Surfing with point to prove

Four years of transtasman shuttling and red-hot competition come to the crunch for Matt Hewitt this week as the Mount surfer aims to launch himself into the world's elite junior ranks.
The only multiple winner in this season's ASP Australasia pro junior series, Hewitt goes into the final round starting in South Australia tomorrow on the cusp of qualifying for the world pro junior tour.
After taking out January's opening round in Victoria and the West Australia leg two months ago, Hewitt lies fifth in the rankings ahead of this week's Fantastic Noodles Pro Junior - his last hurrah in Australasian junior competition.
With the top-four ascending to the ASP pro junior world tour - featuring two contests in October and one in February next year - Hewitt is likely to need one of the 16 quarter-finals berths or better in South Australia to make the cut.
Third in the 2007 ISA world junior titles and New Zealand open champion in '09, the longtime Billabong team rider isn't one to do things by quarters or halves, though.
"I'm aiming for the final and to come away with the win. I wouldn't go over there without that mentality," Hewitt said prior to departing last week. "The points race is so close, I think anyone in the top 10 could have the chance."
Held in the best waves on offer around Victor Harbour's Fleurieu Peninsula, this week's showdown is one of only two six-star events on the Australasian junior schedule, carrying 3500 points for the winner. And with just 1800 points separating the current top-eight, world pro junior berths are wide open.
Third-ranked Crisanto Peterson, of Brazil, is ineligible to qualify via Australasia, but hot on the heels of Hewitt's 4902-point total, New South Wales talents Matt Banting (6th) and Dean Bowen (7th) are within 300pts.
Hewitt's return to South Australia is the apt final chapter in an inspiring comeback. The day before last year's Victor Harbour event he suffered a meniscus tear in a knee during a warm-up surf. Surgery and recuperation saw him miss the final two contests and slide from fifth to 19th.
"It's amazing to think back, it's hard to picture how things were when I was in for the knee operation," Hewitt said. "Winning at Bells [Victoria] in my first comp after the injury was fantastic. Doing well at the WQS event [O'Neill Cold Water Classic] in Gisborne was also a good boost."
March's prestigious O'Neill event saw the explosive natural-footer shut down the likes of Cory Lopez, formerly ranked third in the world, on his way to 25th-equal.
"It was great to have that contest in New Zealand, it really lifts the country's profile."
Having made his debut in Australasian pro junior (under-21) competition four years ago and celebrating his 20th birthday last week, Hewitt will step up next year to focus on ASP open events.
His good mate and fellow Tay St local Alex Dive, who has one more year in pro junior, goes into this week's contest ranked 14th. This year the pair have the benefit of a tour manager and mentor in surfing coach Hamish Nelson, of Sydney.
Nelson has a keen appreciation of how last year's inaugural world pro junior tour has broadened the top young riders' horizons.
"Look at Jack Freestone. In 2010 he was bottom qualifier. Now he's world junior champion and known all over the globe."
Fantastic Noodles Pro Junior, Victor Harbour, South Australia, July 14-17.
Total prizemoney: A$30,000 ($38,000).
Webcast: www.facebook.com/fantasticnoodles