SURFER’s annual Hot 100 issue hits newsstands in about a month, and with that sitting in the forefront of our editorial minds, the staff here at the magazine has been keeping an extra close eye on the jostling amongst the junior ranks.



On the men’s side of things, all eyes seem to be fixated on golden boy Julian Wilson, and while he’s yet to win a Pro Junior in Australia this year, his results, most notably a quarter and a semifinal appearance, have been good enough to keep him in the hunt for his first Aussie Pro Junior title. And while the surf world’s infatuation with “Jules” continues to grow, young Tamaroa McComb’s name seems to be dangling out there more and more. His win at last weekend’s Hurley Pro Junior certainly helps the cause. Recently migrated from Tahiti to Coolengatta, he’s living right down the road from madman Dylan Longbottom, who’s been helping him adjust to life Down Under…not to mention coaxing the kid into a few pits when the occasion arises. Another young bloke meriting a mention is Stuart Kennedy, who won the Kustom Jetty Pro Jr. a couple weeks back, beating Julian Wilson in the final. He’s also the current ratings leader on the Aussie Pro Junior circuit, and after narrowly losing to McComb in the final at the Hurley event doesn’t seem to be letting up. All and all, when it comes to Hot 100 noise, Australia definitely seems to be cranking it to 11.



And if we’re talking Oz, we can’t forget Sally Fitzgibbons, who’s been on an absolute tear. This past weekend she followed up were win at the Billabong World Junior Championships with a proper stomping of everybody at the WQS 6-star Roxy Surf Festival, at Phillip Island.



“I’m just so happy with the way 2008 has started off for me,” Fitzgibbons said. “I’ve had a great January and I’m just over the moon with my results.”



Oh yeah, did we mention that this was her forth win in five events…this month. So, for now, she’s the reigning women’s junior world champion and WQS rating leader. Sounds like Steph Gilmore better start stepping up her game.



From an American and Hawaiian point of view, the best thing to happen in Australia as of late was Bethany Hamilton taking third place at the Roxy Surf Festival. Proving she can match many of the world’s best, by reaching the semifinals she celebrated the best result of her budding career.



“I’m so stoked with these results and my goal is to win the whole event so I’m just going to do my best,” Hamilton rejoiced.



“She blows my mind,” Contest Director and former 12 time ASP World Tour event winner Jodi Cooper said of Hamilton’s performance. “I don’t think a lot of people fathom the effort this young lady goes through to not only paddle out, but the technique it takes to stand up and then once she’s up, the balance and body rotation she demonstrates, to complete those big turns.”



ASP Women’s World Tour Manager Brooke Farris had similar sentiments, “To all the other surfers Bethany is just another competitor. She has overcome her challenge to become an equal and is a threat to the Women’s World Tour. Everyone wants to beat her now, just like they want to beat any other top surfer.”



Also on the domestic side of things, No Fear/Koastal Kaos Pro Junior scored 8-12 foot surf for the final, which didn't seem to present too much of a problem for Kiron Jabour, who took first in the massive conditions.



"It was the best Sunset for a contest," Jabour would say later. Brazilian born, he's lived in Hawaii since he was 4. "I love Brazil but Hawaii is my home and it feels so good to do well here and at Sunset this big."



Another Hawaiian, Tyler Newton from Hanalei, Kauai, grabbed second. "It was perfect pumping Sunset, big, and I was a bit scared," said the 17 year old. "I  had a good rhythm all day though. In the final I had one really late air drop."



With the Southwest Open going down a couple of weeks ago in Huntington, the NSSA season is in full swing. Brent Reilly won his second straight Open event and fourth consecutive contest when you add in his victories at the last two Explorers.  The 17-year-old from Carlsbad seems to be mastering every condition thrown at him from eight foot bombs at Seaside Reef to HB's waist high mushy shoulders. Reilly kept his composure in the final trailing Adam Lambert at the five minute mark.  But he dug deep and stroked into a mediocre wedge ripping multiple moves in the pocket and then sealed the deal weaving the reform perfectly all the way to the sand.  He was rewarded with a 7.0 score and another truimphant performance went down in the books.  Reilly gained a little ground in the ratings but still remains in the No. 3 position behind Dane Zaun who remains at the helm followed by No. 2 ranked Andrew Bennett.  Both Zaun and Bennett made the final taking third and fourth respectively while Adam Lambert put together his best display of the season taking runner-up to Reilly in the tiebreak decision.



The Open Juniors division has clicked into high gear with many surfers making quantum leaps in their skill level.  The finals came to a major showdown with No. 1 ranked Taylor Thorne, Kolohe Andino, Conner Coffin and HB local Evan Kane who massacred a wave in his round one heat locking in the only perfect 10 of the contest.  Andino came flying out of the blocks on day one and stayed sharp throughout the event racking up eight heat wins, the most of the event.  In deteriorating low-tide conditions Andino postioned himself to get the better waves and midway through the final, he nailed two solid scores of 6.17 and 7.33.  Thorne locked in a 7.0 in the early goings but couldn’t come up with another decent score.



The Women’s final featured No. 1 ranked Sara Taylor, Courtney Conlogue who was fresh off her impressive semi-final showing at the World Juniors, Sage Erickson and Alexa Frantz.  Conlogue was in dynamic form, especially on her backside where she unleashed on a left scoring an 8.67, the top wave score of all the finals.  She also posted a 16.00 heat total which was the highest of the finals.  The win will move Conlogue back to the top of the leader board as she shoots for her fourth consecutive conference title.

