NORTH NARRABEEN, New South Wales/Australia (Tuesday, January 12, 2010) – Reigning ASP Africa Pro Junior surfing champion Chad du Toit became the third South African to progress directly to Round 3 of the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships fuelled by Monster Energy in Australia when he won his opening heat earlier today.

Du Toit, 19, from Durban’s Berea, joins compatriots Klee Strachan (Winkelspruit) and Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga) in the last 32 of the event which crowns the world’s best 20 and under surfers annually.

Organisers got Day 2 of the event underway in half metre waves that improved as the tide dropped. Round 2 of the women’s event started proceedings with the two ASP Africa girls, Sarah Baum (Athlone Park) and Bianca Buitendag (George), posting stellar performances to advance to Round 3. Baum, 15, was particularly impressive, posting the highest heat total of the entire event, men or women, of 17.0 out of a possible 20 points.

“I’m pretty stoked to beat Pauline (Ado). I feel bad for her, but I’m stoked for me and hope to continue the form I had in that last heat,” Baum commented modestly after leaving the defending event champion in a combination situation at the end of the heat.

However, both SA girls were eliminated in their next heats, Baum defeated by Malia Manuel (HAW) and Buitendag ousted by Felicity Palmateer (AUS), to finish equal 9th overall.

ASP Africa representatives Casey Grant (Scottburgh) and Kyle Lane (Umhlanga) will be in action in Round 2 of the men’s event when competition resumes. Grant is matched against Luke Davis (USA) while Lane takes on Cory Arrambide (USA).

Owen Wright (AUS) was the standout of the men’s event on Day 2, displaying unparalleled speed and projection on his backhand to post a number of high-scoring rides and advance directly into Round 3 over VZ Trials winner Ryan Callinan (AUS) and progressive phenom Clay Marzo (HAW), 20.

“The conditions are pretty tough out there but I seemed to find a couple of little sections,” Wright said. “I tried to find the ones with walls to them. My first turns were never big, but I was able to open up down the line. Thankfully no one was knocked out in that heat, but I’m glad to get it out of the way and advance straight through to Round 3.”

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7am to assess conditions for a possible 8am start (11pm Tuesday, South African time)

Highlights from today’s Billabong ASP World Junior Championships fuelled by Monster Energy are available via www.billabongpro.com and the action will be webcast LIVE during the event.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

BILLABONG ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS REMAINING ROUND 1 RESULTS (Men):

Heat 9: Owen Wright (AUS) 15.17, Ryan Callinan (AUS) 12.24, Clay Marzo (HAW) 10.93
Heat 10: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 15.23, Made Rhondi (IDN) 12.97, Medi Veminardi (REU) 12.70
Heat 11: Stuart Kennedy (AUS) 14.60, Keanu Asing (HAW) 14.30, Jatyr Berasaluce (ESP) 11.20
Heat 12: Dillon Perillo (USA) 15.93, Franklin Serpa (BRA) 13.57, Charles Martin (GLP) 12.93
Heat 13: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 13.67, Frederico Moraes (PRT) 10.43, Luke Davis (USA) 9.47
Heat 14: Chris Friend (AUS) 14.50, Cory Arrambide (USA) 14.00, Manuel Selman (CHL) 10.87
Heat 15: Chad Du Toit (ZAF) 12.87, Arashi Kato (JPN) 12.14, Cody Thompson (USA) 11.53
Heat 16: Nicolau Von Rupp (DEU) 13.54, Albee Layer (HAW) 13.00, Kaito Ohashi (JPN) 11.30

BILLABONG ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS (Men):

