Batten Down The Hatches!

Video: Sam Norwood

A lay day has been called today for the Billabong World Junior Championship due to howling wind and torrential rain. ASL could normally give you a quick surf report from inside the car as we drive past Burleigh point each morning to the office, but today the rain was coming down so hard on the windscreen and there was so much spray from the road that it was a challenge to just stay on the road. South East Queensland has been gripped by wild weather, and SES teams are on standby for all the reported flash-flooding, toppling trees and general storm damage.

Yesterday the weather was pretty ordinary too, and ASL sought shelter in the VIP tent. Fortuntately it was the perfect location to view the Round 2 and 3 Men's action right out front, and to chat to the surfers sheltering from the rain after their heats.

The weather for Australia Day isn't expected to be much better (but only 10-20mm or rain is forecast, not like today's 40-80mm), but hopefully the surf action can recommence. Check back at 8am local time tomorrow.

To read the report and see the photos from day four, click here.

The Billabong World Junior Championship Gold Coast will be held at Burleigh Heads from 21 to 19 January 2012. For more information and to see the Men's and Women's draws head to the website.

REMAINING BILLABONG WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS GOLD COAST ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
HEAT 3: Thomas Woods (AUS) vs. Arashi Kato (JPN)
HEAT 4: Jack Freestone (AUS) vs. Jack Robinson (AUS)
HEAT 5: Conner Coffin (USA) vs. Jake Halstead (USA)
HEAT 6: Ian Gouveia (BRA) vs. Matt Banting (AUS)
HEAT 7: Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) vs. Caue Wood (BRA)
HEAT 8: Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Wade Carmichael (AUS)
HEAT 9: Garrett Parkes (AUS) vs. Tim Macdonald (AUS)
HEAT 10: Kaito Ohashi (JPN) vs. David Van Zyl (ZAF)
HEAT 11: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Dylan Lightfoot (ZAF)
HEAT 12: Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) vs. Andrew Doheny (USA)
HEAT 13: Marco Fernandez (BRA) vs. Nathan Carvalho (HAW)
HEAT 14: Matt-Lewis Hewitt (NZ) vs. Evan Thompson (USA)
HEAT 15: Keanu Asing (HAW) vs. Soli Bailey (AUS)
HEAT 16: Dean Bowen (AUS) vs. Hiroto Arai (JPN)