WA junior tames Hawaiian swell
After being forced out of the water with an ankle injury in 2012, the WA surfer dubbed "the best junior in the world" is back ruling the waves.
Margaret River teenager Jack Robinson won his first big event after the injury at the weekend, beating 130 surfers at the Sunset Beach Pro Junior event in Hawaii.
His mother Mersina said the 16-year-old was over the moon after five months recovering from the surf injury.
After physiotherapy he was "stronger than ever".
"It was hard but this win is a big confidence boost for him," Mrs Robinson said. "He's had a big growth spurt, too, so he is more powerful."
Waves of about 3m were reportedly the biggest for a junior event and 11-time world champion Kelly Slater said they would have intimidated him as a junior.
Jack has good sponsors and Mrs Robinson and her husband Trevor travel with him overseas. "It's a dream lifestyle," she said.
"I couldn't think of anything better than travelling with your son and seeing him doing what he loves and achieving success."
Mrs Robinson said they felt confident about Jack's future as a professional surfer.
The win is the biggest by a WA junior surfer and comes after fellow Margaret River grommet Jacob Willcox beat Slater in Portugal in October.
