Indo wildcard Oney advancing at Oakley Juniors

Team Updates

Oney Anwar Defeats Dylan Lightfoot

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 11 October, 2012 : - - On Day 4 of the Oakley ASP World Pro Junior Championships Bali at Keramas Beach in Gianyar today, Indonesia’s Hairil “Oney” Anwar defeated South African Dylan Lightfoot to advance into Round 3, the sole remaining Indonesian wildcard remaining to compete against the world’s best pro junior surfer in this world championship event.

In Heat 11 of the elimination round 2, Anwar jumped into action as soon as the horn blew the start of the 25-minute heat, gaining the lead against Lightfoot, which he never relinquished.  His best two waves got scores of 6.17 and 6.16 for a two wave total of 12.34, which he earned by blasting turns and pulling off air reverses, never letting the pressure off of his opponent.  When time ran out, Lightfoot was still searching for a wave that would get him the 6.27 points he needed, ending with a wave total of 9.17

“I was pretty confident going into this heat, “said Anwar who hails from Lakey Peak in Sumbawa, but is currently living and going to school in Palm Beach on Australia’s Gold Coast.  “All the other Indo boys got knocked out earlier today, so I really felt like I had to do for the boys.  My brother Gazali and friends from Lakey are all here to support me, so ya it feels really good to win this heat.”

When asked about his strategy going into the heat he explained, “I knew I had to find a good wave early, but make sure it was a good wave.  I didn’t want to think about Dylan, just think about me and the wave, so that was my plan.  Just get a good wave and do a couple of airs.”  And his plan for Round 3?  “It’s going to be hard, because everybody is surfing so good, so I’ll have to step up my game for sure.  I have really good boards and so I’ll just go out there and do my best.” Anwar will be facing American Conner Coffin in Heat 12 of Round 3.

Oney’s brother Gazali Hamzah got off to a good start in Heat 2 against number 2 ranked pro junior Jack Freestone, but couldn’t hold off the charging Freestone for long.  Hamzah’s highest wave score was a 7.33 for a nice barrel ride, but then Freestone nailed one of his own for an 8.33, to which he then added 7.17 to seal his victory as Hamzah failed find a good scoring wave to exchange for his 3.33.

Hamzah goes home with a $900 paycheck for his two heats of surfing, and a great experience to remember his last year as a pro junior.  “I’m stoked I got a good barrel in the heat,” he said.  “I just wish I could have gotten another one, like that 8 point barrel of Jack’s.  Maybe I could have won if I’d have got that wave.  But I’m so proud that I got to compete in this event, especially because it my last year as a pro junior, so it’s been like a dream come true to be able to have the chance beat the best pro juniors in the world.”

The first Indonesian wildcard to be eliminated today was in the first heat of the day, which was Nyoman “Blacky” Satria from Bali.  Satria was up against a formidable competitor in the form of Hawaiian Keanu Asing, and though there were some good waves rolling through, Asing found it difficult to put up any high scores in the heat, his best a 6.17. Although Satria put on a good performance his best two waves scored only 4 points and 3.3 points, so he finished with a two wave total score of 7.3 to Asing’s 8.6.

Satria also receives a check for $900 USD for his two heats of surfing, as well as the once-in-a-lifetime experience of surfing in an ASP world championship event in his own backyard.
A call will be made at 5:45am for a possible 6am start to the women’s Final and the Men’s Round 3. The Oakley ASP World Junior Championships Bali will run from October 6 – 17. For LIVE webcast, event videos and more check oakleyprojunior.com

The Oakley ASP World Pro Junior Championships Bali is sponsored by surfermag.com, the Komune Resort and Beach Club Bali, the Pullman Bali Legian Nirwana, New Era, BIMC Hospital, the Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championships, and the Odysseys Surf School with media support by indosurflife.com, Surftime Magazine, and Lines Magazine

www.oakleyprojunior.com

Source: ISC / ASC

Author: Tim Hain

Tags: Gazali Hamzah,  Hairil “Oney” Anwar, Indonesia, Oakley Pro Junior World Champs

Team: Surfersvillage