Written By Surfer Senior Web Editor Scott Bass





The murky development waters in the world of wave pools, surf pools, and water parks just got a little clearer. In the past, there have been a lot of promises, but very few deliveries. And this is understandable. This world involves unique technologies and lots of opportunity, but also big time fiscal investment that often times turns into a monetary hemorrhage. The Ron Jon surf park fiasco is a prime example. Lots of promise, but investors are left with a big hole in the ground and a bigger hole in their wallets. The WaveHouse in San Diego is one of the only bright lights in a room filled with flickering promises. But now American Wave Machines (AWM), a Solana Beach company, has hit the light switch with its standing wave technology: SurfStream.



To the average surfer, technologies in the Wave Pool industry are a bit confusing. Reef breaks, beach breaks, cobblestone points are concepts we surfers can easily wrap our imaginations around, and we have, a thousands of times over. But wave pool technology is foreign.



Let's see if we can't break it down for you. First off, if we can't go ride it today, we won't discuss it. We'll take a wait and see approach. What concerns us is what is available to us today. There are other wave pool possibilities and even wave generators being planned for lakes. All exciting and I can't wait to ride them, the operative word being "wait." Today, right now, at this very instant, there are three types of waves we can ride: sheet, traveling, and standing. Here's a primer:



1) Sheet flow - A sheet of water follows the contour of the bottom, usually a wave shaped surface. This type of wave is ridden with a skimboard and is generally a single rider format. No adjustments can be made for size or shape of wave. The Flow Rider is a classic example of a sheet flow wave. If you've ever experienced the fun at the WaveHouse in San Diego, you've ridden on a sheet flow wave. Super fun barrels, nevertheless, but not actually surfing.



2) Surf Pool traveling wave - A propagating gravity water displacement wave that breaks as the bottom contour becomes shallower. Surfing and other types of wave riding is the norm and the wave size and direction can be adjusted. Because you need such a large pool and massive quantities of power this type of wave, although perhaps the most realistic, is cost prohibitive. Case in point, the recent announcement closing of the Ocean Dome Japan surf park.



3)Standing Wave - This wave occurs when there is a constriction in the sides or bottom of a channel with moving water in it. Water is pushed toward a bump which sits along the bottom; water makes a sudden change in thickness due to a natural hydraulic jump effect. If you've ever seen the Waimea Bay rivermouth opened up, a standing wave appears for a good hour or so before dissipating. You can ride a surfboard, body board or wakeboard --even a kayak if you so desire. The wave size and shape is adjustable. Standing waves can operate continuously or break and reform.



  SurfStream is the brand name of AWM's proprietary standing wave machine. As FlowRider is to sheet wave technology, SurfStream is to standing wave technology. A stabilized and aerofoil controlled hydraulic wake that produces a rippable a reforming dynamic wave which is ridden with a surfboard. For the first time a surfing wave has been replicated without the cost prohibitive pool and generator associated with the traveling wave (#2 above).



AWM has a SurfStream prototype (see photos) that is portable. This thing exists. In December of this year the Sandals resort chain will go online with a 20' wide SurfStream at their Turks & Caicos Island resort. At this size, SurfStream will create a 3' dynamic wave for ripping and tearing.



Although this is interesting news for most surfers, the real news is that for the first time, a real surfable wave has been created that doesn't come with a cost prohibitive spread sheet. This technology is affordable. It pencils out because you don't need a massive surf pool, such as Ocean Dome Japan. With SurfStream you surf a 6-foot dynamic barrel in a smaller area. Cost effectivness has met the core hurdle.



"The challenge in the past was that guys like you and me, real surfers, wanted a real wave, but the waterpark industry was catering to entry level people. They didn't want a 6-foot barreling wave," said Louie Hayward, Director of Business Development for AWM. "With SurfStream, you get the best of both worlds. You want 1-foot mush you got it. You want 6' barrels you got it. And it's affordable."



  Another obstacle is getting the surf industry and the waterpark industry to partner up. "The waterpark industry needs and wants the surf industry's involvement," said Hayward. "With head high barrels and an economically sensible technology the time is right. The surf industry can get involved without looking like a kook."



Man-made waves in a pool are a reality. Good waves. It's just a matter of incremental steps. It's like a big, long interval swell. Be patient. The swell is out there, and it is not hype. AWM's SurfStream is making it a fiscal reality as well.

In excellent surf at Gunnamatta Beach on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula Newcastle 19 year old surfer Craig Anderson posted his first ever win on the prestigious ASP Australasian Pro Junior circuit and became the inaugural winner of the Ozmosis Nova Pro Junior.



One of the smoothest surfers seen by many experienced judges, Anderson fought out an extremely close final against Julian Wilson with multiple lead changes throughout the 30 minute duel. Anderson scored the first blow early with a 7.5 scoring ride but soon after Wilson asserted his dominance with a series of good scoring rides of 7.4, 6.5 and a 7.2 to hold the lead. Anderson regained the lead with just 5 minutes remaining when he posted another strong 7.2 ride and then in the final minute of the event, sealed his win in the best way by scoring the highest scoring ride of the final with an excellent 8.5 ride.



“ I can’t believe I’ve finally won an event of this status. The waves have been great all week and I was just loving surfing that long peeling left’s all week but I wasn’t confident of beating Wilson in the final – He’s been surfing so well ad when he’s on he’s super hard to beat but I guess if I was ever going to get him it was in waves like these and I’m really pleased.”



