Longboarding: Michaela takes honours

One of Denmark’s rising stars has claimed a career-defining win, marking a changing of the guard in WA’s female longboarding fraternity.

Michaela Ross, 15, took top honours in the second round of the State Longboarding Title, which was held in idyllic conditions at Lancelin’s Back Beach over the weekend.

Ross surfed with maturity beyond her years to outclass Swanbourne surfer Georgia Young, 23, and dual 2010 National Title winner Claire Finnucane, 36, in the open women’s division.

In doing so, Ross became the youngest woman to win a State longboarding title in an event that has been running since 1963.

“How cool is that! I’m absolutely stoked,” said a jubilant Ross after the event. “It was so good on the weekend, the waves were perfect and it was offshore the whole time.”

Not stopping there, Ross went on to win the under-18 girl’s division ahead of fellow Denmark surfer Asha Reeves, while Lucy Small finished just short of the podium in the open division.

Crowned the 2010 under-18 junior women’s State champion, Ross can now lay claim to being the 2011 State women’s champion after winning the first two events of this year’s series.

Meanwhile, veteran Albany surfer Tony Harrison finished second in the over-60 men’s division behind Yallingup’s talented Bob Monkman.

The third and final event will be held at Ross’s home break Ocean Beach in Denmark at the end of June.

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