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Perfect
10 point rides - on Day 5 of Billabong ASP World Junior Championships NORTH NARRABEEN, New South Wales/Australia (Thursday, January 14th, 2010) – The world’s best surf action is always guaranteed at the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships and today was no exception as the Men’s Round 2 and 3 were completed in stormy, 1.5 metre conditions at famous North Narrabeen Beach. Ending a very forgettable run of sloppy summer waves, the sudden increase in swell was a welcome relief for organisers, who pushed through a record 32 heats; and giving big-names like Clay Marzo (Maui, HAW), Cory Arrambide (Ventura, CA, USA) and Jadson Andre (Natal City, BRZ) room to move, as the internationals dipped into their bag of tricks to advance from their respective heats.
The light onshore wind provided competitors with the ideal launching pads, as they flew one-after-the-other into futuristic aerial moves – each heat progressing with intensity as the rounds progressed. Franklin Serpa (BRZ) was one little-known Brazilian to turn heads with an impressive display versus Charles Martin (GLP); Serpa registered the day’s second highest two-wave combined heat score of 16.16 points, which included an excellent 8.83 ride. But the applause was loudest for one of the youngest competitors in the event. Surprise package Gabriel Medina (BRZ) turned just 16 years-old in December and shocked onlookers with the most-committed performance seen this week. Medina carved and spun his way to the highest scoring individual wave of the event in his 25 minute encounter against Aussie Dean Bowen (Gerroa, NSW) – a near perfect 9.57. Then backed it up moments later with the event’s first perfect 10.
The Brazilian’s performance had crowds on their feet, as he whipped through his dazzling array of manoeuvres. But it also came at the expense of Bowen who had no reply as the young Brazilian ‘grommet’ stole the show. Medina’s final two-wave combined heat total was 19.57 points out of a possible 20, with Bowen eliminated in 17th place on just 9.83 points. Action continued late in the day, with home-grown talents Brent Savage (Cabarita, NSW, AUS) and trials winner Ryan Callinan (Merewether, NSW, AUS) surviving their Round 2 elimination heats to join seeded compatriots Stuart Kennedy (Lennox Head, NSW, AUS), Davey Cathels (Narrabeen, NSW, AUS) and Chris Friend (Maroochydoore, Ald, AUS) in Round 3, with all surfers drawn against visiting internationals.
While Owen Wright (Lennox Head, NSW, AUS) and Garrett Parkes (Byron Bay, NSW, AUS) will fight it out in an all green n’ gold showdown. Just 16 surfers remain in the event with seven world regions represented. Competition organisers will assess conditions again at 7am tomorrow morning when action is expected to resume with Mens Round 4, or the Womens Quarter finals. The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships fuelled by Monster Energy can be watched LIVE! via the webcast at www.billabongpro.com The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships fuelled by Monster Energy mirrors the competition format of the ASP World Tour and is considered the sport’s “crystal ball” for aspiring champions. In addition, a Final’s placing in the tournament affords the successful surfers an unrivalled seeding on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) that serves as a springboard to the ASP World Tour. For
more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
SPECIAL THANKS SURFINGNSW.COM
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