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

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Issued on behalf of:

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

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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, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.