Heat 1: Jadson Andre (BRA) vs. Brent Savage (AUS)
Heat 2: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Ryan Callinan (AUS)
Heat 3: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Made Rhondi (IDN)
Heat 4: Granger Larsen (HAW) vs. Jocelyn Puolou (PYF)
Heat 5: Nat Young (USA) vs. Takumi Nakamura (JPN)
Heat 6: Tonino Benson (HAW) vs. Dean Bowen (AUS)
Heat 7: Kiron Jabour (HAW) vs. Keanu Asing (HAW)
Heat 8: Charles Martin (GLP) vs. Franklin Serpa (BRA)
Heat 9: Manuel Selman (CHL) vs. Federico Morais (PRT)
Heat 10: Clay Marzo (HAW) vs. Cody Thompson (USA)
Heat 11: Medi Veminardi (REU) vs. Kaito Ohashi (JPN)
Heat 12: Brent Reilly (USA) vs. Albee Layer (HAW)
Heat 13: Maxime Huscenot (REY) vs. Arashi Kato (JPN)
Heat 14: Kyle Lane (ZAF) vs. Cory Arrambide (USA)
Heat 15: Casey Grant (ZAF) vs. Luke Davis (USA)
Heat 16: Keito Matsuoka (JPN) vs. Jatyr Berasaluce (ESP)

BILLABONG ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS ROUND 2 RESULTS (Women):

Heat 1: Sarah Baum (ZAF) 17.00, Pauline Ado (FRA) 9.30, Susa Leal (BRA) 6.50
Heat 2: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 11.10, Nao Ohmura (JPN) 9.90, Sayuri Hashimoto (JPN) 8.30

BILLABONG ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS ROUND 3 RESULTS (Women):

Heat 1: Laura Enever (AUS) 13.40 def. Tyler Wright (AUS) 9.56
Heat 2: Felicity Palmateer (AUS) 12.00 def. Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 10.00
Heat 3: Joanne Defay (FRA) 14.50 def. Leila Hurst (HAW) 12.40
Heat 4: Gabriela Leite (BRA) 11.76 def. Sage Erickson (USA) 11.33
Heat 5: Alessa Cuizon (HAW) 14.67 def. Bethany Hamilton (HAW) 11.07
Heat 6: Malia Manuel (HAW) 14.34 def. Sarah Baum (ZAF) 11.34
Heat 7: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 14.00 def. Alizee Arnaud (FRA) 10.77
Heat 8: Pauline Ado (FRA) 13.83 def. Nao Ohmura (JPN) 8.63

BILLABONG ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS (Women):

QF 1: Laura Enever (AUS) vs. Felicity Palmateer (AUS)
QF 2: Joanne Defay (FRA) vs. Gabriela Leite (BRA)
QF 3: Alessa Cuizon (HAW) vs. Malia Manuel (HAW)
QF 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA) vs. Pauline Ado (FRA)

Ends

Please Note: A High resolution version of this image is available rights free for Media outlets

Visit the Press Room on www.aspworldtour.com for news, images, transcribed athlete interviews and more.

Issued on behalf of:

ASP Africa
Contact: Colin Fitch – Operations Manager
Tel: 021 534 5738
Email: colin@aspafrica.com

Compiled & Distributed by:

Life’s a Beach Communications
PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Fax: +27 (0) 86 684 6250
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email: lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

About ASP:
The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

NORTH NARRABEEN, New South Wales/Australia (Monday, January 11, 2010) –
South Africans Klee Strachan and Beyrick de Vries advanced directly to Round 3 of the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships fueled by Monster Energy by winning their opening encounters in the world’s premier event for surfers aged 20 and under.

Competing in small but contestable half metre waves at the iconic North Narrabeen beach in Sydney, Australia, Strachan (Winkelspruit) caused one of the biggest upsets on the opening day by relegating event top seed and last year’s runner-up, Jadson Andre (BRA), and Australian Brent Savage, son of former Durbanite Mike Savage, to the cutthroat Round 2 heats.

De Vries, 16, from Umhlanga, was also on fire, dispatching Brazilian prodigy Gabriel Medina and Takumi Nakamura (JPN) on his way to a berth in the last 32.

The balance of the ASP Africa representatives who competed on Day 1 of the event did not fare as well with Casey Grant (Scottburgh) and Kyle Lane (Umhlanga) both finishing in third place in their respective Round 1 match-ups, as did Sarah Baum (Athlone Park) and Bianca Buitendag (George) in the women’s event.

All four will be in action in their respective Round 2 heats when action resumes.

