Juniors set to shine at Ma and Pa Bendall surf contest

SOLID surf is set to grace the 44th annual Ma and Pa Bendall Memorial Surfing Contest and Alexandra Headland teenager Alister Reginato is ready to lap it up.

KEEN: Alister Reginato will compete in the U18 division at the 44th annual Ma and Pa Bendall Memorial Surfing Contest. Picture: John Andrews/Surfing Queensland.

SURFING: Solid surf is set to grace the 44th annual Ma and Pa Bendall Memorial Surfing Contest this week and Alexandra Headland teenager Alister Reginato is ready to lap it up.

Reginato has been a regular at the event over the past few years, carving up the junior divisions of the competition.

He even won the U16 division in 2015 but will press his claims among a hotly contested U18 schedule this weekend.

Despite some talented surfers entering, Reginato was riding a wave of confidence heading into the event and had set some lofty expectations.

"I'm feeling pretty good and I've been surfing a lot lately as we've had a lot of good waves,” he said.

"I've got some new boards under my feet that are feeling really good too.

"I'm hoping to get into the finals and hopefully I can take it out.”

Reginato said the Ma and Pa Bendall contest, which starts on Friday, was always a fun event and hoped expected swells would increase the excitement factor at Moffat Beach.

While aiming for victory, he hoped to use the event as a stepping stone towards the Hydralyte Sports Pro Junior on the Gold Coast in April..

"It's kind of just building my confidence and making sure that I can still surf a heat, and hopefully win a few heats, to go into the pro junior with a good strategy (and mindset),” he said.

Windansea president Terry Landsberg said he was proud to see the event, one of the longest running contests in Australia, remain popular among the surfing community.

He said all divisions were packed with talent, with the contest a prime opportunity for the younger generation to test their skills.

"It's a great experience to surf in front of a large crowd and it does get the boys ready for interstate contests and overseas contest as well,” he said. "It is a difficult wave to surf at Moffats and I think a lot of the younger crew enjoy it as it's quite a challenge sometimes.”