Albany bodyboarder joins State team

Albany bodyboarder Noah Symmans will represent WA for the second straight year after qualifying to compete in the open men's division at the upcoming Australian Bodyboard Titles in Coffs Harbour.

Noah failed to progress from the heats of his under-18 junior men's division in the third and final round of the WA Bodyboard Titles at Scarborough Beach at the weekend, but he fared much better in the open men's side of the draw.

The 15-year-old carved out some impressive scores in both his heats and the semifinals to progress to the all-important final on Sunday, where he needed to finish third to qualify for the WA team.

Noah said he struggled to find enough waves in the final, but managed to score 9.54 points in the 25-minute decider and place third behind winner Ben Veitch (14.83 points) and Lee Wilson (13.50) in second.

"I surfed well in the heats and the semis and I needed third to get in," he said.

"I didn't surf that well in the final.

"I only got four or five waves in, but I still qualified for the State team."

Noah finished sixth overall in the State title standings in the open men's division, and said he had been competing in the top level competition as a back-up in case he failed to progress from the early rounds in his under-18 junior category.

After winning the under-16 cadet boys' State title last year, Noah said he was eager to represent WA again at the nationals in New South Wales in August and hopefully better his quarterfinal appearance last year in the open men's division.