Brothers Neilsen Pro Junior
Presented by Globe

ASP Australasia
Gold Coast, Queensland
23 - 29 January 2006

Top International Competitors Set To Compete At Burleigh

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 23 January, 2006 : - - The worlds best junior surfers will descend onto the Gold Coast this week to compete in the prestigious, 5 Star - $10,000 “Brothers Neilsen Pro Junior” presented by Globe. 

Traditionally kicking off the Queensland junior season. The week long surfing extravaganza is regarded as an event, not to be missed, on the international junior calendar, attracting a huge international and local field of entrants from Australia, Brazil, Hawaii, USA, Japan & Spain.

A draw card for all competitors of course is a chance to surf the world famous peeling point breaks and pristine beaches of the Gold Coast and this year surfers will be given every chance to sample the best waves on offer.

This year’s organizers have introduced a new format, pushing out the traditional 5 days to run the event to 7 days, allowing an unprecedented two extra days to draw on, to give competitors the best conditions to perform in.

Paul Neilsen Founder & Managing Director of Brothers Neilsen says “It’s unlikely to see perfect waves all day, so this extra time allows us to hold off the event for a few hours until the tides and conditions are right or to call off the competition for the day if the wind comes up onshore.” “We don’t want competition coming down to pot luck, this event provides the stepping stones for the future generation of World Championship Tour (WCT) surfers and we want to give them every opportunity possible.”

In Addition, this year’s event will see daily bonus cash prizes up for grabs. Two, $250 cheque’s will be on offer for the best moves judged on the day, pushing competitors to new heights and nudging the standard of junior surfing to new levels. That’s an additional $500 on offer, on each day of competition.

Leading the Australian charge will be Ben Dunn, the 2005 Australasian Junior Champion from Old Bar in NSW. After a brilliant year on the junior circuit last year, he’ll be eager to stamp his authority early on in 2006 with a win at this years “Brothers Neilsen Pro Jnr. Presented by Globe”

Coolangatta’s Nick Vasicek will head up the local defense, fending off an impressive lineup of rising surf stars. Vasicek is currently on a roll, after bagging himself a National Championship Crown at the Australian Masters Titles in Tasmania late last year. Vassa also impressed onlookers in Hawaii this season and is fresh back from the North Shore of Oahu, fighting fit and ready to do battle.

Backing up the local charge will be the youngest member of the Neilsen Clan, Matt Neilsen, who will proudly represent the family name as he humbly accepted the sponsor’s wild card slot. “I’m stoked to get the wild card into the third round, it gives me a chance to get some early seeding points for the year.” “I’m also really looking forward to hitting Burleigh point with only three other guys in the heat, it’s a great wave and I love surfing it on my backhand.”

At only 15 yrs, Matt is already an accomplished competitive surfer with a string of impressive victories to name looking at making a career out of surfing down the line. Matt will be drawing on his Gold Coast up bringing, using his well-honed local knowledge to his advantage.

The internationals will see surfers like, Hideyoshi Tanaka (Japan) Winner of the 2nd World Qualifying Series (WQS) in Japan last year, Tanaka is Japan’s top pro jnr. He is the highest placed Japanese surfer in an Australasian Pro Junior event ever, with a 3rd at the Wollongong Pro-Teen in 2005.

Rated 21st on the Australasian Pro Junior ratings in 2005 and 224 on the WQS ratings in 2005. Tanaka rips, leading a new junior charge, emerging from the shores of Japan.

Also a real threat is Granger Larson (Hawaii). Youngest competitor in the Billabong World Junior Championships over the New Year. At 15 yrs old, Larson is the winner of the Billabong Pro Junior event in Hawaii. Bred in the solid waves of Hawaii’s North Shore, Larson charges and is also not afraid to punt.

A powerful but explosive surfer, tying in traditional stylish surfing with that new age tweak. Larson will be worth watching, especially if Burleigh turns on some size.

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 in a quest to make their mark on the world professional junior surfing scene.

Past winners include TJ Barron, Taj Burrow, Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Andy Irons and Luke Munro.”

Presenting sponsor Globe is obviously wrapped in being involving in such a high profile junior event in Australia, now in their 4th consecutive year as a major supporting sponsor.

Daily Updates of the events location and daily results will be heard on 90.9 Sea- FM.

Previous reports:
# 1 : Coming soon
# 2 : Coming soon
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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For further information please contact:
ASP Australasia
ph: 02 6674 9888

or

Surfing Queensland
ph: 07 5520 1165
email: scott@surfingqueensland.com.au

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