Dion Atkinson : photo Steve Robertson  

Billabong Pro Teen Series                                                                                                        Happy St Patricks Day

ASP Australasian Junior Series
Manu Bay, Raglan, New Zealand       
16 - 19 March 2006                                                                                        

Raglan Cranking For Day Two of Billabong Pro-Teen Series

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 17 March, 2006 : - - In perfect 3-4ft (1-1.5m) waves, well suited to explosive surfing, it was the top seeded international surfers who shone on day two of the Billabong Pro-Teen Series at Manu Bay Raglan, making the most of the best conditions seen on the ASP Australasian Junior Series this year.   

2005 ASP Australasian Junior Champion Ben Dunn went within minutes of becoming a top seed casualty earlier today, put on the ropes to the bitter end by local hopeful Billy Stairmand (Raglan) in his round three clash.  The 20-year-old who this year decided not to compete on the junior circuit in order to pursue the World Qualifying Series (WQS) opted to compete here at Raglan in the hope of scoring waves reminiscent of last years perfection. 

Matched against Stairmand, an inform Mitch Coleborn (Maroochydore) and East Coast Kiwi Dean Ames (Whangamata), Dunn was in trouble for the majority of the 20-minute heat before posting an excellent ride on his last to sneak into second.  Stairmand, who would have been the first local through to the final 24 surfers had to watch from behind as Dunn went to town, easily amassing the 6.00 score required.  Queenslander Coleborn dominated the heat from the outset, holding a 9.00 and a 7.25 as his two best scores. 

“I didn’t get off to a very good start, I had a five and a six and the other guys were getting sevens,” said Dunn.  “I was lucky that it was consistent at the end and I got a couple of the sets.  I was pretty nervous, I knew it was really close and I didn’t know what I needed.  I just tried for the best score I could on that last wave and it was enough, so I’m stoked.” 

“I’m not doing too many juniors this year, but this is one I was definitely going to come over and do, even if it was just to free surf out up the point at indicators,” said Dunn.  “Last year was a little bit bigger but this year has got better shape, and the waves are really good.” 

Dunn’s luck ended however in the following round of 24 where he was convincingly combo’ed by South Coast NSW pair Luke Cheadle (Culburra) and Owen Wright (Culburra). 

It was a disappointing end for Stairmand and fellow Kiwi Ames, who were the first New Zealanders this morning to be eliminated from the event.  Stairmand was a standout in competition yesterday and looked to have Dunn covered. 

“I knew I had Mitch Coleborn and Ben Dunn which are pretty much the top Aussies and they just blow up,” said Stairmand.  “I was hoping there wasn’t going to be another wave and I had to milk my last one but he got it.  It’s much cleaner than yesterday, some great waves out there.  I was really happy to get through my first two heats and go up against the top guys.” 

Sunshine Coast surfer Wade Goodall has progressed through to the final rounds despite being injured while free-surfing yesterday.  Riding the Indicators break, up the point from Manu Bay, Goodall was struck on the hip bone by a stray longboard.   Struggling through his opening heat this morning before fighting back to progress alongside Coleborn to the round of 12 this afternoon, Goodall admits the injury is holding him back.

“It’s really sore,” said Goodall.  “It definitely felt a lot better in my second heat today but it gave me trouble this morning.  I’m hoping it gets better for these last rounds.” 

19-year-old Australian Laurie Towner (Angourie) who made international news last week surfing monster waves at Shipsterns Bluff Tasmania with Andy Irons and Joel Parkinson said it was strange going from a tow board back to his regular equipment in today’s event.  Despite the change, Towner moved through to the latter rounds, winning easily on a combined two wave total of 13.25 over former Australian junior champion Tim Wrench (Ulladulla), Parrish Byrne (Wollongong) and the Gold Coasts Brendan Leckie.   

“It was good fun out there, it’s a bit inconsistent, but there are some good sets and luckily I got them,” said Towner.  “I was fortunate enough to get to go down to Shipsterns with Andy, Parko, Margo and Dylan last week and we got really good waves.  I came over here and the last wave I caught had been on a tow board so it was a bit different.  The waves have been good again this year so I’m getting used to my boards pretty fast.” 

New Zealand’s best junior surfers have not fared as well on the second day of competition.  With five Kiwi’s still in contention at the beginning of today’s junior men’s action, all bar one were eliminated.  It was Gisborne surfer Richard Christie who progressed to the fourth round this morning to be the only Kiwi surfer left in the competitive junior men’s division. 

In a convincing backhand performance, Christie defeated the Australian trio of Ashley King (Ulladulla), Reuben Levitt (Palm Beach) and Drew McPherson (Nords Wharf).  Locking in the heat high score of an 8.25, Christie took the lead mid way through the heat and didn’t relinquish it, boosting his performance with a back up score of a 6.35 to take the win. 

“It’s the best I’ve done all year and it’s good to do it at home where everyone is supporting me,” said Christie.  “All the Kiwi’s are really good surfers, just as good as the other guys but they must not have got the good waves, bad luck to them.  It’s really tough, the junior’s here are best in the world, so all the heats are going to be tough.” 

It proved to be a different story for the New Zealanders in the opening round of the Billabong Pro-Teen Series Girls division today with ASP Australasian Junior Series leader, Gisborne’s Airini Mason emphatically through to the top seeded second round.  The breakthrough surfer of 2006, who relocated to the Gold Coast a year ago but still considers herself a Kiwi, leads the overall series by a whopping 1700 points and was simply unstoppable today, scoring a 9.00 on her way to winning the heat.  She also posted the second highest heat score of the event to date across the girls and boys division.

“I’m pretty happy being here, its sort of my home and I enjoy surfing Raglan left handers, I haven’t been left for a while,” said Mason.  “I’m stoked that I won and I had a good time out there.  I’m happy living in Australia now, it’s my new home, but I think deep down I am still a Kiwi.” 

Other New Zealanders eliminated today in the junior men’s included Nathan Welch (Gisborne) and Rowan Aish (Auckland).  Australians still in contention at time of print include Tom Rudd (Avalon), James Wood (Lennox Head), Blake Wilson (Alexandra Headland), Sam Page (Manly) and Nick Riley (Harbord).  Competition can be finalised tomorrow conditions pending.

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

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.au 
www.billabonggirls.com.au

Previous reports:
# 1 : Billabong Pro Teen Series kicks off at Manu Bay, Raglan 
# 2 : Coming soon
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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Simon Barratt - Billabong
sbarratt@billabong.com.au 

Ben Kennings - Surfing NZ
benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz 

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