Whatshot
Ethan Ewing and Macy Callaghan Crowned World Junior Champions
Ethan Ewing and Macy Callaghan Crowned World Junior Champions
On Monday in Kiama, Ewing clinched the men's World Junior Championship for 2016. He defeated California's Griffin Colapinto in what was ultimately an anticlimactic Final due to dropping swell. Fortunately Ewing had put enough of his crisp powerful surfing on display to justify the result.
Winning the Junior World Title was the perfect way to cap his year. "This has been such an incredible season for me," Ewing said afterward. "I've worked really hard to get here but I never imagined I'd be where I am."
Ewing was joined on the podium by fellow Australian Macy Callaghan, who clinched the World Title for the junior women over Hawaii's Mahina Maeda, the 2014 champion.
"This has been a dream season for me," Macy said afterward. "I'm really excited to be bringing this title home to Avoca Beach, and I can't wait to see what the future holds."
Callaghan finished No. 15 on the 2016 women's QS, which means she's not that far removed from having a shot at the elite world tour, and she intends to start chipping away at that dream. "I'm going to do my best this year to see how it goes."
Indeed the entire World Junior Championship seemed to be a glimpse into pro surfing's future, which is why the Australians have very much to be proud of with their two new champions.