After the Billabong Rio Pro, Adriano De Souza sits in the drivers seat in the ratings—but not the TransWorld SURF Power Rankings. Penned by Damien “Dooma” Fahrenfort, the Power Rankings take into account more than floaters and double-fisted claims.
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The USA and Hawaii lead the charge as the ISA World Juniors heads toward a dramatic finish at Punta Hermosa in Peru.
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shralp surf! #125 from January 16th 2011 has / World Junior Championships in North Narrabeen, Aus// 2010 Big Wave World Tour – Nelscott Reef // Marc’s Journal ///
World Junior Championships
North Narrabeen, Australia
The kids have their 2010 World Junior Champ. Welcome to episode 125 of shralp! surf. The world’s best juniors assembled once again on Sydney’s [...]
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Marc Lacomare (FRA), 20, posted the highest single-wave score of Billabong ASP World Junior Championships competition, an 8.83 out of 10, to win his Round 4 heat. CI riders Nat, Kiron and Marc all head to the quarterfinals!
Credit: ASP / SCHOLTZ
NORTH NARRABEEN, New South Wales/Australia (Wednesday, January 12, 2011) – Round 4 of the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships was completed in two-to-four foot surf at North Narrabeen today and the day’s highlights saw French powerhouse Marc Lacomare (FRA), 20, post the highest single-wave score of the event while fellow European representative Charles Martin (GLP) , 20, issued the upset of the day by eliminating No. 1 seed Jack Freestone (AUS), 18.
The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships marks the last of two stops on the inaugural ASP World Junior Tour, with the first event unfolding in Bali at the Oakley ASP World Pro Junior. The ASP World Junior Tour hosts the planet’s finest under-21 surfers as they battle for the prestigious title of ASP World Junior Champion.
Lacomare put on an impressive Round 4 showing to snag a come-from-behind victory over Dean Bowen (AUS), 19. The powerful goofy-footer was in need of a solid 7-point ride in the remaining minutes of the heat and rose to the occasion by crushing the event’s highest single-wave score, 8.83 out of 10, by lofting a big frontside air only to follow up with two committed hacks while earning the day’s highest heat total as well (14.66 out of 20).
“I knew I needed a 7 something and knew I needed to go big,” Lacomare said. “I did that air and then a couple of turns and I guess the judges liked it. I figured the judges weren’t scoring for small turns and I’m kind of tall and try and put some power into my turns.”
Charles Martin got the best of a low-scoring heat over Jack Freestone, issuing the current ASP World Junior Tour ratings leader a 9th place finish. Although Martin admitted his relief in advancing over Freestone, he was quick to add that he felt there were several other top talents who fell today.
“I’m happy to have made that heat against Jack (Freestone),” Martin said. “I didn’t think beating him was the biggest upset of the event though. Jack is a really good surfer and he was ripping in Bali, but he’s still young. This is his first time to Narrabeen and there are so many other good guys in this event like Granger (Larsen), but I just got lucky in that heat.”
Martin will now face fellow European competitor, Lacomare, in their Quarterfinals matchup and is looking forward to their bout in his final ASP Pro Junior event.
“Marc has been looking really good, he’s got the highest score of the day and it’s going to be really fun surfing against him in our last event as juniors,” Martin said. “Marc made the last heat and now I’m surfing against him in the next round. I’ve been surfing against him my whole life and there won’t be any hassling, we’ll just each get our best waves and that’s it.”
Dale Staples (ZAF), 20, current ASP World Junior No. 2, clinched his Round 4 heat win over young Hawaiian Alex Smith (HAW), 16, keeping his chances of an ASP World Junior Title alive and although the South African competitor knows the pressure is on to perform, Staples is using the added stress as motivation to improve his game.
“The World Title is putting a little more pressure on me, but I think pressure is good actually,” Staples said. “It makes you work harder.”
Staples, who chaired fellow countrymen Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), 17, up the beach following her Billabong ASP Women’s World Junior Championships victory, is using Buitendag’s win as additional motivation to sweep the event for his nation.
“ I watch the guys that I think are going to make my heat, but I just play my own game out there,” Staples said. “I want to match Bianca’s (Buitendag) result and take two wins to South Africa.”
Staples will face Nat Young (USA), 19, in Quarterfinals No 3 when competition resumes.
Mitch Crews (AUS), 20, put in an exciting performance against progressive young American Kolohe Andino (USA), 16, by unleashing a lethal backhand attack on a lefthander to the tune of an 8.33 out of 10 to advance into the Quarterfinals and the fiery Australian is motivated to take out the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships as the last Australian remaining in the event.
