Billabong Pro-Teen 2006

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

www.billabong.com.au

Locals Impress Over Class Field

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 10 February, 2006 : - - National U/18’s surfing champion Nick Vasicek headed up an impressive local charge on day four of the Billabong Pro-Teen Series advancing with the days top heat score of 16.27 out of a possible 20. The 17 year-old Palm Beach competitor surfed with confidence despite the marginal wave conditions of Duranbah Beach, easily out-pointing his nearest opponent Sam Page (Manly) by over three points, both surfers through to round four.

An overnight decrease in swell, along with on-shore northerly winds saw organisers relocate from Burleigh Point to the wind affected one-metre waves of Duranbah Beach for day four of competition. Renowned for his backhand-barrel riding on the Gold Coast point-breaks, Vasicek more than proved his versatility in the tricky conditions of D-bah.

Pening quickly with an 8.60 score with a polished backhand performance of deep gouges and big lip hits, the goofy-footer dominated his heat from start to finish with a style reminiscent of 1999 world champion Mark Occhilupo. ”I’ve been surfing out there for the past couple of days, it’s been a bit bigger and more fun though, but I knew where to sit in that heat. The last couple of days paid off, I guess.” said Vasicek.

Hideoshi Tanaka : photo Steve Roberston

“I haven’t been going too well this year just having one good heat, I just haven’t been able to get it together but hopefully his comp I’ll get a good result.” Talented Coolangatta surfer Brent Dorrington was another stand-out, enjoying a return to form to advance convincingly through his opening round three heat.

Renowned for his ‘do or die’ approach to competition, the 18 year-old has been suffering from erratic results on the 2006 ASP Australasian circuit clocking up everything from opening round losses to final appearances. The natural footer was back to his best at his local break progressing in front of Dean Brady of the Sunshine Coast.

“I’m just stoked to get through in those conditions, it’s so bad out there right now,” said Dorrington. “There are so many good surfers in the juniors that it’s tougher than ever. You also have the top internationals coming in as well.”  Brady, the tallest surfers to ever contest the junior circuit at 6’4” and a solid 93 kilos in a sport dominated by short and stocky competitors showed no signs of being disadvantaged.

The always impressive competitor turned on a fluid and powerful performance despite the conditions. “I just try my hardest, I try to get myself on the best waves though it was pretty terrible, no-one really got any good waves but I surf small waves a fair bit, I do know how to surf them, but it is a bit harder,” said Brady.

Ratings leader Laurie Towner (Yamba) was lucky to scrape though in second place behind Gold Coast competitor Brendan Leckie. With 5 minutes remaining the natural footer was struggling in 3rd requiring a solid 7.5 score but Towner rose to the challenge managing the exact score in the dying seconds to advance.

James Wood : photo Steve Robertson

Avalon’s Tom Rudd dominated his heat posting the wave score of the morning with a 9 point wave ride that saw the natural footer do three major forehand snaps off the top. Coffs Harbour’s Jake Sharpe then made use of the lunch time southerly change that offered up higher scoring conditions by posting a near perfect 9.16 to advance behind fellow NSW’s mid coast competitor Heath Joske (Valla) in their round three match-up.

The action in the Billabong Girls Pro-Teen Series will finalise tomorrow (Saturday) morning with organisers confident of a return to the point break waves of Burleigh Heads for day five of competition.

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 : Billabong Pro-Teen / Sth Africans fire up at the Point
# 4 : Matt Wilkinson ejected at Billabong Pro Teen event..

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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