Reigning ASP Africa Pro Junior Champion Chad du Toit (Berea, Durban), at No. 15 the highest seed from South Africa, is yet to complete his opening clash where he will be up against Arashi Kato (JPN) and Cody Thompson (USA).

Wiggolly Dantas (BRA), 20, was the standout performer on Day 1, dissecting the running Alley right-handers at Narrabeen on his backhand to net several impressive scoring rides en route to acquiring the day’s high heat total of 14.66 out of a possible 20.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7am to assess conditions for a possible 8am start (12 midnight, Monday, South African time)

Highlights from today’s Billabong ASP World Junior Championships fueled by Monster Energy are available via www.billabongpro.com and the action will be webcast LIVE during the event.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

BILLABONG ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS ROUND 1 RESULTS (Women):
Heat 1: Malia Manuel (HAW) 14.83, Tyler Wright (AUS) 10.43, Sayuri Hashimoto (JPN) 5.60
Heat 2: Laura Enever (AUS) 11.84, Leila Hurst (HAW) 9.26, Nao Ohmura (JPN) 7.20
Heat 3: Sage Erickson (USA) 11.67, Alizee Arnaud (FRA) 11.10, Susa Leal (BRA) 5.20
Heat 4: Bethany Hamilton (HAW) 12.60, Gabriela Leite (BRA) 10.83, Sarah Baum (ZAF) 7.53
Heat 5: Joanne Defay (FRA) 12.66, Alessa Cuizon (HAW) 11.20, Pauline Ado (FRA) 8.57
Heat 6: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 13.33, Felicity Palmateer (AUS) 8.03, Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 6.93

BILLABONG ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS ROUND 1 RESULTS (Men):
Heat 1: Hiroto Arai (JPN) 11.00, Keito Matsouka (JPN) 10.20, Kiron Jabour (HAW) 7.81
Heat 2: Marco Fernandez (BRA) 14.54, Tonino Benson (HAW) 12.20, Dean Bowen (AUS) 12.00
Heat 3: Davey Cathels (AUS) 10.83, Nat Young (USA) 9.43, Casey Grant (ZAF) 8.37
Heat 4: Luciani Heremoana (PYF) 10.23, Granger Larsen (HAW) 10.10, Kyle Lane (ZAF) 8.23
Heat 5: Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) 10.54, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 9.76, Takumi Nakamura (JPN) 7.90
Heat 6: Garrett Parkes (AUS) 13.90, Maxime Huscenot (REU) 12.00, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 10.87
Heat 7: Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 14.66, Jocelyn Poulou (PYF) 8.17, Brent Reilly (USA) 6.43
Heat 8: Klee Strachan (ZAF) 9.10, Brent Savage (AUS) 8.83, Jadson Andre (BRA) 8.43

BILLABONG ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS (Women):
Heat 1: Pauline Ado (FRA), Sarah Baum (ZAF), Susa Leal (BRA)
Heat 2: Sayuri Hashimoto (JPN), Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), Nao Ohmura (JPN)

BILLABONG ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS REMAINING ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS (Men):
Heat 9: Owen Wright (AUS), Clay Marzo (HAW), Ryan Callinan (AUS)
Heat 10: Alejo Muniz (BRA), Medi Veminardi (REU), Made Rhondi (IDN)
Heat 11: Stuart Kennedy (AUS), Jatyr Berasaluce (ESP), Keanu Asing (HAW)
Heat 12: Charles Martin (GLP), Dillon Perillo (USA), Franklin Serpa (BRA)
Heat 13: Marc Lacomare (FRA), Luke Davis (USA), Frederico Moraes (PRT)
Heat 14: Manuel Selman (CHL), Cory Arrambide (USA), Chris Friend (AUS)
Heat 15: Chad Du Toit (ZAF), Arashi Kato (JPN), Cody Thompson (USA)
Heat 16: Nicolau Von Rupp (DEU), Albee Layer (HAW), Kaito Ohashi (JPN)

Ends

Please Note: A High resolution version of this image is available rights free for Media outlets

Visit the Press Room on www.aspworldtour.com for news, images, transcribed athlete interviews and more.