Anderson grew up in South Africa but moved to Merewether in Newcastle four years ago and has settled into the surfing scene well aqnd has ambitions to really make it on the domestic circuit which will hopefully lead to the world circuit – “ My aim this year was to always try and make a final – the best I’ve ever done is make quarter finals here - after winning today I’m now keen to try and make the top five on the ratings and qualify for the ASP World Junior Championships in Sydney next year – winning today will certainly help that cause!”



For his win today Anderson picked up $5000 and 3000 points on the ASP Australasian Junior series ratings for season 2008.



For Julian Wilson this result was a welcome return to form – While disappointed not to win, Wilson was relieved to be back in the top order and is looking forward to next weeks event in his home state at Burleigh Heads Queensland.



“ I’ve had a poor start to the year at the world’s (Junior Championship’s) and at last weeks Kustom Jetty event but making the final here makes me feel way better – My confidence is back and I’m praly more focused – I think Burliegh will be good – we’re hearing there’s a great swell coming and I think the Burliegh event will sort out the top order on the ratings – It should be good.”



Semi finalists today and placing equal 3rd and also posting their best ever results wer young Sydney surfer Davey Cathels (Narrabeen) and NZ powerhouse surfer Richard Christie (Gisborne).



Both showed glimpses of brilliance throughout the event with Cathels scoring multiple outstanding 9 point rides including one in his semi final against Wilson and almost defeating Wilson with a moderate 5 point wave required that he simply couldn’t find by the fast emerging Narrabeen talent.



Christie was also one of the events standouts with some incredible performances in the early rounds showcasing his powerful style in the excellent waves.



For the Junior Men, Burleigh Heads awaits them and with forecasts of great swells the Australian Pro Junior Series is off to a flying start and already the emerging talents from the series promise a season of immense interest.

       

 

We're going to get right down to it. This isn't about a shark attack at all. In fact, it's a story about Volcom's Greatwhite Surf Series at The Hook in Santa Cruz.



So, here we go. The forecast for swell said it was going to be huge, so big that Pleasure Point would be a washout. So, we decided to postpone the event for a day due to the large surf and the Mav's event that was going on up the road a ways. To our surprise when we got there on Sunday the point was still a wash out. So it was down to The Hook we headed, and we were greeted by lines stacked out the back and perfect 4-6 foot peelers racing down the point. The waves would not stop all day, it pumped from the morning all the way to the closing minutes of the final.



The sun was out and the Groms were ripping with the likes of Seth Nowlin, David Mather, Nick Hdez, Ryan Fulton, Noah Wengrich, and Ethan Van Segern. The Grom final had the only lull in the entire event, I think it lasted like 3 minutes or something. The long walls were racing down the line and few kids could connect all the sections. In the end Eathan Van Segern stood victorious under the trees that lined the point.



The Girls division is full of energy up here in Santa Cruz; I think it's the cold water. From beginning to end Kim Meyer flawlessly destroyed the competition and dominated the event for the win. Lexi Wilson, Savannah Shaunnessey, Laura Anderson, Sierra Partridge, and Jennel Carrol rounded out the final.



The Juniors are just one big step behind the Pro-Am and they have to make the most out of the time they get to compete in this division. Young grom veteran Colin Dwyer would go head to head Jason Hdez, but it would be Colin with his down the line ripping that would take the cake. Miles Clanton, Ashton Madeley, Kyle Theirman, and Josh Wilson all put in impressive performances in the epic surf.



The Pro-Am final was greeted with an even playing field, set after set rolled its way into the hook. Rat-Boy and Bud Freitas started the heat out with 2 bombs with scores that ranged above 9', everybody was ripping and Bud and Rat went head to head the whole heat. Locals said it was the best Greatwhite Pro-Am final they have ever seen. Noi K., Austin Smith-Ford, Seth Taylor, and Andre Gio Ranelly were impressive just by making it to the cut-throat final.

Australia’s top 20 year and under surfers were in their element today with Gunnamatta Beach on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula serving up some good sized and powerful 1m surf allowing for excellent surfing throughout the day.



Even with the onshore winds, the Gunnamatta sandbanks were creating performance shaped waves making high scores very achievable. Victorian surfer Cahill Bell- Warren was the days top scoring heat winner with a healthy 15.25 score for his top two scoring rides which included the days highest single wave score of 8.25 out of 10 in his big win over the very highly rated Madison Williams (Coffs Harbor) who also advanced in second place.



Bell – Warren sealed his win today with style by successfully pulling a high degree of difficulty aerial move on his final wave and the judges rewarded him with the 8.25.



“ The waves are good, there’s plenty of them and you can really go hard in these conditions. I’ll go for an aerial move whenever the opportunity arises as they are the moves that will lift your scores into the excellent range and to make finals or win at this level, you have to be scoring excellent rides. It’s no good surfing to simply progress, I’m always aiming to score excellent rides and improve my standings on this circuit. It’s a great forecast for the coming days and I’m super keen to do really well here.”



Other surfers to impress today included current ratings leader Stuart Kennedy (Lennox Head) who easily won his round two heat and the young Lennox Head surfer is clearly on a high after his opening win to the season just two days ago.



Sth Coast NSW surfer Jesse Allen summed up the feeling of most of the surfers after his easy win today saying “It’s good to have waves that have power in them and you can certainly feel the power out there – It’s a tricky beach and the wave heights can jump dramatically but I really like it here and I’m looking forward to my next round heat.”



Winds are expected to become very favourable at Gunnamatta over the coming days with close to perfect conditions forecast for the weekend’s finals.



Twelve heats of round two were completed today and the other 12 heats along with Women’s rounds one and two are expected to be run in great waves tomorrow.

