14.10.09

Chapman takes all at the Zink Surf South Coast Pro - Cadets ...
Hurley NSW Championship Circuit 2009

Sunday, 11 October 2009

Cooper Chapman (North Narrabeen, NSW) continued his exponential rise one of Australia's finest today, winning the Zink Surf South Coast Pro with a scintillating display at Werri Beach.

Having already seen epic conditions and mind-blowing performances in the previous five Hurley NSW Championship Circuit events, today saw the curtain close on the prestigious Circuit for 2009 in blistering style.

Defeating Jake Sylvester (Bar Beach, NSW), Connor O'Leary (Cronulla, NSW) and Cory Robertson (Cronulla, NSW), who finished second, third and fourth respectively, Chapman took the crown and the over Circuit – pocketing $500.

"I'm so stoked," he said walking away with two cheques.

"The conditions were unreal – I loved surfing out there today."

Over the course of the five events he surfed in, Chapman highlighted his dominance and consistency throughout the overall Circuit.

With his worst result a fifth, Chapman managed to rack up two wins to sit alongside a second and third placing.

"This Circuit forces you to be consistent with your surfing," he admitted.

"It's definitely a great initiative and I know the guys love surfing in these events."

Having been locked into an intense battle throughout the year, a mere 200 ratings points separated Sylvester and Chapman leading into the final, with both knowing that a victory was needed to be crowned champion.

"I knew I needed to beat him," Chapman said.

"It made for an exciting final, but I wanted to take home the win."

Having seen Australia's best open and junior surfers competing throughout the year on the Hurley NSW Championship Circuit, Surfing NSW CEO Mark Windon was over the moon with what transpired throughout the year.

"It has been an amazing Circuit," Windon said.

"The standard of surfing has been first-class and the locations and conditions that we have been afforded have been some of the best in recent memory,"he added.

Seeing the best in country compete up and down the coast has been but one of many highlights for Windon who cannot understate the importance of the Circuit.

"A big thanks must go to Hurley for their support of grass roots surfing in NSW,"he said.

"Without Circuit's like this surfing in NSW fails reach out to the masses and gap between the elite and the everyday surfer can be bridged."