Issued on behalf of:

ASP Africa
Contact: Colin Fitch – Operations Manager
Tel: 021 534 5738
Email: aspafrica@mweb.co.za

Compiled & Distributed by:

Life’s a Beach Communications
PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Fax: +27 (0) 86 684 6250
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email: lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

About ASP:
The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

NORTH NARRABEEN, New South Wales/Australia (Saturday, January 9, 2010) – Ryan Callinan (AUS) has claimed the Von Zipper Trials, earning a berth into the prestigious Billabong ASP World Junior Championships fueled by Monster Energy, alongside Brent Savage (AUS) and Cody Thompson (USA).

The Von Zipper Trials whittled the 16-man field down to the final four this morning as the one-to-two foot (0.5 metre) peaks graced North Narrabeen. With time winding down in the hard-fought Final, Callinan netted the heat-winning wave on his last-ride, crowning him the VZ Trials Champ and securing a place in the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.

Callinan will face fellow Australian Owen Wright (AUS) and Clay Marzo (HAW) in Round 1 of the main event.

ASP Africa’s seven representative’s in the event, five men and two women, all face tough draws in their opening heats against the world’s best 20 years and younger competitors. See full draw for Men & Women’s Round 1 below.

The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships 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.

Event organizers will assess conditions tomorrow at 7am for a possible 8am start.

The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships fueled by Monster Energy will be webcast LIVE via www.billabongpro.com

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

Von Zipper Trials Results
FINAL:
1 – Ryan Callinan (AUS) 9.70
2 – Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 9.50
3 – Chris Salisbury (AUS) 9.20
4 – James Woods (AUS) 6.80

Semifinals:
SF 1: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 13.50, James Woods (AUS) 9.70, David Vlug (AUS) 9.40, David Tereva (TAH) 7.10
SF 2: Chris Salisbury (AUS) 13.50, Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 13.50, Sam Wrench (AUS) 12.25, Perth Standlick (AUS) 11.10

Quarterfinals:
Heat 1: James Woods (AUS) 13.75, David Vlug (AUS) 12.45, Cody Thompson (USA) 10.05, Teale Vanner (AUS) 8.75
Heat 2: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 9.45, David Tereva (TAH) 8.25, Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 7.25, Ice Pereira-Ryan (AUS) 4.65
Heat 3: Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 13.00, Chris Salisbury (AUS) 12.30, Noah Lane (AUS) 10.00, Cooper Chapman (AUS) 8.00
Heat 4: Perth Standlick (AUS) 11.50, Sam Wrench (AUS) 11.30, Brent Savage (AUS) 9.25, Brett Burcher (AUS) 5.50

BILLABONG ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS (Men):
Heat 1: Kiron Jabour (HAW), Keito Matsouka (JPN), Hiroto Arai (JPN)
Heat 2: Tonino Benson (HAW), Marco Fernandez (BRA), Dean Bowen (AUS)
Heat 3: Nat Young (USA), Casey Grant (ZAF), Davey Cathels (AUS)
Heat 4: Granger Larsen (HAW), Kyle Lane (ZAF), Luciana Heremoana (PYF)
Heat 5: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Beyrick De Vries (ZAF), Takumi Nakamura (JPN)
Heat 6: Miguel Pupo (BRA), Maxime Huscenot (REU), Garrett Parkes (AUS)
Heat 7: Wiggolly Dantas (BRA), Brent Reilly (USA), Jocelyn Poulou (PYF)
Heat 8: Jadson Andre (BRA), Klee Strachan (ZAF), Brent Savage (AUS)
Heat 9: Owen Wright (AUS), Clay Marzo (HAW), Ryan Callinan (AUS)
Heat 10: Alejo Muniz (BRA), Medi Veminardi (REU), Made Rhondi (IDN)
Heat 11: Stuart Kennedy (AUS), Jatyr Berasaluce (ESP), Keanu Asing (HAW)
Heat 12: Charles Martin (GLP), Dillon Perillo (USA), Franklin Serpa (BRA)
Heat 13: Marc Lacomare (FRA), Luke Davis (USA), Frederico Moraes (PRT)
Heat 14: Manuel Selman (CHL), Cory Arrambide (USA), Chris Friend (AUS)
Heat 15: Chad Du Toit (ZAF), Arashi Kato (JPN), Cody Thompson (USA)
Heat 16: Nicolau Von Rupp (DEU), Albee Layer (HAW), Kaito Ohashi (JPN)