        

 

It was another blockbuster weekend for the Southwest Conference Explorer Season compliments of a healthy west/northwest swell that arrived with perfect timing at Cardiff’s Seaside Reef on January 12-13.  Major surf action was on tap for the sixth stop of the ten event schedule as kids were surfing up a storm putting up huge scores on the board throughout the weekend.  The waves were a consistent 4-6 feet with eight foot sets peeling across the infamous reef.  Known more for its trademark long, bowly lefts, Seaside’s right-handers came alive at this event with surfers treated to superb left and right options.



Brent Reilly’s confidence has been building during the course of this season and he was again in sensational form stitching up back-to-back Juniors victories.  The 17-year-old from Carlsbad mounted a devastating frontside assault torching Seaside’s bowl and locking in high scores with a full arsenal of moves.  He capitalized on the wave perfection blasting huge arcs, throwing big slashes, performing committed floaters and mixing in a couple of stand-up pits.  Reilly's victory gives him roughly a 1,000 point cushion on the ratings leaderboard.  “The waves were sick this weekend,” a beaming Reilly said after his win.  “I was listening to the Charger’s game on the radio before my final and after they won, it amped me up even more to do well!”  This upcoming weekend, both Reilly and the Chargers will be challenged again with the Chargers playing for the AFC title and Reilly going for his second consecutive Open win of the season. 

 

Along with Reilly, there were a multitude of surfers throwing down some big time scores in the solid waves reeling down the reef.  Kolohe Andino, Luke Davis, Ian Crane, Taylor and Jared Thorne, Colin Moran were impressive, consistently notching up 7’s, 8’s and 9’s.  Crane made a statement in the Boys quarterfinals drilling two excellent waves posting a 9.75 and 8.85 and earning the contest high totals of 18.60.  Jared Thorne also blew up in the Boys quarters nailing two major scores of 9.0 and 8.0 and then went on to triumph in the final.  Moran was just as outstanding in the Menehuene final where he ripped an 18.50 total score.  Seniors/Masters competitor Barry Deffenbaugh snared the event’s only perfect 10 in the Seniors final.  “D-Baugh” powered three gigantic gouges on a 10 foot macker which was the biggest wave caught at the event.  Unfortunately he could only manage a 1.5 for his second wave and took a fourth in the final but came back to win the Masters.  In the Women’s division Taylor Pitz snapped her yearlong victory drought stepping it up in the final with an excellent 8.0 ride to seal it while Emmy Merrill took her first win of the season in the Girls.

 

DOUBLE DUTY

Kyle Kennelly: 3rd Men's, 3rd Juniors

Luke Davis: 5th Juniors, 2nd Boys

Barry Deffenbaugh: 1ST Masters, 4th Seniors

Tim Senneff-3rd Masters, 2nd Super Seniors

Scott Whitmer-2nd Seniors, 6th Masters

Mike Gillard-3rd Super Seniors, 5th Seniors, 5th Longboard

 

COMING UP IN CALI: Southwest Open Season returns to Surf City with event #7 on the south side of HB Pier on January 19-20.  The Southwest Explorer will continue with event #7 at Mission Beach on February 2-3.

 

THE SCOREBOARD

RESULTS

SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE EXPLORER #6

SEASIDE REEF, CARDIFF BY THE SEA

 

EXPLORER MENS

1.  Chase Wilson-Newport Beach 15.0

2.  Nick Suhadolnik-Solana Beach 12.5

3.  Kyle Kennelly-Huntington Beach 11.5

4.  Sean Bacon-Carlsbad 8.0

5.  Marc Everds-San Diego 7.5

6.  Tanner Long-Encinitas

 

EXPLORER JUNIORS

1.  Brent Reilly-Carlsbad 17.0

2.  Chase Wilson-Newport Beach 16.0

3.  Kyle Kennelly-Huntington Beach 13.5

4.  Christian Saenz-Huntington Beach 13.0

5.  Luke Davis-Capistrano Beach 12.5

6.  Dane Zaun-Hollyglen 8.0

 

EXPLORER BOYS

1.  Jared Thorne-Newport Beach 15.0

2.  Luke Davis-Capistrano Beach 14.0

3.  Ian Crane-San Clemente 13.0

4.  Jacob Halstead-La Jolla 11.5

5.  Taylor Thorne-Newport Beach 10.5

6.  Blake Davis-Newport Beach 7.5

 

EXPLORER MENEHUENE

1.  Colin Moran-Costa Mesa 18.5

2.  Taylor Clark-Encinitas 12.5

3.  Johnny Elles-Huntington Beach 10.0

4.  Jay Christenson-San Diego 5.5

5.  Addy Giddings-San Clemente 5.0

3.  Kanoa Igarashi-Huntington Beach 4.5

 

EXPLORER WOMENS

1.  Taylor Pitz-Laguna Beach 14.0

2.  Natalie Anzivino-Torrance 9.0

3.  Tara Franz-San Juan Capistrano 6.5

4.  Jena Balestar-Huntington Beach 5.5

5.  Cassidy Wehsener-Encinitas 5.0

6.  Chelsea Byland-San Clemente 2.5

 

EXPLORER GIRLS

1.  Emmy Merrill-San Clemente 14.5

2.  Charlotte Shanahan-San Clemente 11.0

3.  Anise Guzman-Huntington Beach 10.5

4.  Harley Taich-La Jolla 9.0

5.  Melina Smith-San Clemente 8.5

6.  Kirra Kehoe-Santa Monica 3.5

 