“I’m kind of tripping because all of the boys went down this morning like Jackie (Freestone),” Crews said. “Deano (Dean Bowen) went down by Marc (Lacomare) who had a blinder of a heat, so I’m just stoked to get through and give the Aussies a shot at the title. Yesterday, I don’t know what was wrong with me. It’s a lot harder than it looks out there and luckily I got that one. It’s such a bag of tricks out there, you’ve got to just catch a bunch of waves and hope you get a good one.”
Nat Young was amidst a losing battle against Brazilian upstart Krystian Kymerson (BRA), who had posted some of the day’s top scores in the heat, but the American advanced through to the Quarterfinals after Kymerson earned an interference due to a priority mistake to turn the heat win over to Young.
“It was a bummer and not a way I would like to win a heat,” Young said. “He (Kymerson) should have won. I had priority and a good wave came though. It might have been hard for him to hear. I heard them say that I had priority and was going on that wave and he paddled behind me and got an interference. That interference cost him the heat. He’s been ripping and it’s a bummer, but he rips and I’m sure he’s going to have a good future.”
Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7am local time for a possible 7:30am start.
The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships holds a waiting period from January 8 through 16, 2011 and is webcast LIVE via http://www.billabongpro.com.
Marc Lacomare (FRA), 20, winner of the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.
Credit: ASP / SCHOLTZ
NORTH NARRABEEN, New South Wales/Australia (Saturday, January 15, 2011) – Marc Lacomare (FRA), 20, marched to victory at the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships over American talent Nat Young (USA), 19, in a hard-fought chess match between the two goofy-footers in two-to-three foot (1 metre) surf at North Narrabeen to solidify Jack Freestone (AUS), 18, as the 2010 ASP World Junior Champion.
The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships is the last stop of the inaugural ASP World Junior Tour, with the first event unfolding at the Oakley ASP World Pro Junior in Bali.
Lacomare surfed a patient heat in his Final bout against Young after the American launched out to an early lead, eventually battling back by tearing into two crisp lefthanders to the tune of a 14.00 out of 20 heat total to secure the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships event win.
“I feel great,” Lacomare said. “It’s been a great event for me. Congrats to Nat (Young) and Jack (Freestone). “It was a great trip to Australia and thanks to the locals too for sharing their break.”
Young launched out to an early start in the Final, notching his two highest waves on his opening attack (11.50 out of 20), but was found looking for a score in the dying minutes of the heat. The talented American locked into a clean lefthand wall with a minute remaining, but was unable to secure the score needed to surpass Lacomare and finished runner up overall.
“The day had just gone perfect all morning,” Young said. “That Final was a little slow, but I don’t think I would have gotten the score on that last ride because I messed up at the beginning. Congratulations to Jack (Freestone) and Marc (Lacomare) and I’d also like to say thanks to the Enevers for taking care of me all week.”
Young’s rise to the Final was no easy task, as he eliminated then ASP World Junior No. 2 Dale Staples (ZAF), 20, before defeating then ASP World Junior No. 3 Mitch Crews (AUS), 20, with impressive last-second heroics to dash both of their chances of a 2010 ASP World Junior Title in their Quarterfinals and Semifinals heats.
“It was the best wave that came through all event, it just had a perfect wall on it,” Young said after his Semifinals heat against Crews. “I did a big turn and another turn and a floater. It was just weird. It’s my Mom’s birthday and I feel like that wave was sent by her. I feel bad for Cruisey (Mitch Crews), he’s been ripping this whole event.”
Jack Freestone, who earned a colossal victory at the first stop on the ASP World Junior Tour, the Oakley World Pro Junior in Bali, secured the title of 2010 ASP World Junior Champion with an equal 9th place finish at the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships, with the two combined results solidifying the young Australian atop the ASP World Junior Rankings.
“It’s been a mixed roller coaster of emotions watching the heats unfold,” Freestone said. “Big congratulations to all of the guys. It’s a dream come true. I never thought it would come true after placing 9th in this event, but I’m just so happy.”
In addition to the prestigious titles that come along with their performances, the Top 4 finishers have earned seeds into the Round of 96 of all ASP PRIME events for the year while the Top 8 are given seeds into the Round before the last round of all 1-6 ASP Star Series events. The Top 8 are listed below the results.
For highlights from the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships log on to http://www.billabongpro.com.
For more ASP information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com.
Television newsfeeds and web highlights packages will be made available to TV and online media on competition days. Please contact jj@billabong.com.au.
As the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships fueled by Monster Energy was unfolding, competitors and others involved in the event were also focused on the devastating flooding that was impacting the state of Queensland.
Event sponsor Billabong committed ,000 to the Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal and, through the Rush Surf retail banner, is planning to donate clothing to needy communities.
Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Queensland Government’s flood appeal can visit http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html
The Billabong ASP World junior Championships fueled by Monster Energy is made possible with the support of Sony, Volkswagon, VonZipper, Nixon, Australia’s Surfing Life Magazine, Warringah Council and NSW Sport and Recreation.
Billabong ASP World Junior Championships Final Result:
1 – Marc Lacomare (FRA) 14.00
2 – Nat Young (USA) 11.50
Billabong ASP World Junior Championships Semifinals Results:
SF 1: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 11.07 def. Caio Ibelli (BRA) 10.03
SF 2: Nat Young (USA) 13.60 def. Mitch Crews (AUS) 13.40
Billabong ASP World Junior Championships Quarterfinals Results:
QF 1: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 15.00 def. Kiron Jabour (HAW) 10.37
QF 2: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 15.27 def. Charles Martin (GLP) 11.90
QF 3: Nat Young (USA) 10.83 def. Dale Staples (ZAF) 9.60
QF 4: Mitch Crews (AUS) 13.54 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 9.84
Billabong ASP World Junior Rankings (Top 8):
1: Jack Freestone (AUS)
2: Nat Young (USA)
3: Dale Staples (ZAF)
4: Caio Ibelli (BRA)
5: Mitch Crews (AUS)
6: Kiron Jabour (HAW)
7: Marc Lacomare (FRA)
8:Charles Martin (GLP)
Despite a fin gash to the head earlier in the week, Frenchman Marc Lacomare charges back to win the Billabong ASP World Juniors. Which gave Australian Jack Freestone the ASP World Junior Title. Check out the full story, video highlights, and photos from North Narrabeen right here.
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As Laura Enever looks to go back-to-back, Aussie upstart Ellie Jean Coffey takes out event favorite Tyler Wright at day 2 of the Billabong World Junior Surfing Championships at North Narrabeen. Girls day 2 Video highlights and photos here.
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Dane Reynolds (USA), 25, vaults into the 2011 ASP World Tour season.
Credit:© ASP / SCHOLTZ
NORTH SHORE, Oahu/Hawaii (Tuesday, December 21, 2010) –The 2011 ASP Top 34 have been finalized, setting the scene for what is shaping up to be one of the most exciting seasons in ASP history.
With the allocation of the two ASP Wildcards (going to Kai Otton (AUS), 31, and Gabe Kling (USA), 30), the ASP Top 34 has been set, comprised of the Top 22 finishers from the 2010 ASP World Tour, the next 10 finishers on the ASP World Rankings and the two ASP wildcards.
“Following the allocation of the two ASP Wildcards, the 2011 ASP Top 34 have been determined with the seed list below,” Renato Hickel, ASP World Tour Manager, said. “It’s important to note that the seeding order is subject to change based on the first few qualifying events (PRIME and Star) of the 2011 season.”
1. Kelly Slater (USA)
2. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
3. Taj Burrow (AUS)
4. Mick Fanning (AUS)
5. Bede Durbidge (AUS)
6. Dane Reynolds (USA)
7. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
7. Owen Wright (AUS)
9. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
10. Adriano de Souza (BRA)
11. C.J. Hobgood (USA)
12. Michel Bourez (PYF)
13. Chris Davidson (AUS)
14. Jadson Andre (BRA)
15. Damien Hobgood (USA)
16. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
17. Brett Simpson (USA)
18. Joel Parkinson (AUS)
19. Taylor Knox (USA)
20. Heitor Alves (BRA)
21. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
22. Bobby Martinez (USA)
23. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
24. Kai Otton (AUS)
25. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
26. Tiago Pires (PRT)
27. Adam Melling (AUS)
28. Daniel Ross (AUS)
29. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
30. Josh Kerr (AUS)
31. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
32. Dusty Payne (HAW)
33. Julian Wilson (AUS)
34. Gabe Kling (USA)
Moving forward, the ASP Top 34 will be rotated following the sixth stop on the 2010 ASP World Tour, TBA on the East Coast of the USA, with the new ASP Top 34 commencing at Stop No. 7, the Hurley Pro at Trestles. This new ASP Top 34 will be determined strictly off the ASP World Rankings.
The ASP Top 17 will be determined following the Medical Review and the allocation of the ASP Wildcard, expected in the coming days.
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
World Junior Championships, North Narrabeen, Australia //
Rider Profile: Joan Duru //
Adventure Division: Tahiti ///
World Junior Championships
North Narrabeen, Australia
No, this is not an air show, these are the World Junior Champs. Welcome to shralp surf! episode 99. Unfortunately the waves never really rose to the occasion for the world’s best juniors. And it really seems that [...]
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Unheralded South African Rudy Palmboom steals the show at day 1 of the O’Neill World Cup Of Surfing in double-overhead surf at Sunset Beach on the North Shore of Oahu.
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