BILLABONG ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS (Women):
Heat 1: Sayuri Hashimoto (JPN), Malia Manuel (HAW), Tyler Wright (AUS)
Heat 2: Laura Enever (AUS), Leila Hurst (HAW), Nao Ohmura (JPN)
Heat 3: Sage Erickson (USA). Alizee Arnaud (FRA), Susa Leal (BRA)
Heat 4: Bethany Hamilton (HAW), Sarah Baum (ZAF), Gabriela Leite (BRA)
Heat 5: Pauline Ado (FRA), Joanne Defay (FRA), Alessa Cuizon (HAW)
Heat 6: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), Courtney Conlogue (USA), Felicity Palmateer (AUS)

Ends

Pictured: Ryan Callinan (AUS), winner of today’s Von Zipper Trials, and qualifier for the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships fueled by Monster Energy.
Credit: © ASP / SCHOLTZ

Visit the Press Room on www.aspworldtour.com for news, images, transcribed athlete interviews and more.

Issued on behalf of:

ASP Africa
Contact: Colin Fitch – Operations Manager
Tel: 021 534 5738
Email: aspafrica@mweb.co.za

Distributed by:

Life’s a Beach Communications
PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Fax: +27 (0) 86 684 6250
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email: lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

About ASP:
The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — (January 8, 2009) — The promise of the El Nino winter appears to have delivered for big wave surfers, as many long-standing records are ready to fall in this year’s Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards presented by Monster Energy. And more than ever before, the Monster Paddle category (just for surfers who catch their waves without any jet ski assistance) has taken center stage as the elite of the sport refocus on this elemental man-against-the-sea tradition. Visual evidence of these landmark performances can be viewed at the event website at www.BillabongXXL.com.

While huge swells have blasted nearly every coastline of the planet in recent months, it has been the Hawaiian Islands which have had the most mind-bending proof of the power of the current El Nino weather phenomenon. December 7-8, 2009 saw one of the biggest swells in modern history batter the northern shores of the entire Hawaiian Chain, followed by another extraordinary day of outer reef waves on Christmas. From these historic moments of oceanic grandeur have come images which show several top big wave surfers paddling into what may well be the biggest waves ever caught by human power in the long history of the sport.

Among these superlative rides is a massive dark wall caught by Shane Dorian and Mark Healey which closed out the legendary Waimea Bay on Oahu on December 7. Also up for consideration is another mammoth peak at Waimea ridden by Chile’s Ramon Navarro which earned the South American hero a perfect score in the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau event on December 8. And more recently, grainy, documentary photos have arrived depicting Garrett McNamara paddling into a distant peak at Outer Log Cabins, a rarely-seen outer reef far off the North Shore shoreline, previously only the domain of tow-in surfers with jet-powered watercraft.

All are likely to figure prominently as finalists for the Monster Paddle Award to be given out at the tenth annual Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards to be held in California in late April. A panel of big wave surfing and photography experts will analyze the available images and by interpreting the known sizes of the surfers and their surfboards, calculate reliable height estimates for the face of each wave. One will emerge as the Monster Paddle winner and will receive $15,000 out of the total event purse of $130,000.

The current world record for a paddle-in wave belongs to Taylor Knox of San Diego, California who rode a wave measured at 52 feet at Todos Santos Island off of Ensenada, Mexico during the last major El Nino episode in 1998. Many experts are expecting an update to the Guinness Book of World Records once this winter’s measurements are complete.

Dorian and Healey are veterans of decades of big wave hunting and both concur that their shared ride at Waimea was easily the biggest either had ever caught. “I’d been waiting 15 years for that wave,” said Dorian, of Kona, on the Big Island. “That wave, we could see it from when it was like two or three minutes away from breaking, we could see the wave coming in, everybody’s screaming on the beach and yelling and stuff… When the wave finally came in, it was SO big. The thing was a MONSTER. We both put our heads down and started paddling and somehow we both caught it.

