection for the World Junior Pro tour.

The top four surfers make the world competition.

Held on Waitpinga Beach South Australia, Lane produced two powerful nine-point-plus rides in metre-high surf to win the event.

The final was a one-sided affair which saw Lane dominate, amassing a nearly unbeatable score of 18.05 out of a possible 20.

The other finalist, David Vlug of New South Wales only managed 9.35.

“That was an awesome final for me and in my last year on the Pro Junior circuit it's such a relief to finally win one,” said 19-year-old Lane.

“This win also jumps me up the ratings to fifth place and with the top four to qualify for the ASP World Junior Championships I'm in a great position.”

The Rainbow product had no time to celebrate his win on Sunday.

He had to be up at 5.30am to catch a plane to Bali for the next leg of the tour.

“Next week in Bali is a big event for me and I'll hopefully further improve my position,” he said.

Bali might be big in more ways than one for Lane.

The surf at Keramas Beach for the grade five rated Billabong Pro Junior is forecasted to be seriously big in two days time, all competitors flying from Adelaide yesterday morning for Bali were excited at the prospects of surfing the huge quality waves.

Lane's mother and father (Jill and Justin) in Rainbow Beach watched their son claim the title via the internet and were over the moon with his win.

His mother Jill said the win backs up his second placing at the Chill Pro Junior in Western Australia last month.

“We were watching on the internet, he was tearing up the right hand waves on his back hand,” Jill said.

“When we saw he had won, we started jumping around like idiots,” she said.

Jill said his mates ran down to the surf and cheered him from the water.

“He is a very happy boy and on a roll.

“Just think a little kid from Rainbow Beach possibly making the worlds,” she said.

Lane has been competing since he was 11 years old and is now based at Burleigh Heads where it is easier to train and work.

Originally published as Noah walks on water