“I’m starting to get really nervous,” said Sage Erickson over a burger at Duke’s in Huntington. “I’m fine with the traveling—even if I can’t really sleep on planes—it’s the contest that I’m thinking about.”

This week the Pacsun USA Surf Team splits for the coast of France and the 2008 ISA World Junior Surfing Championships, and while Sage may be feeling a twinge of anxiety, America looks to be fielding the most complete squad in long, long time.

“We’ve worked so hard to get here,” explained head coach Joey Buran at the send-off luncheon yesterday. “By the time everything’s all said and done we’re as prepared as we’re ever going to be. We’ve surfed over 1,000 mock heats, run numerous training camps, and even spent time in Hawaii preparing.”

And in this oh-so competitive international surf world in which the USA squad will be doing battle, preparation could be the key to it all. No longer is the team a loose conglomeration of talents from around the country. No, this year they’re a fine tuned, well-organized, and extremely tight-knit group of surfers. Some, like Dane Zaun and Kolohe Andino are seasoned veterans, while others, like Chase Wilson and Demi Boelsterli, are new additions, and will bring new surprises to the global affair. All in all, it’s one heck of a solid team. And with that in mind, below is a breakdown of who’s who and what they’re bringing to the squad. Stay tuned, the 2008 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships take to the water on May 24, and you can follow all the action at SurfingAmerica.org or right here on Surfermag.com.



“The USA Surf Team program is the best it’s ever been. This year’s Team has amassed an incredible amount of intense, high quality training under Head Coach Joey Buran. And they’re more than a Team. They are a tightly knit, extremely focused, assemblance of the finest young surfing athletes in the United States today. Surfing America is truly putting its best foot forward and we anticipate some solid results in France.”—Mike Gerard, Surfing America executive director and ISA vice president.



Under 18 Boys

Dillon Perillo (Team Captain)

Hometown: Malibu, California

If his accolades and attitude in 2007 are any indication of what Dillon Perillo is capable of in 2008, it’s fair to say he’s going to shine in France. Sidelined by back surgery in the beginning of the year, he’s since made a complete recovery and looks to break a few backs of his own overseas.



Dane Zaun (Team Co-Captain)

Hometown: Hollyglen, California

An innovative goofy-footer who’s used the multitude of breachbreaks in the South Bay to fine-tune his high-performance act. But don’t underestimate him when there’s size, because Dane ain’t afraid to go. A USA Surf Team veteran.



Nat Young

Hometown: Santa Cruz, California

With a plethora of right points in the surrounding area, growing up goofy in Santa Cruz is a tough break, but Nat Young’s turned his right-footed disadvantage into a godsend. One of the most refined backside surfers of the USA Surf Team, Nat’s bringing consistency and experience to the squad.



Chase Wilson

Hometown: Newport Beach, California

The dark horse of the team, Chase Wilson arrived on the scene with little fanfare, but proved the 56th Street regular has what it takes to represent the States. And if you need more proof of Chase’s mindset, check out his favorite quote: “Never stop. Never give up. Even to the last second.”



Under 16 Boys

Andrew Doheny

Hometown: Newport Beach, California

Andrew Doheny’s been on the surf world’s watch list for some years now, and as he heads off to France for the ISA World Juniors, all the critics and pundits will be keeping a close eye on him. And what they’ll see is a kid who’s surfing has developed in leaps and bounds over the past year.



Conner Coffin

Hometown: Santa Barbara, California

A prodigious talent from California’s Gold Coast, Conner Coffin has the potential to be the next big regularfooter to come out of Santa Barbara. The 2006 NSSA Open Boys champion, at Nationals last year he took out Ezekiel Lau, Kolohe Andino, and Luke Davis to cement his reputation as one of America’s top groms.



Kolohe Andino

Hometown: San Clemente, California

The surf star of the USA Surf Team, Kolohe already has luminaries such as Andy Irons and Joel Parkinson quaking in their boots. Still hungry for a big-time, international result that will announce his coming of age, Kolohe’s more than eager to take on the rest of the world.



Luke Davis

Hometown: Capo Beach, California

A comedian on land, a performer in the water, Luke Davis has more style than he knows what to do with, which should bode well for him in fashion-obsessed France.



