Billabong Pro-Teen 2006

ASP Australasia Pro Junior
Burleigh Heads, QLD
7 - 12 February 2006

www.billabong.com.au

Billabong Pro-Teen Series - South African fire up at the Point

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 8 February, 2006 : - - Burleigh Heads, QLD - South Africa’s best junior surfers are leaving their competition for dead at the Billabong Pro-Teen Series at Burleigh Heads after dominating day two of the six day event in ideal conditions. Leading the way for the Saffa’s was 19-year-old Josh Redman (Durban) who has been in Australia since competing at the World Junior Championships in early January.

The solid natural footer who hales from Durban simply overpowered his opponents in today’s surfing, throwing his frame through numerous Burleigh sections to become the fourth South African to win a heat today and progress through to the third round.  Joining him with convincing heat wins today were countrymen David Richards (Cape Town) Josh Schmeltzer (Durban) and Keegan Nel (Port Elizabeth).

“The first round heats are way harder here than any opening round heat back home,” said Redman.  “There is about 11 of us here this year, heaps of grommets as well, it’s because the Australian junior series attracts, Hawaiian guys, American guys, Japanese guys and other internationals who are pretty much the best junior surfers in the world.” 

“The South African guys have been surfing pretty well.  We try to help each other out in heats, there are eight of us staying in a little three bedroom place up at snapper, all squashed in, so we are all pretty close.”

After locking in a mid range 7.00 point ride on his opening wave, Redman lead from the outset and put the result beyond doubt with a strong 8.07 towards the end of the 20 minute stanza.  Progressing alongside Redman was Bobby Frith (Old Bar) with Marc Lacomare (France) and Nathan Welch (New Zealand) eliminated from the event. 

Redman and Frith will meet Tim Wrench (Ulladulla) and Dean Iezzi (Peregian Beach) in tomorrows main seeded third round. “There are some places that are pretty similar here to Durban but it is not often that you get waves like this for a competition, I’m stoked,” said Redman.

Owen Wright : photo Steve Robertson (click image to enlarge)

One junior surfer who doesn’t need a head start but had exactly that today was Culburra’s Owen Wright.  Rated as one of the best grommet surfers in the world, Wright had his round one heat handed to him this morning when two of his fellow opponents failed to show for the encounter, leaving the 16-year old all alone in Perfect 1.5m waves at Burleigh Heads.

Wright didn’t let the opportunity of surfing epic waves at the usually crowded point solo, go to waste, racking up two high scoring rides before his one and only opponent, North Stradbroke Islands Curtis Ewing made it into the line-up in the dying stages of the heat. “I just sat there for a while waiting for a good one, it was unreal,” said Wright.  “The other guy came out toward the end to keep me company so it wasn’t all that lonely.”  

Wright looked completely at ease on the long Burleigh walls despite admitting his experience at the break is limited.  An 8.33 and a 7.17 secured him the second highest heat score of the event to date and set up a round three clash against the Billabong Pro-Teen top seed Matt Wilkinson (Copacabana) which should hit the water tomorrow. 

“The last contest (Brothers Neilson Pro Junior) was the first time I have ever surfed Burleigh so I am still trying to it work out.” Just prior to Wrights devastating heat performance, Noah Lane (Rainbow Beach, QLD) opened his event campaign with a standard setting performance over Blake Ainsworth (Coolangatta), Kaiwi Berry (Hawaii) and Hugo Prasser (Pt Lookout). 

The 16-year-old goofy footer was devastating on his backhand, locking in an 8.00 on his third ride before sealing the win in the last five minutes with a 7.17.  “It’s was really fun out there, I got a couple of really good ones,” said Lane.  “I had one right at the end that was nice, I was just trying to have fun, surf my own heat and not worry too much about what all the other guys were doing.  

David Richards : photo Steve Robertson (click image to enlarge)

This is my first year on the junior series, I’ve done the contests in Victoria and now the Gold Coast ones.  I have to try and focus on school this year and finish year twelve and then I will give the junior series a good crack next year.” Lennox Heads Stephen Walsh set the days highest heat score after getting into the event as an alternative surfer.  Setting up for three long tube rides, the usually seeded surfer posted a 9.33 and a 6.44 to defeat Thomas Stubbs (Buderim), Chris Wilson (Cabarita) and Nick Laidlaw (Avalon). 

Other surfers progressing through today’s heats in fine fashion included Richard Christie (New Zealand), Dale Lovelock (Warana), Marcos Sansegundo (Spain) and Kalen Schloss (Moffat Beach).  

The Billabong Pro-Teen Burleigh Heads is the first of the five event Pro-Teen Series which comprises the ASP Australasian Junior Circuit and offers the series winner a prestigious wildcard slot into the trials of the Billabong Pro World Championship Tour event in Tahiti. (May 4th-16th)  The Pro-Teen series also offers 60,000 dollars in prize money and is effectively the back bone of the Australasian Junior Surfing Circuit. 

The Billabong Pro-Teen Series for 2006 is supported by Panasonic, Vodafone, Coca-Cola, UV Triplegard, Clearasil, Kustom, Von Zipper, Tracks and Palmers Surf.  

Previous reports:
# 1 : Billabong Pro-Teen Gold Coast gears up for Tuesday
# 2 : Billabong Pro-Teen 2006 kicks off at Burleigh Heads
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

Billabong Pro Teen Series Dates and Locations

Feb 7-12                 Billabong Pro-Teen Series Gold Coast
Feb 15-19               Billabong Pro-Teen Series Wollongong
Mar 16-19               Billabong Pro-Teen Series Raglan NZ
Mar 29-Apr 2          Wild Surf Co/Billabong Pro-Teen Series Newcastle
Sep 27-Oct 1          Billabong Pro-teen Bells Beach

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