“I was going no matter what,” Dorian added. “And I know Mark felt the same way. It was just fun. A party wave — a wave of that size, and it was for sure the biggest wave I’ve ever paddled into, and to do it with my real good friend, it was very….memorable.”

Mark Healey has lived down the road from Waimea all his life and has been one of its most dedicated practitioners. But he’d never seen waves like this.

“That was the biggest day I’ve ever had at Waimea,” said Healey. “And that wave in particular was definitely by far bigger than anything I’ve ever caught out there, for sure.”

The wave was so large it closed out all the way across the Bay, not allowing the surfers the opportunity to kick out over the top of the wave as usual, and forcing them to straighten out and take the endless tons of whitewater on their heads. But for Healey, a renowned freediver with the ability to hold his breath for over five minutes, it was a fun experience. The longtime friends surfaced unharmed right next to each other, hooting with excitement.

“We were pretty stoked,” said Healey. “Big waves are different, there’s a lot of brotherhood involved, stuff like that. I’d rather have had Shane catch that wave than ride it alone. It was cool to share a wave like that with a friend, and someone I look up to.”

McNamara, another North Shore stalwart, likes his own chances in the Monster Paddle derby. A past winner of the XXL Paddle crown in 2007 for a huge wave at Northern California’s Maverick’s, “GMac” reckons his Outer Logs Christmas present was several notches larger. “I don’t know how big it was,” McNamara said. “But I do know it felt at least ten feet bigger than anything I’ve ever paddled into. The Mavs wave a few years back was small compared to it….”

Remarkably, there may be much, much more to come. This week the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center issued an alert confirming that the current El Nino episode had intensified in the last 30 days from “moderate” to “strong,” adding that the condition would exert a “significant influence on the global weather and climate in the coming months.” And for surfers in the North Pacific basin, that means more enormous waves. According to Surfline.com, major new swell events are lining up in the coming days, impacting the Hawaiian Islands around Monday and the West Coast around Wednesday of next week.

Categories in this year’s event include the Billabong XXL Ride of the Year, XXL Biggest Wave, Monster Paddle, Monster Tube, Surfline Best Performance, Billabong Girls Best Performance and the crowd-pleasing Verizon Wireless Wipeout of the Year. In addition to all the latest entries in each category, full event details including formats, rules and archives of past XXL years can be seen at the event website at www.BillabongXXL.com.

The Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards are presented by Monster Energy. Surfline is the official surf forecast, Verizon Wireless is the official communications provider and Honda Aquatrax the official watercraft. The event is sponsored by Surfing Magazine and Air Tahiti Nui airlines.

***************************

To view a clip of the Shane Dorian/Mark Healey Waimea Monster or to obtain embed codes to
place it on your website, click on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1QMjn8Wu_E

Media Contact

Bill Sharp SurfNewsEd@aol.com 949-548-6740

High resolution still photos, broadcast video in HD and SD and web clips are available for download.

COOLANGATTA, Queensland/Australia (Tuesday, January 5, 2010) – The world’s best junior surfers are descending upon the Sydney suburb of North Narrabeen to hunt down the most prestigious crown in junior surfing, the ASP World Junior Title, as the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships prepare to run at the famed beachbreak from January 9 – 17, 2010. 

Contesting in their respective regional ASP Pro Junior Series throughout the 2009 season, qualifiers for the prestigious Billabong ASP World Junior Championships include 48 men and 18 women from the seven ASP regions: Africa, Australasia, Europe, Japan, North America and South America. 

While the event has been held at North Narrabeen’s famed peaks for over a decade now, the ASP Australasia region hasn’t produced a men’s champion since Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, in 2001. In fact, despite having arguably the most competitive Pro Junior Series in the world and supplying the bulk of the surfers on the ASP World Tour, in the intervening six editions (the event was not run in 2002) ASP Australasia has only provided one finalist (Shaun Cansdell who lost to Adriano de Souza in 2003), one semi-finalist (Matt Wilkinson in 2006, the year South African Jordy Smith won) and a total of seven out of a possible 40 quarterfinalists!

