Billabong ASP World Junior Championships

ASP WJC Mens and Womens Event
North Narrabean, Sydney Australia
1 - 8 January 2007

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

FLAT CONDITIONS PREVAIL AT BILLABONG ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 4 January, 2007 : - - North Narrabeen, Australia  - After testing the conditions at North Narrabeen Beach personally first thing this morning, Billabong ASP World Junior Championships Contest Director Luke Egan has decided to call the event off for the day and will make the next call tomorrow morning (Fri Jan 5) at 7.30am.

After waves deteriorated yesterday evening to nothing more than a dribble and appearing pretty much the same today, coming in at under the one metre (three foot) mark, it has been decided that waiting for a swell increase due to arrive by tomorrow is the best option.

When competition resumes expect the sparks to fly, as there are numerous exciting matchups amongst the round three draw. Those to watch include heat eight between Foster’s ASP World Tour number 20 Adriano de Souza from Brazil and the pint sized Tamaroa McComb from Tahiti. In yesterday’s draw the 14-year-old McComb caused a major upset in defeating fourth seed Ola Eleogram (HAW).

The youngster, who forever plays in the warm waters off his tropical island home, found the biggest challenge avoiding the “cold” of Australia’s summer. “I just want to do well here,” said McComb. “But it is cold, which makes it hard.”

Others to watch include the all-Aussie showdown between Julian Wilson and Sam Page in heat 13. Both are potential future world-beaters who, with a full arsenal of new school aerials will be attacking the North Narrabeen lips with plenty of flair. Page, who lives not far from Narrabeen at Manly is confident he do the job but he is hoping that there is an increase in swell so he can show his wares.

“I only live down the road at Manly so I know the place well,” said Page. “In fact Manly is a lot worse that this on most days so I really enjoy surfing out there and hopefully we'll get some bigger waves as the event unfolds. I'm a bit taller than most guys so a bit of size would be good.”

Check out all the Results/Photos/Videos etc

Round Three Heat Draw:
Heat 1: Hank Gaskell (HAW) vs (Rory Beach (ZAF)
Heat 2: Hideyoshi Tanaka (JPN) vs Nobuyuki Osawa (JPN)
Heat 3: Mitch Coleborn (AUS) vs Luke Cheadle (AUS)
Heat 4: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs Angelo Lozano (MEX)
Heat 5: Damien Fahrenfort (ZAF) vs Thiago Camaroa (BRA)
Heat 6: Heitor Pereira (BRA) vs Granger Larson (HAW)
Heat 7: Dusty Payne (HAW) vs Marc Lacomare (FRA)
Heat 8: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs Tamaroa McComb (PYF)
Heat 9: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs Bernardo Martins (BRA)
Heat 10: Jean Sebastien Estienne (FRA) vs Eric Geiselman (USA)
Heat 11: Dion Atkinson (AUS) vs Brandon Jackson (ZAF)
Heat 12: Dylan Graves (PRI) vs Pierre-Valentin Laborde (FRA)
Heat 13: Sam Page (AUS) vs Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 14: Gavin Gillette (HAW) vs Torrey Meister (HAW)
Heat 15: TJ Barron (HAW) vs Wade Goodall (AUS)
Heat 16: Mason Ho (HAW) vs Casey Brown (HAW)

Round Three Women’s Heat Draw:
Heat 1: Nikita Robb (ZAF) vs Alize Arnaud (FRA)
Heat 2: Anali Gomez (PER) vs Nao Omura (JPN)
Heat 3: Arini Mason (NZK) vs Pauline Ado (FRA)
Heat 4: Steph Gilmore (AUS) vs Sayuri Hashimoto (JPN)
Heat 5:Nicola Atherton (AUS) vs Kirstie Jones (AUS)
Heat 6: Marina Werneck (BRA) vs Lee Ann Curren (FRA)
Heat 7: Sage Ericson (USA) vs Coco Ho (HAW)
Heat 8: Erica Hosseini (USA) vs Leila Hurst (HAW)

Brett Bannister contest organisation crew-member : photo Steve Robertson

About the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships
The Billabong ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) World Junior Championship is the most sought after junior surfing accolade on the planet and is recognised globally as the future of surfing.  Seen as a stepping-stone to elite world tour, the event, now in its eighth year was originally held in Hawaii before relocating to Australia.  Finding a home at the historically esteemed North Narrabeen beach in Sydney, it now run’s during the first week of January each year.  

The prestigious event attracts qualifiers from eight world regions including Australasia, North America, South America, Hawaii, Asia, South Africa, Europe and a specially sanctioned ASP International region.  Each of the representatives has won through grueling regional circuits to earn their place among the top 45 junior men and 18 junior women in the world, a feat in itself.  

The $US 62,000 ($AUD 80,000) prize purse qualifies the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships as the richest junior surfing event in the history of surfing.  

The eventual victors will stand alongside the 2006 elite men’s world tour winner Kelly Slater and women’s world champ Layne Beachley at the official ASP ceremony in March 2007, crowned as the worlds only true professional junior surfing champions.  They will also join an esteemed list of former champions including Three Time World Champion Andy Irons (Haw) and Australian super-star Joel Parkinson. 

Complimenting the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships will be Sonic Bloom, a music festival that will feature some of Australia’s top music talent..

Previous reports:
# 1 : Billabong ASP World Junior Champ trials ready to rock
# 2 : Billabong ASP World Junior Championship gearing up
# 3 : Wood claims Von Zipper trials for Billabong ASP Juniors
# 4 : De Souza to lead charge at Billabong ASP World Juniors

# 5 : World Junior Champs called off for Day 1 at Narrabeen
# 6 : Top seeds leading the way at World Jr. Championships
# 7 : Plenty of fantastic action in Billabong ASP WJC Round 2 
# 8 : Coming soon 

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Billabong Australia
Simon Barratt (On-Site)
Mandy McKinnon

ASP - Wayne Dart
ASP - Steve Robertson

Junior Contests - Surfersvillage