Port Macquarie surfer Matt Banting has staged an impressive comeback from injury, placing third at Newcastle’s Surfest.
The 21-year-old went down in the semi-final to eventual winner, Matt Wilkinson.
“From the get-go I paddled up the beach and then he fell straight into one – it was a perfect one, he got 9.7.7, so straight off the bat I kind of lost the heat,” Banting said.
Banting will now turn his focus to next month’s Quiksilver Pro.
(AUDIO IN PARTS)