EXPLORER MASTERS

1.  Barry Deffenbaugh-Huntington Beach 13.0

2.  Tom Matthews-San Diego 11.5

3.  Tim Senneff-Del Mar 8.5

4.  Rick Takahashi-San Diego 7.5

5.  Jon Warren-Costa Mesa 6.0

6.  Scott Whitmer-Gardena 5.5

 

EXPLORER SENIORS

1.  Neil Bern-Carlsbad 14.0

2.  Scott Whitmer-Gardena 13.5

3.  Dave Montalbano-Clairemont 13.0

4.  Barry Deffenbaugh-Huntington Beach 11.5

5.  Mike Gillard-Coronado 10.0

6.  Randy Cutshall-Torrance 9.0

 

EXPLORER SUPER SENIORS

1.  Andrew Halstead-Los Angeles 12.0

2.  Tim Senneff-Del Mar 11.0

3.  Mike Gillard-Coronado 10.5

4.  David Winslow-Encinitas 10.0

5.  Dale Baker-San Clemente 9.5

6.  Rick Fignetti-Huntington Beach 8.5

 

EXPLORER LONGBOARD

1.  Scott Brandeburg-San Clemente

2.  Michael Lallande-Long Beach

3.  Terry Gillard-Imperial Beach

4.  Cody Ulrich-San Clemente

5.5. Mike Gillard-Coronado

5.5  Cole Robbins-Santa Barbara

This past December, on an otherwise mundane North Shore night, 17-year-old Tonino Benson, a friend of his named Ahi, yes, like the fish, as well as Reef team manager Heath Walker and his wife met me for dinner at Lei Lei’s. We got caught up on all the latest gossip. We talked about last season’s trip to Bali, on which Tonino played pesky younger brother to the likes of Mick Fanning, Bobby Martinez, and Rob Machado. We talked about how crappy winter in Hawaii had been thus far, and how to make Fantasy Surfer more enticing to sponsors. But for whatever reason, the World Junior Championships coming up in Narrabeen were never brought up. It could have been that they were still a good month away and out of mind. It could have had something to do with Tonino, being the good teenager that he is, spending most of the evening head down, intently focused the full rack of sticky ribs in front of him. Or Heath, his wife and I could have killed the conversation by talking about housing prices in Southern California. Regardless, we didn’t talk about Tonino’s big debut.



Four weeks and a few more plates of ribs later, and this past weekend Tonino found himself paddling out in the Final at the Billabong World Junior Championships. Facing 20-year-old Brazilian Pablo Paulino, who already won the 2004 title, Tonino was the obvious under-dog, but as webcaster Dino Andino was quick to point out, “he’d been gaining more and more momentum as the week went on, turning a lot of heads along the way.”



Out of all the talent coming out of Hawaii at the moment, from Clay Marzo to Casey Brown, Torrey Meister to Granger Larson, it was the relatively quiet, soft-spoken Tonino who wound up with the best result. Maybe it was the ribs? But in an unruly ocean, it was probably Tonino’s perfect 10 that gave everybody something to digest. In the quarterfinals he bested surging Aussie wildcard Owen Wright, and in the semis he took out San Clemente’s Tanner Gudauskas. Dubbed by some label-makers as “the next Shane Dorian,” the young, understated Tonino’s magic ride would ultimately come to an abrupt end against Pablo Paulino in the Final.



“I’m happy for Pablo, he’s my friend and he deserved the win,” Tonino would humbly say after getting out of the water. “I got out of rhythm in the Final and everything seemed to be going his way. I am happy to reach the Finals and just grateful to compete in these amazing waves.”



While Brazil celebrates Pablo’s second victory at the world championships, an accomplishment only equaled by Joel Parkinson, the rest of the world is watching their own future champions emerge, just like Tonino’s arrival from the Big Island.



And on the women’s side of the draw, Sally Fitzgibbons is quickly proving to be Australia’s answer to Carissa Moore. Seems like she’s winning everything these days, and the World Juniors appears to be just another trophy for the mantel. She blew through the later rounds of the event, knocking the snot out of one wave, coming up with a 10 from the judges, and ultimately her first world title.



If there’s one thing to be taken from the Billabong World Junior Championships this year, besides that fact that Pablo has an obvious knack for Narrabeen, and the eventual Sally/Carissa rivalry could end up being one for the ages, it’s that the international field is more wide open than ever before. Traditional surfing powerhouses like Australia, the U.S., Hawaii, and Brazil were thoroughly represented, but more importantly, the subtle locales like Japan, Tahiti, New Zealand, Guadeloupe Island, and yes, even Germany were all well represented. All told there were 14 different countries flew their flags. In the men’s quarterfinals six different countries were represented, and on the women’s side, five different countries.



The United States can take some solace in the fact that Courtney Conlogue and Tanner Gudauskas are on their side. Demonstrating that Courtney’s surfing continues to develop and mature, she put in an especially powerful performance. And it must be something in the water because Tanner’s surfing also appeared exceptionally powerful, blending solid, full-rail top and bottom turns, with speed floaters and fins-free, closeout blasts.  



Thanks to his win, Pablo will be seeded into the top 96 of the WQS, which gets him that much closer to joining Adriano De Souza on tour as part of Brazil’s latest wave. Sally is also bound for surfing glory. And Tonino? He’ll be back in Hawaii soon, probably in the water at Banyons, “like Shane used to do.” And like Shane, Tonino could end up being a key ambassador for his generation…just as long as he doesn’t eat too many sticky ribs along the way.  



