THOMAS WOODS FLEW THE BURLEIGH FLAG HIGH AT THE WORLD TITLES FINISHING A CREDITABLE 11TH PLACE. I AM SURE THOMAS WOULD NOT BE SATISFIED, BUT BEING A YEAR YOUNGER THAN THOSE IN HIS DIVISION, MEANS THOMAS WILL BE BACK NEXT YEAR TO TAKE THE TITLE. CHECK OUT THOMAS WITH THE BURLEIGH STICKER ON HIS BOARDS AND FLYING THE FLAG FOR HIS CLUB.
CHECK THE ARTICLE FROM LAST WEEKS GOLD COAST BULLETIN
No doubting Gold Coast talent
Ben Case | January 20th, 2010
Burleigh Heads surfer Thomas Woods will represent Australia at the ISA World Junior Championships in New Zealand. Picture: Michael Ross
Thomas Woods is looming as the Gold Coast’s next big thing in world surfing.
The 18-year-old recently took out the annual Honolua Burleigh Boardriders single fin classic without losing a heat.
Burleigh’s youngest club champion narrowly edged out last year’s winner Paul Ward with another Burleigh boy James Lewis coming in third.
Woods said he had always wanted to compete in the event and was proud of his latest surfing achievement.
“That was the first time I’ve done the competition because I’ve always been away for it,” said the talented teen.
“It was just a fun sort of comp and I just got to go out there and relax and not take things to seriously.”
Woods is hoping he can continue his run of form heading into the opening rounds of this week’s ISA World Juniors Surfing Championship in New Zealand.
Thomas is ranked 17 in the ASP Australasia Junior Men’s ratings and won’t let a minor setback stop him from improving his rank in New Zealand.
“I’ve had tonsillitis and didn’t train for a week or so and I’ve only just got better so I haven’t been training too much because I don’t want to get sick again before I go,” he said.
“Last time I competed at this event in the under-16s and I think I came 11th so I’m definitely looking to put in a better performance this time around.
“After that I’m just going to do the Pro Juniors and try to get a couple of good results and make the World Juniors.”
Woods has also been granted a wildcard entry into the Breaka Burleigh Pro World Qualifying Series next month.
The wildcard guarantees Woods a spot alongside the world’s best professional surfers as they vie for $US85,000 ($92,000).