Under 18 Girls

Courtney Conlogue

Hometown: Santa Ana, California

The Rocky Balboa of women’s surfing, it hasn’t been easy for Courtney Conlogue growing up in Santa Ana, but to amass such a footing on the global stage at such a young age is testament to her competitive grit. Look out world!



Sage Erickson

Hometown: Ojai, California

Growing up in the hotbed that is Ventura, from a very young age Sage has been surrounded by some of modern-day’s most creative surfers. She’s also a seasoned traveler. Combine the two and you’ve got yourself a very formidable opponent at the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships.



Amy Nicholl

Hometown: New Smyrna Beach, Florida

Chalking up her third year on the USA Surf Team, Amy is the lone East Coaster on the squad, which may only add a little more fuel to her competitive fire. Holding multiple national titles, Amy’s anxious to transcend to the international stage.



Demi Boelsterli

Hometown: Santa Barbara, California

Demi Boelsterli is a classic Santa Barbara story: talented beyond belief, and up until now, completely off of anybody’s radar. Can she bring a little of the Curren mystique back to French waters?



First Alternates: Quinn McCrystal, Nathan Carvalho, Kaleigh Gilchrist

Additional Alternates: Chase Brady, Taylor Thorne, Sara Taylor, and Keenan Lineback.







 

Major League Baseball has Barry Bonds. Track has Marion Jones. Swimming has the entire East German women’s swim team. And now surfing can add Dustin Cuizon to that HGH-infused list. Nobody in a million years would have figured pro surfing would suffer from the same growth hormone scourge as more mainstream sports, but if you made it down to the beach this past weekend for Volcom’s Totally Crustaceous Surfing Championships experienced a scene only Balco would be proud of.



Don’t let the gray skies and onshore flow fool you, Muscle Beach (aka Newport, aka The Hottest 100 Yards, aka Echo Beach) was fully flared and completely pumped up this weekend. With a collection of the most dynamic, and ripped, up-and-comers on hand for a burly little shoulder-high south swell, it was flex or be flexed. Throughout the three-day affair the varying weight-classes—the Roid Ragers, Keg Tossers, Jock Straps, Iron Curlers and Squat Thrusters—juiced up and took to the surf. Erica Hosseini looked good in her bikini, Albee Layer showed off his new layer or muscle, but more than anyone it was Hawaiian superman Dustin Cuizon who power-lifted the most.



“It was a full on scene down there,” reported Surfer photographer Jason Kenworthy. “Everybody there was like a full-on body builder—it was crazy, like Venice back in the ‘80s.”



But Cuizon’s big win in the Roid Ragers division leaves one question: Is he juicing? Is he the next Neco Padaratz? After all, how could a kid from Hawaii win in such cold water? Paddling with a full suit requires and exorbitant amount of strength, especially for a kid from the Islands. But how else could he dominate so completely? I guess we’ll just have to wait for the congressional hearings to find out what Dustin’s really been up to.



ROID RAGERS (PRO-AM)

1.    Dustin Cuizon - $15,000

2.    Dustin Barca - $7,000

3.    Alex Gray - $4,000

4.    Bobby Morris - $3,000



KEG TOSSERS (JUNIORS)

1.    Albee Layer - $10,000

2.    Nat Young - $5,000

3.    James Woods - $4,000

4.    Andrew Doheny - $3,000



JOCK STRAPS (GROM)

1.    Shayne Nelson - $8,000

2.    Keanu Asing - $5,000

3.    Caio Ibelli - $4,000

4.    Sidinho Guimmaraes - $3,000



IRON CURLERS (GIRLS)

1.    Erica Hosseini - $7,000

2.    Sage Erickson - $4,000

3.    Kyla Langen - $3,000

4.    Kelia Moniz - $2,000



SQUAT THRUSTERS (AIR SHOW)

1.    Kilian Garland - $7,000

2.    Marcelo Trekinho - $3,000

3.    Ratboy Collins - $2,000

4.    Josh Hoyer - $1,000

5.    Aaron Cormican - $0

6.    Dustin Barca - $0



 

Sebastian Zietz  (Hanalei, HAW) has claimed the 2008 Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge North American Qualifier in firing three-to-four foot surf at Lower Trestles over fellow finalists Jason Harris (Huntington Beach, CA), Travis Beckmann (Vero Beach, FL) and Dusty Payne (Lahaina, HAW). The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Grade-2 Oakley Pro Junior event culminated a week’s worth of competition this afternoon as performance levels went through the roof, with some of the highest scored waves of the event being logged in during the hard-fought final.