Billabong World Junior Championships Results:



Boys Final

1. Pablo Paulino

2. Tonino Benson

=3. Tanner Gudauskas, Charles Martin



Girls Final

1. Sally Fitzgibbons

2. Page Hareb

=3. Courtney Conlogue, Laura Enever

SYDNEY, Australia (Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008) – A truly international flavor permeated Round 1 of the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships, which got underway at Sydney’s North Narrabeen beach, today.



Of the sixteen surfers advancing directly into Round 3, eight world regions were represented including Australia, Brazil, USA, Hawaii, South Africa, Europe, Japan and the Caribbean.



Despite the international mix of heat winners, it was former World Junior Champion Pablo Paulino (BRA) who had the upper hand with the highest individual wave score of the day, a 9.70 (out of a possible ten).



While others chose to ‘surf safe’ in the bumpy conditions, Paulino pushed the boundaries with new school manoeuvres that earned him a definitive heat win and a spot in Round 3.



“I’m so very happy to win this heat,” Paulino said after his win. “It is a dream for me to be back here and I hope to win my second ASP World Junior Title this year.



Paulino posted a 17.00 (out of a possible 20.00) total heat score, leaving his competitors in a combination situation (needing a combination of two scores to catch him). Jaytr Berasaluce (EUK) and Yan Guimaraes (BRA) finished in second and third places respectively.



“I’ve been training really hard all year and surfing lots of WQS events which has given me a lot of confidence,” Paulino continued. “I enjoy the new school style of surfing and will be looking to do more aerial manoeuvres in the upcoming rounds.”



The Australians revealed the might behind their 2007 Billabong World Junior campaign, with five of their seven surfers, advancing in first place.



Current ASP Australasia rated No. 2 Julian Wilson (AUS) produced the type of surfing it will take to win at Narrabeen; earning the second highest two wave heat score of the event so far, a 16.17 (out of a possible 20.00) which included an excellent 8.67 (out of 10.00) ride.



“You’ve just got to do what you’ve got to do to get through heats, not go out there and show everyone on the beach how good you can surf,” Wilson explained. “All the Aussies are super hungry for a win, the other guys have been taking it off us for the last couple of years so we’re ready to change that this year.”



Top Australian junior WQS surfer Matt Wilkinson secured one of the top scoring heats of the event, his 14.66 point total enough to see him take the next best win for Australia behind Wilson.



Von Zipper Wildcard trial winner Owen Wright (AUS) proved he deserved a spot in the main event, taking down Nick Rosza (USA) and former ASP World Junior Champion Adriano De Souza (BRA), by choosing to play it safe in the bumpy conditions.



“You sort of had to be critical but safe at the same time ‘cos there was a lot of cross chop and foamy stuff on the wave,” Wright explained. “My boards seemed to go through it pretty well and I’m stoked to be into Round 3.



Madison Williams (AUS) was another Australian to make his mark in Round 1 after earning his spot into the main event in place of Dusty Payne (HAW), who withdrew due to injury this morning.



Williams took down Europe’s Nicolau Von Rupp (DEU) and ASP South America ratings leader Charlie Brown (BRA).



Lesser known French surfer Adrian Valero put in a surprise performance, earning the third highest heat total of the day a 15.67, to win his heat over South African’s Klee Strachan and Rudy Palmboom.



American Tanner Gudauskas’s WQS experience paid off when he was able to dispose of Hawaii’s top seed Casey Brown and Giancarlo Zampieri (BRA) while Hawaii’s Tonino Benson advanced in first, with an excellent 8.00 ride this morning.



In the Girls division it was ASP Australasian champion Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) who posted a sensational 9.17 ride off her final wave of the heat, to unseat heat leader and local standout Laura Enever (AUS) in the final minutes of their Round 1 clash.



“All the girls were ripping and I didn’t really get off to the start I wanted,” Fitzgibbons admitted after struggling to post more than average scoring rides for the first half of the heat. “It was tricky out there, I was just lucky to get that good one at the end.”



Both Fitzgibbons and Enever advanced into Round 3 while Alessa Cuizon (HAW) was relegated to Round 2.



Local girl and No. 5 on the ASP Australasia ratings Kirby Wright (AUS) followed in her brother Owen Wright’s footsteps, by taking a convincing win over international junior standout Nikita Robb (ZAF) during Heat 3 this morning.



Wright posted a solid 8.00 point ride, earning her spot in Round 3 while Robb advanced second place and Asako Mizuno (JPN) finishing third, will have to make her way through Round 2.



Also advancing in first place was European Pro Junior champion Pauline Ado (FRA) and Billabong USA Junior Series Champion Courtney Conologue, who defeated Marina Werneck (BRA) and Paige Hareb (NZL) respectively.



All 16 heats of Round 1 of the Boys division were completed as well as four heats of Round 1 of the Girls division.



A total field of 48 junior men, 18 junior women plus four wildcards from eight surfing regions feature in this year’s Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.



The next call will be at 07h30 tomorrow morning.



The event will be broadcast live via the internet on www.billabongpro.com



The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships are supported by Panasonic, The Association of Surfing Professionals, Von Zipper, The Warringah Shire Council and Surfing NSW.



