Mr Price Pro

ASP Pro Junior Mens Event
ASP Pro Junior Womens Event
North Beach, Durban
30 June- 1 July 2006

Scores/Results/Photos/Video etc

Aussies Dominate day one of  Mr Price Pro Junior

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 30 June, 2006 : - - Former ISA World Junior Champion Matt Wilkinson (Australia) sent warning signals to the South African contingent competing in the Mr Price Pro Junior event at Durban’s North Beach on Friday that he will be the man to beat at this event.  

Opening up with an excellent 9.0 out of a possible 10 points for his first wave, in both heat one and heat two, the young Australian blew performance levels right out of the water. With A-grade wave selection and calculated maneuvers, Wilkinson defeated South Africa’s up-and-coming junior surf star Damien Fahrenfort (Durban) in their round two match-up. 

In an exhilarating wave for wave exchange, the two lanky WQS campaigners carved buckets of spray from the reeling one-meter walls, Fahrenfort chasing hard to match Wilkinson’s 9 and 8.50 out of a possible ten point scores. 

“It was really good out there, the wave just runs all the way across,  it’s like Snapper (Rocks) or something”, said Wilkinson comparing North Beach to one of the best right hand points breaks in the world. “I’m good friends with Damien and we were talking each other up before the heat but I got that first nine and left him playing catch-up.”

Fahrenfort, who finished runner-up in 2005, was not fazed by Wilkinson’s early victory and is looking forward to a rematch in the final. “Matt and I have been hanging out together for years, he finds the best waves and never falls. We always joke with him about that. He’ll be a strong contender for the finals but hopefully I’ll beat him when it counts,” said Fahrenfort who advanced into the quarterfinals behind Wilkinson. 

Brent Powers, the only other Australian in the event, showed impressive solidarity with his fellow countryman, posting the second highest wave score of the day an excellent 8.00 out of ten to defeat Josh Salie (CT) and Bo Khuzwayo (Umhlanga). Powers and Salie advancing into the next round. 

Fresh off seven consecutive pro junior victories on the ASP Africa Pro Surf Tour (PST), South Africa’s most promising junior Jordy Smith (Umbilo) took his time finding his feet at North Beach, before posting a decisive victory over Durbanites Wesley O’Driscol and Blake Freguard.  

Other surfers to advance to the quarterfinals were Durban surfers Beyrick De Vries (Umhlanga), Dane Monks (Durban), Klee Strachan (Warner Beach), Shawn Dennis (Durban North), Chris Leppan (Umhlanga), Wesley O’ Driscol (Durban), Kyle Lane (Durban), Mark Shepperson (Durban), Chad Schwab (Bluff), David van Zyl and Cape Town surfer Josh Salie.  

The Mr Price Pro Junior event for junior men and women holds a total of R25 000 in prize-money across both divisions and is one of the most prestigious pro junior events on the ASP Africa Pro Junior Surf Tour. The event ends on Saturday 1 July with the semi- finals which will determined four men and women who will compete in the finals a week later as a precursor to the men’s and women’s finals on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 July.

All the action will be broadcast via the live webcast on www.mrpricepro.com. 

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

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Clynt Lund
clund@mrpricegroup.com

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