 

Zietz, who proved the form surfer of both the Oakley Pro Junior and the ASP WQS 4-Star 6.0 Lowers Pro (only knocked out with a last-minute interference), absolutely dominated the final, seamlessly blending beautiful rail work with explosive fin-free maneuvers to net the highest-scoring heat total of the Oakley Pro Junior, an 18.40 out of a possible 20.

 

“I was surprised when I heard that first score because I didn’t think that it was that good of a wave and then I got that second wave and I finally started to relax a little bit,” Zietz said. “I surfed about 11 heats in this contest, and I’m bummed to lose out in the quarters of the men’s event because of an interference, but it made me want to go out and smash it in this heat that much more.  It’s always a big breakthrough to win an event and take home some money.”

 

As the opening event of the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series (an ASP North America Specialty Series), Zietz’s win also sees the young Hawaiian take the ratings heading into the second stop in September.

 

Harris, who advanced through the field relatively unnoticed, rocketed from third to second in the dying moments with a blistering forehand assault on a roping Lowers righthander.  The score netted in at an 8.27 out of a possible 10 and upped Harris into runner-up position.

 

“I knew it was a battle for second and when that wave came through at the end, I just focused on surfing top-to-bottom and not falling,” Harris said.  “This is the best result of my career and it definitely helps in terms of ratings and qualifying for the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships is definitely a goal this year because it’s my last season as a junior.”

 

In finishing 1st and 2nd respectively, Zietz and Harris have qualified for the Oakley Pro Global Challenge, which will run October 7-17, 2008.

 

“It’s unreal,” Harris said.  “I’ve never been to Bali.  I’ve been to the Mentawais, but never to Bali and I think it’s great that Oakley is putting money into junior surfing.”

 

Beckmann, who was one of the form surfers of the Oakley Pro Junior, looked in solid position throughout the final, but was unable to stave off the onslaught of Harris towards the end.

 

“It’s really tough to have second locked up and then lose it at the end,” Beckmann said.  “3rd is still a pretty good result and it will help my rating this season as I aim to qualify for the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.”

 

Payne, who consistently picked off the highest scores in both the 6.0 Lowers Pro and the Oakley Pro Junior, seemed to run out of energy towards the end of the day, but his impressive performances put the entire globe on notice.

 

“I was just out of rhythm I guess, and I just couldn’t get any good ones out there in the final. I just couldn’t get into a rhythm,” Payne said.

 

All Oakley Pro Junior action is available at www.oakleyprojunior.com

  

RESULTS – Day 5



Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge ASP North America Qualifier – ASP Grade-2 Pro Junior



Final

1 – Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 18.40

2 – Jason Harris (USA) 14.94

3 – Travis Beckmann (USA) 14.17

4 – Dusty Payne (HAW) 13.40

 

Semifinals: 8 surfers remaining (1st and 2nd advance)

SF 1: Dusty Payne (HAW) 15.06, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 11.77, Adam Wickwire (USA) 10.47, Austin Smith-Ford (USA) 10.34

SF 2: Travis Beckmann (USA) 15.16, Jason Harris (USA) 10.93, Blake Jones (USA) 7.84, Nat Young (USA) 6.33

 

Quarterfinals: 16 surfers remaining (1st and 2nd advance)

QF 1: Dusty Payne (HAW) 16.57, Austin Smith-Ford (USA) 12.67, Nick Rupp (USA) 5.20, Andrew Doheny (USA) 8.13

QF 2: Adam Wickwire (USA) 14.17, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 12.96, Bruno Rodrigues (USA) 10.46, Dillon Perillo (USA) 10.36

QF 3: Travis Beckmann (USA) 11.00, Jason Harris (USA) 10.00, Brent Reilly (USA) 10.00, Sean Poynter (USA) 8.20

