Billabong Pro-Teen 2006

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

www.billabong.com.au

Airini Mason Wins Her Third ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series Event Out Of Four Starts

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 11 February, 2006 : - - Gold Coast based Kiwi surfer Airini Mason (Bilinga) has emerged as the dominating force on this years ASP Australasian Junior Circuit clinching her third win of the season in today’s Billabong Pro-Teen Series at Duranbah Beach on the Gold Coast.

In the clean one metre plus waves, 16 year-old Mason defeated French prodigy 14 year-old Pauline Ado in Australia’s first-ever all-international junior girls final that showcased the incredible depth of global talent currently in the young female ranks. Final scores were Mason 11.50 to Ado’s 8.27 out of a possible 20.

The fast, stylish and smooth Mason dominated the one-sided final with surf savvy and better wave selection to now hold a near 2000 points ratings lead ahead of her nearest rival Nicola Atherton (Bronte) after just four events.

“This is great. It’s the best I have ever done in surfing competitions. I am really happy” said Mason following the final. “It’s also good to see Pauline come all the way from France and make it to the final. It’s the first time I’ve contested a top junior final that wasn’t against an Aussie girl.”

Arini Mason : photo Steve Robertson

Mason relocated from New Zealand with her family a year ago to further her already promising career and the move has proven to be the right one. “It’s been great,” said Mason. “It’s the best move we have ever made. We were used to moving around before, but this is definitely the best move ever.”

Runner-up Ado, the current junior and open French surfing champion failed to find her earlier event form, struggling with wave selection and a case of nerves in the final. The naturally talented young gun has impressed all throughout her Australian run of events that commenced with the Billabong World Junior Championships in January where she caused the elimination of Mason from the elite event.

“I’m a little bit disappointed, maybe next time” said Ado, who is travelling with an entourage of eight French minders including her coach and manager. “The surfing level is a lot better in Australia.”

Australia’s last two remaining hopes Nicola Atherton (Bronte, NSW) and Jessie Hickson (Boomerang Beach, NSW) were eliminated in the semi-finals. Atherton, bowing out to Mason after a tight tussle and Hickson defeated by Ado, the pair finishing equal third overall from the 40 starters.

Mitch Coleborn : photo Steve Robertson

Defending event champion Mitch Coleborn kept his hopes of claiming back to back titles on the Gold Coast alive advancing through to round five behind fellow Sunshine Coast surfer Dean Brady. The physical giants of the field once again turned on stand-out performances with Coleborn using his trademark vertical backhand attack and Brady his full rail to rail power surfing style to mark themselves as two of the favourites in the class field.

The surfing action in the Billabong Pro-Teen Series junior men’s division will wrap up tomorrow around lunchtime.

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 Billallabong 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..
# 5 : Locals impress at Billabong Pro-Teen on the Goldie

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

www.billabong.com

More Australasian Surfing News available here
Check the latest Australasian Surf Reports and Forecasts
Subscribe to Surfervillage News-Alerts

Billabong News

Junior Contests - Surfersvillage