Billabong World Junior Championships Girls Round 1 Results:



Heat 1: Pauline Ado (FRA) 12.50 Marina Werneck (BRA) 8.83 Coco Ho (HAW) 5.97

Heat 2: Courtney Conologue (USA)13.67; Paige Hareb (NZL) 7.93; Tarryn Chudleigh (ZAF) 6.24

Heat 3: Kirby Wright (AUS) 13.17; Nikita Robb (ZAF) 7.67; Asako Mizuno (JPN) 4.93

Heat 4: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 15.00; Laura Enever (AUS)14.50; Alessa Cuizon (HAW) 10.10



Billabong World Junior Championships Boys Round 1 Results:



Heat 1: Tonino Benson (HAW) 12.77; Shu Hagiwara (JAP) 11.67; Tatsuya Fukagawa (JAP) 10.57;

Heat 2: Madison Williams (AUS) 12.83; Nicolau Von Rupp (DEU) 10.53; Charlie Brown (BRA) 4.07;

Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) 16.17; Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 11.60; Beau Atchison (AUS) 5.60

Heat 4: Charles Martin (GLP) 9.16; Angelo Lozano (MEX) 7.83; Cory Arrambide (USA) 7.33;

Heat 5: Brandon Jackson (ZAF) 8.10; Robson Santos (BRA) 7.17; Jean-Heifara Tahutini (PYF) 6.34

Heat 6: Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 13.67; Casey Brown (HAW) 10.40; Giancarlo Zampieri (BRA) 9.16

Heat 7: Mason Ho (HAW) 11.00; Casey Grant (ZAF) 10.04; John John Florence (HAW) 7.00

Heat 8: Owen Wright (AUS) 13.83; Nick Rosza (USA) 13.03; Adriana De Souza (BRA) 11.74

Heat 9: Pablo Paulino (BRA) 17.03; Jatyr Berasaluce (EUK) 7.90; Yan Guinaraes (BRA) 4.54

Heat 10: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 14.66; Tamaroa McComb (PYF) 6.77; Torrey Meister (HAW) 6.77;

Heat 11: Romain Cloitre (FRA) 12.33; Clay Marzo (HAW) 8.30; Kento Takahashi (JPN) 7.67

Heat 12: Mitchell Coleborn (AUS) 13.33; Jayke Sharp (AUS) 9.34; Brandon Roberts (ZAF) 6.57

Heat 13: Chris Waring (USA) 10.47; Heath Joske (AUS) 8.94; Kyle Ramey (HAW)

Heat 14: Adrien Valero (FRA) 15.67; Klee Strachan (ZAF) 11.64; Rudy Palmboom (ZAF) 10.50

Heat 15: Granger Larsen (HAW) 11.23; Keito Matsuoka (JPN) 7.36; Brett Shearer (ZAF) 4.90

Heat 16: Nobuyuki Osawa (JPN) 9.74; Adam Wickwire (USA) 9.60 ; Josh Redman (ZAF) 6.67



Girls Remaining Round 1 Match- ups:



Heat 5: Bruna Schitz (BRA); Sage Erickson (USA); Nao Omura (JPN)

Heat 6: Airini Mason (NZL); Lee Ann Curren (FRA); Leila Hurst (HAW)



Boys Round 2 Match- Ups:



Heat 1: Adriano De Souza (BRA) vs Yan Guimares (BRA)

Heat 2: Robson Santos (BRA) vs Tamaroa McComb (PYF)

Heat 3: Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) vs Casey Grant (ZAF)

Heat 4: Rudy Pamboom (ZAF) vs Giancarlo Zampieri (BRA)

Heat 5: Josh Redman (ZAF) vs Peter- Heifara Tahutini (PYF)

Heat 6: Nick Rosza (USA) vs Angelo Lozano (MEX)

Heat 7: Jatyr Berasluce (EUK) vs Beau Atchison (AUS)

Heat 8: Torrey Meister (HAW) vs Nicolau Von Rupp (DEU)

Heat 9: John John Florence (HAW) vs Shu Hagiwara (JPN)

Heat 10: Casey Brown (HAW) vs Kento Takahashi (JPN)

Heat 11: Cory Arrambide vs Jayke Sharp (AUS)

Heat 12: Charlie Brown (BRA) vs Heath Joske (AUS)

Heat 13: Tatsuya Fukagawa (JPN) vs Klee Strachan (ZAF)

Heat 14: Clay Marzo (HAW) vs Brett Shearer (ZAF)

Heat 15: Brandon Roberts (ZAF) vs Adam Wickwire (USA)

Heat 16: Kyle Ramey (HAW) vs Keito Matsuoka (JPN)

2 January, 2008: - - Sydney, Australia - Australian hot-shot Owen Wright (Culburra) will boost the country's chances of securing another world surfing championship in 2007 after winning into the Billabong World Junior Championships at North Narrabeen via the Von Zipper Trials.



In epic 1.5-2m walling waves at Sydney’s famed left hand break, 17-year-old Wright dominated an action packed trials final to win one of two wild cards on offer into the world’s richest $USD 64,000 championships which begin tomorrow. The talented goofy footer started with a near perfect 9.00 out of 10.00 and then went into a commanding lead with a 6.80 on his next wave.



“I was looking at the heat draw before this event and I thought to myself, ‘wow I really want to be in that and see what I can do against those guys’,” overall winner Wright said, after posting a near perfect 9.00 (out of ten) point ride in the Final. “We’ve got a great Aussie team this year; I’m stoked to be a part of it and am planning to give it my best shot.”



While his trials opponents Hawaii’s Granger Larsen and Australian duo Maddison Williams (Coffs Harbor) and Reuben Levitt (Palm Beach QLD) jostled for second position, Wright held the lead comfortably for the entire 30-minute-final. At the final siren it was the 17-year-old Hawaiian Larsen who held onto the runner up position and scored the second main event wildcard. Williams finished third and Levitt fourth.