QF 4: Nat Young (USA) 14.67, Blake Jones (USA) 13.16, Matt Mohagen (USA) 12.60, Cody Thompson (USA) 8.86

 

Remaining Round 2 Heats: 32 surfers remaining (1st and 2nd advance)

Heat 5: Travis Beckmann (USA) 11.17, Matt Mohagen (USA) 8.28, Mike McCabe (USA) 5.76, Rudy Palmboom (USA) 5.33

Heat 6: Brent Reilly (USA) 15.10, Nat Young (USA) 13.50, Fisher Heverly (USA) 9.60, Kyle Ramey (HAW) 8.86

Heat 7:  Blake Jones (USA) 11.42, Sean Poynter (USA) 9.94, Marshall Alberga (USA) 4.20, Philip Goold (USA) 9.93

Heat 8: Cody Thompson (ZAF) 16.17, Jason Harris (USA) 13.10, Daniel Shea (USA) 11.40, Kento Takahashi (JPN) 8.60

Sunshine Coast surfer Julian Wilson(Coolum) broke through for his first win of 2008 at the Brothers Neilsen Pro Junior defeating a class field of 128 of the nation’s best U/20 surfers at Duranbah Beach on the Gold Coast today.



Living up to his reputation as one of the world’s most electrifying performers the 18 year-old was in sizzling form from his opening ride in the small but perfect right-hand waves.



However it was no easy win for Wilson, forced to fight runner-up Jayke Sharp (Coffs Harbour, NSW) all the way in the exciting 30 minute final that was decided in the dying seconds. The pair constantly exchanging the lead throughout as they both shredded and slashed the fast-breaking half to one-metre waves.



With eleven minutes remaining Sharp reclaimed the lead with an 8.50 score leaving Wilson requiring a 7.33 for a win but the ocean failed to co-operate turning flat for ten minutes. With just seconds remaining Wilson locked in an 8 point score to snatch the $5000 winners cheque from Sharp.



“ I’m so happy,” said Wilson. “I’ve had a couple of seconds this year, so it feels really good to get a win,” said Wilson.



“It was crazy out there at the finish. There had been waves all heat and I had 11 minutes to get the score and I thought that was plenty of time. I waited and nothing came until the end when I managed to get that 8 point ride,” added Wilson.



Wilson acknowledged that Sharp was a hard opponent to defeat.



“That was one of the best finals I have had with some-one competitive wise,” said Wilson. “The lead changed about four times, he just kept coming back.”



Sharp posted his best result of the 2008 ASP Australasian Pro Junior Series using his a fast and precise surfing to take home the $2500 runner-up cheque.



“It was my best final ever,” said Sharp.



“Julian was the better surfer so he got the win,” added Sharp.



Wilson finished with a final total of 17.17 that included the heat high wave score of 9.17. Sharp less than a point behind with a heat tally of 16.50 (out of a possible 20).



The opening semi-final saw Sharp eliminate Dean Iezzi (Sunrise Beach, Sunshine Coast) in a one-sided affair. Iezzi opened quickly for an early lead before Sharp slotted in a heat high wave score of 9.13 at the halfway mark to never be headed. Final heat scores Sharp 17.30 to Iezzi total of 12.10 score.



Wilson dominated the second semi leaving Heath Joske (Numbucca Heads, NSW) to play catch-up after he posted a 9.50 on his opening ride. Final scores Wilson 17.27 to Joske’s total tally 13.50.



Highest placed Gold Coast surfer BLAKE AINSWORTH (Coolangatta) finished equal fifth overall after being eliminated from the quarterfinals by Iezzi. Ainsworth looked to have the heat until his opponent snatched victory with a lucky last wave on the siren.



ASP Australasian junior ratings leader STUART KENNEDY (Lennox Head) retained his no.1 ranking despite posting the worst result of his 2008 season. The 18 year-old finished equal 73rd overall.



On Friday surfing sensation SALLY FITZGIBBONS (Gerroa, NSW) turned the tables on archrival LAURA ENEVER (Narrabeen) to claim back-to-back Brother Neilsen Pro Juniors titles at Duranbah Beach today.



Fitzgibbons was the superior surfer and finalised an impressive campaign with a heat total of 14.43 to Enever’s total tally 5.04 in the 30-minute final.