TJ Barron : photo SurfingAustralia.com

Brothers Neilsen Pro Junior presented by Globe

ASP Australia 5-Star Pro junior
Gold Coast, Queensland
20 - 24 January 2005

Heatdraw/Results

Day 5: Hawaiian TJ Barron snatches victory in the dying seconds.

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 24 January 2005: - - The 10th annual 5 star Brothers Neilsen Pro junior is one of Australia’s most prestigious events on the junior calendar, traditionally kicking off the Queensland junior series. This year boasting an unprecedented field of 196 competitors attracting the best junior surfers from around the World with representation from Brazil, USA, Hawaii, Reunion Islands, England, France, NZ, Japan, South Africa and Spain.

The flavor of the event seemed very much focused on a patriotic battle between countries with Australia fiercely fending off the World to gain a foothold for future supremacy of the waves, Australia taking the fight all the way through to the final.

This was apparent from the start as the ¼ finals hit the water featuring event favorite, International Adriano De Souza up against Australia’s first defender Sam Page where a 7-minute paddle battle ensued as both surfers jostled for position. De Souza at only 17 is rapidly earning a reputation as a master tactician forcing Page onto a junky wave then gaining priority, picking of the bigger set waves.

De Souza feverishly applied his aerial assault on the 1m wedging D-Bah peaks throwing in a series of wild reverse floaters and ally-oops which looked absolutely spectacular but uncharacteristically not completing the critical moves and with no legrope attached found himself swimming for his board on a couple of occasions loosing valuable surfing time.

Page pouncing on the opportunity played a safer approach marrying up a series of solid full rail shredding maneuvers to take out the heat putting a end to De Souza’s high scoring run and surfing on through to the finals.

“He’s the best surfer in the comp. It’s the best result for me, almost better than a win.” An ecstatic page was quoted as saying just after the heat.

TJ Barron surfed a precarious battle in each of his heats making a habit of coming from behind staying true to his earlier comments “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings.”

With that as his catch cry TJ surfed his way to the finals knocking off a steady stream of Australian opponents including Lennox Heads Adam Melling, Gold Coasts aerial wiz kid Dion Ages and Avalon’s Tom Rudd.

The final was a display of spectacular high-speed surfing with the lead changing a number of times in the first 15 minutes. Sam page then stepping it up a notch jagging a set wave and absolutely destroying the face of the wave earning an 8.40 leaving TJ with the task of chasing a 7.93 in the remaining minutes of the final.

With a count down of 25 seconds TJ scored a set wave knowing this was a pivotal moment in his blossoming surfing career. Digging in deep he put everything into the wedging wall putting the crowd to their feet delivering a fatal blow to Sam Page’s dream run.

TJ now adds his name to the honors list beside such surfing icons as Joel Parkinson, Taj Burrows and Mick Fanning.

Previous reports:
# 1 : 200 Juniors hit Gold Coast for Brothers Neilsen Pro Junior
# 2 : Good conditions for Day 1 at Brothers Neilsen Pro Junior
# 3 : Deteriorating conditions upset Brothers Neilsen Pro Junior
# 4 : Young Guns come out firing at Brothers Neilsen Pro Junior 
# 5 : Dunn & De Souza standouts at Brother Neilsen Pro Junior

The “Brothers Neilsen Pro Jnr” is a mobile event. Based at Burleigh but with the option of chasing the best waves on the day giving the amped junior field a chance to unleash their furious, fast paced surfing action on the range of World famous quality beach and point breaks on offer on the Coast. Daily Updates of the events location and daily results will be heard on 90.9 Sea- FM.

More Australasian Surfing News available here
Check the latest Australasian Surf Reports and Forecasts

Dane Jordon
Surfing Queensland

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