All eyes will therefore be on Owen Wright (Lennox Head, NSW), 19, ASP Australasia’s No. 1 seed and qualifier onto the 2010 ASP Dream Tour, who will look to cap off an incredible junior career with a big result at North Narrabeen. 

“Last year (in the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships), a lot of things went the wrong way for me,” Wright said of an event in which he finished equal 17th. “It will be tough since the field has a lot of the same faces from last year, but I’m looking forward to it. Narrabeen is an awesome location; the Alley rights are so puntable and the lefts are long and sometimes barreling so I hope we get it pumping this year!” 

ASP South America has been dominant at the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships, with Brazilians taking our four of the 10 men’s titles in the event’s history. Jadson Andre (Natal City, BRA), 19, 2010 ASP Dream Tour rookie and last year’s ASP World Junior Runner-Up, will lead the latest ASP South America squad into this season’s event. 

“I think I put in a good performance last year, but during the final I didn’t catch the best waves, Kai (Barger) was surfing very well during the event and deserved the victory,” Andre said. “This year, I know and believe all the guys competing at Narrabeen are strong and have a chance to win. All the heats are like a final, so because of this I will give 100% attention in all the heats. I have been working on my psychological, physical aspect and my surfboards. I’m going to surf well and find the best results.” 

ASP Africa will be represented by ASP Africa Pro Junior champion Chad Du Toit (Durban), Casey Grant (Scottburgh), Klee Strachan (Winkelspruit) and Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga) along with Kyle Lane (Queensborough) who was the highest WQS rated Pro Junior not to finish in the top four on the local ratings.

“It’s an awesome event and all the surfers in the contest surf really well,” Strachan said. “I’ve had three years to see how the standard is. All the other SA guys can perform at world class standard on their day and every surfer who has done well at Narrabeen has made their name from it and gone on to bigger things.”

ASP North America has not fared well in Narrabeen. Despite producing formidable teams, the North Americans have yet to claim an ASP World Junior Title – a fact that Nat Young (Santa Cruz, CA), 18, hopes to rectify in his second appearance at the prestigious event. 

“The standard of competition in this contest is crazy, every first round heat could be a Final in a normal junior contest,” Young said. “Personally, I would definitely like to do better this year. Last year was my first year in the contest and I made a couple heats so I was stoked, but this contest is so important to all the juniors because it is the biggest junior contest of the year. I think the other US guys are all great surfers and they have all had contests this year where they have shown that they are worthy of being in the World Juniors. I think this year could be a good year for the U.S.” 

Kai Barger (HAW), 20, reigning ASP World Junior Champion, has graduated beyond the ASP Pro Junior Series, but remains enthusiastic about his fellow Hawaiians in Narrabeen. 

“Looking at the Hawaii team, I think it would be sick to see Clay Marzo win, Barger said. “If he surfs anything like he has been surfing at home then he’s easily capable.” 

Barger more than understands the importance of the event, and the effect a victory there can have on someone’s career. 

“If there’s one contest to do well in, then trust me this is the one to win,” Barger said. “This contest changed my life and sometimes I still can’t believe I won there. There were a lot of nuts guys last year the surfing standard was so high. It seemed like everybody was pulling out their best.” 

The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships 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. 

The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships will be webcast LIVE via www.billabongpro.com 

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com 

PAST ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONS:

2008: Kai Barger (HAW), Pauline Ado (FRA)
2007: Pablo Paulino (BRA), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
2006: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Nicola Atherton (AUS)
2005: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
2004: Pablo Paulino (BRA)
2003: Adriano de Souza (BRA)
2002: N/A
2001: Joel Parkinson (AUS)
2000: Pedro Henrique (BRA)
1999: Joel Parkinson (AUS)
1998: Andy Irons (HAW) 

Visit the Press Room on www.aspworldtour.com for news, images, transcribed athlete interviews and more. 

Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Media
Dave Prodan
email: dave@aspworldtour.com
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Event Media
Johnathan “JJ” Jenkins
email: jj@primemedia.com.au
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Digital Photographs:

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________________________________________

About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

The 2010 South African Junior Team is all set for the 2010 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships which get under way at Piha Beach in Auckland, New Zealand on January 21.

