Cathels Crashes Out Of World Title Contention

Words: Mark Rosenberg

After a win in Bali and a fifth in Rio, Davey Cathels found himself equal leader of the junior world rankings. Next he tested himself against the big boys at Sunset for the Vans World Cup Of Surfing. Photo: ASP/Cestari.

Number one seed Davey Cathels has injured his ankle and will be withdrawing from the Billabong World Championships, which start at Burleigh Heads this weekend. A scratching rules Davey out of contention from the World Junior Title, but yesterday when he spoke to ASL he hadn’t given up yet.

“I was having a surf at home and landed funny after doing a little reverse,” says Davey. “I’ve been around to a few physios. They’ve figured out it’s a high ankle sprain and are not sure if it’ll be right the time the contest starts.”

Davey Cathels was resting his legs getting chaired up the beach in Bali in October last year, and will have to rest his ankle this week too. Photo: Oakley/Hennings

After taking out the Oakley World Junior Championship in Bali last year Cathels rocketed to the top of the ASP World Junior rankings. Brazilian Caio Ibelli won the second leg of the WJCs in his homeland to equal Davey on the ratings, coming into the final event in Oz. With Davey unable to compete at Burleigh, Caio’s chances of taking out the title will significantly increase, unless he bombs out early. However, there are a bunch of surfers at the top of the rankings who could all take out the title with a win at Burleigh.

Davey isn’t one to roll over though, and yesterday the Narrabeen Kid was thinking positive. “I’ve got a team of med staff from the Manly Sea Eagles helping me and we’re doing everything we can to get it right. If worst comes to worst I might just even skip my first heat to buy some more time. I’m still keen to have a crack, winning would be massive.”

A short time after speaking to ASL Davey posted this photo on Facebook, sparking the below banter with current fifth-ranked junior Jack Freestone. Cute.

Today however, the news was not good for Mr Cathels and he'll be drydocked for the next month and a half trying to heal his busted ankle.

Not long ago Davey posted an update saying news was not good, and that he'd be out of the water for 6-8 weeks, therefore ending his hopes of the Junior World Title. Understandably upsetting news for Cathels, his family and his many friends around the world who were keen to see Davey deliver the goods.

Get well soon Davey. You'll be right mate, what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger and all that, and no doubt this will only strengthen your resolve to kick arse when you're back in the water, to show the world what you've got.

The Billabong World Junior Championships Gold Coast will be on from 21 to 29 January 2012. Click here to see what some of the contending junior surfers think about the upcoming World Championship decider.

Davey Cathels loves surfing on the Gold Coast and was hoping to win the World Junior Championships just 15 minutes north of where this shot was taken at Duranbah. You can download Andrew Shield's photo as a wallpaper here.