Wright will join fellow Australians Mitchell Coleborn (Maroochydore), Julian Wilson (Coolum), Matt Wilkinson (Copacabana), Heath Joske (Coffs Harbor), Jayke Sharp (Coffs Harbour) and Beau Atchison (Copacabana) when round one of the main event gets under with a predicted good run of swell tomorrow.



They will be looking to secure Australia’s first junior men’s world title since Joel Parkinson in 2001 against a field of 48 competitors that includes world tour surfer Adriano De Souza (Brazil) and surfers from eight world regions. Australia is also well placed to secure the third title running in the junior girls division with NSW teen Sally Fitzgibbons ranked as the sure priced favourite.



Excellent waves peeled across North Narrabeen beach all morning, thanks to the low pressure system currently off the coast of Queensland, and all indications point to a great week of waves ahead.



“We’ve had a lot of swell on the whole east coast over the last four days and looking at the forecast, it should last all the way through the first bits of the waiting period,” Contest Director and former ASP World Tour campaigner Luke Egan (AUS) confirmed this morning. “The weekend could get a little windy so we’re looking to start the event first thing tomorrow morning and run through as many rounds as we can, over the next few days.”



The next call will be at 07h30 tomorrow morning for a possible 08h00 start. First heat in the water sees Hawaiian Tonino Benson take on the Japanese duo of Tatsuya Fukagawa and Shu Hagiwara. A total field of 48 junior men, 18 junior women plus four wildcards from eight surfing regions will compete for the coveted ASP Billabong World Junior Men's and Women's Titles.



FINAL TRIALS SCORES

1st: Owen Wright (Aus) 15.80

2nd: Ganger Larsen (Haw) 13.75

3rd: Maddison Williams (Aus) 13.10

4th: Reuben Levitt (Aus) 10.15

Following the culmination of the elite ASP Men’s and Women’s World Tours in Hawaii in mid December, an esteemed line-up of U21 surfers are preparing for an all important battle at the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships, which take place at Sydney’s North Narabeen, from January 2- 10, 2008.



Renowned as the most prestigious event in ASP World Junior Surfing, the winner of the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships will be crowned 2007 ASP Junior Men’s and Women’s World Champions, in the first week of January.



Qualifying through their respective regional junior series tours, the top five U21 Men and top two U21 Women from eight surfing regions, as well as the highest placed ASP WQS surfer from each region, will produce firecracker performances to see in the New Year.



Inspired by Australia’s recent ASP World Tour domination at the hands of 2007 ASP Men’s and Women’s World Champions Mick Fanning and Stephanie Gilmore, the Australian junior surfers will be hungry to add the 2007 ASP World Junior Crown to Australia’s growing world title tally.



ASP Australasian ratings leader Mitch Coleborn (AUS) heads up a poignant Australian team which includes the highly touted ASP Australasia Pro Junior rated No. 2 Julian Wilson (AUS), who defeated 8X ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) in the opening round of the Quiksilver Pro on the Gold Coast at the start of the year. Joining Coleborn and Wilson are Billabong Indonesia Pro Junior Series winner Heath Joske (AUS), Jayke Sharpe (AUS) and Beau Atchison (AUS). Matt Wilkinson (AUS) joins the team as the highest placed Australian junior on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS).



Despite this impeccable line-up, the Australian contingent can expect to feel the pressure as they take on the worlds best including, current team ratings leaders South America.



Brazil’s Billabong Junior Series Champion Charlie Brown (BRA) heads up a fiery South American team which includes the likes of ASP South America ratings leader Wiggolly Dantas (BRA), not to mention ASP World No. 28 and former World Junior champion Adriano De Souza (BRA), who qualified as the highest rated Brazilian junior ASP WQS surfer.



Hawaii weigh in heavily with 3X Hawaii State Champion Casey Brown (HAW), 3X NSSA champion John John Florence (HAW), 2005 NSSA Open Men’s Champion Clay Marzo (HAW) and last year’s equal third place finisher and highest rated junior ASP WQS surfer Mason Ho (HAW).



The South African contingent have all the inspiration they need to make this year count thanks to ASP WQS No. 1 Jordy Smith (ZAF), whose performance here last year saw him capture the first ASP World Title for South Africa since the Shaun Tomson era. Rudy Palmboom (ZAF) is the highest rated South African surfer in this event.



The European team is peppered with potential and sees ASP European ratings leaders Romaine Cloitre (FRA), Nicolas Von Rupp (PRT), Jatyr Berasaluce (ESP) and Adrien Valero (FRA) eager to make their mark.



Japan looks likely to put in a good showing with their top three surfers Noboyuki Osawa (JPN), Kento Takahashi (JPN) and Keito Matsuoka (JPN) all well versed in the waves off Sydney’s Northern Beaches.



Adam Wickwire (USA) finds himself at the helm of the ASP North America team with 2006 ASP Pro Junior finalist and Nick Rosza (USA) as well as ASP WQS campaigner Tanner Gudauskas (USA) alongside him.



A total field of 48 junior men, 18 junior women plus four wildcards will compete in an ASP World Tour format with man-on-man heats and priority rules, similar to those used on the elite ASP Men’s and Women’s World Tours.



The event kicks off with the Von Zipper Wildcard trials on Jan. 2, 2007 and will award two places into the main event which gets underway on Jan. 3, 2007.



The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships will be webcast LIVE via http://www.billabongpro.com/wjc07/index.asp



The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships are supported by Panasonic, The Association of Surfing Professionals, Von Zipper, The Warringah Shire Council and Surfing NSW.