The preparation of the team and the costs involved in sending them to compete in this premier International Surfing Association tournament have been made possible by a grant of R300,000 from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF).

Quiksilver South Africa, Skullcandy and Power Balance added their support to the team which represents the cream of South African Under 18 surfing.

The 2010 Team were awarded their colours at the end of November on completion of their final camp and at the ceremony Durban surfer Beyrick de Vries was named Captain. Bianca Buitendag of George was appointed Vice Captain.

Joining de Vries in the Under 18 Boy’s group is 2009 World Junior Championships bronze medal winner David Brand , fellow Kommetjie surfer and 2009 Quiksilver King of the Groms champion Mikey February and Dane Staples of Cape St Francis.

Buitendag’s teammates in the Under 18 Girl’s group are Sarah Baum of Durban, Tanika Hoffman of Kommetjie and new cap, Heidi Palmboom of the Bluff in Durban.

Steven Sawyer and Dylan Lightfoot of Jeffreys Bay, Jarred Veldhuis of Kommetjie and Diran Zakarian of Melkbosstrand make up the Under 16 Boys group. All four are new caps.

Head Coach Graham Hynes, who at 80 years of age is one of the coaching legends in South African and World surfing, will be assisted by Deputy Coach Etienne Venter and Assistant Coach Josh Salie. The Team Manager is Surfing South Africa Deputy President, Pax Nydoo.

As a final preparation for the 8th ISA World Junior Championships, the SA Team will compete in the annual Lotto SANZ Challenge against their traditional opponents and World Championship hosts New Zealand on January 19.

The Lotto SANZ Challenge uses the ISA Aloha Cup format and was held for the first time in Durban in 2003. Since then the SANZ Challenge has taken place before the official start of every World Junior Championship.

At stake is pride and a unique hand crafted trophy made from semi precious New Zealand stone and South African yellow wood. South Africa are the current holders of the trophy having beaten New Zealand in Ecuador last year.

South Africa will also be represented at the tournament by Cyril Nel of East London, who is one of three senior Technical Officials appointed by the International Surfing Association. Somerset West based Emma Bone has been included on the international judging panel which is made up of technical officials from 14 countries.

The 2010 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Championships will get under way on January 20 with the Parade of Nations and Sands of the World Ceremony. During this traditional parade a representative from each nation will deposit sand from their country’s beaches into a specially constructed box.

This Sands of the World ceremony symbolises the gathering of all the “tribes” which make up the surfing world. South Africa will deposit sand from beaches in the Western and Eastern Cape and KZN.

Surfing South Africa is the organisation recognised by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, (SASCOC) Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) and the International Surfing Association (ISA) as the governing body for the sport in South Africa.

The International Surfing Association is recognised by the International Olympic Committee and is the governing body for World Surfing. Fernando Aguerre (Argentina) is the President, Alan Atkins (Australia), Robin de Kock (South Africa), Mike Gerard (USA) and Kieran Sieralta (Peru) are the four Vice Presidents.

Live webcasting of the Parade, Sands of the World Ceremony and the surfing at each of the two podiums will be available from January 20 on www.isasurf.org and Surfing South Africa will post a daily Press Release and photos focusing on the progress of the South Africans on www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za

Ends

2010 SA JUNIOR SURFING TEAM

BACK ROW : left to right : DIRAN ZAKARIAN, BEYRICK DE VRIES, BIANCA BUITENDAG, DAVID BRAND, DANE STAPLES, MIKEY FEBRUARY

MIDDLE ROW : left to right : STEVEN SAWYER, DYLAN LIGHTFOOT, HEDI PALMBOOM, TANIKA HOFFMAN, JARRED VELDHUIS, SARAH BAUM

FRONT ROW : left to right : JOSH SALIE, ETIENNE VENTER, GRAHAM HYNES, PAX NYDOO

Compiled by:

Robin de Kock
General Manager
Surfing South Africa
for information on the 2010 SA Junior Surfing Team contact : 0824541149
surfingsouthafrica@gmail.com
www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za

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