Pablo Paulino : photo Robertson/ASP Covered Images

Billabong ASP World Junior Champs

2007 ASP World Junior Championships

PABLO PAULINO IS THE 2007 ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPION!    > Francaise ci-dessous

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 6 January, 2008 : - - Sydney Australia – It’s been three years since Pablo Paulino (BRA) has called himself World Junior Champion but at Sydney’s North Narrabeen beach today, the 20-year-old surfer made sure he could again shoulder the honour, winning the 2007 edition of the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.

Earning his spot into the main event as an ASP International wildcard, the 2004 ASP World Junior Champion blasted through the last of four rounds of competition, to defeat fellow ASP International Wildcard Hawaii’s Tonino Benson; with a 15.00 total heat score (out of a possible 20.00) to Benson’s 9.93.

“It’s a dream come true to win at Narrabeen again,” Paulino said equalling World No. 4 Joel Parkinson’s two ASP World Junior Title record. “It was my dream to win it twice and this year was my last shot. I am so happy.” A standout from start to finish, Paulino revealed all the fire and flair of a Brazilian sportsman, putting on show-stopping performances right from the very first round.

“The new school style of surfing is where I feel most comfortable,” Paulino explained. “I was doing aerial manoeuvres early in the event but I started to feel the pressure in the Final. I knew I would need the scores against Tonino, so I focussed on power carves instead and it was enough to see me through.”

Paulino’s achievement not only earned him US$6500 but also a top seed placement into every ASP World Qualifying Series event in 2008, where he hopes to qualify for the elite ASP Men’s World Tour. Runner-up Tonino Benson earned US$3400 and will join Paulino in the Round of 96 on the WQS this year.

Arguably the day’s top performer, Benson posted the only perfect 10.00 point ride of the event, tucking into a deep barrel against Australian wildcard Owen Wright in the Quarterfinals. Unfortunately, the young Hawaii could not repeat this performance in the Final.

“I’m happy for Pablo, he’s my friend and he deserved the win,” Benson said. “I got out of rhythm in the Final and everything seemed to be going his way. I am happy to reach the Finals and just grateful to compete in these amazing waves.” The ocean certainly delivered for the final day of the Boys competition, serving up flawless 1.5- 2-meter waves at North Narrabeen beach today.

Finishing equal third and earning US$ 2,850 were Tanner Gudauskas (USA) and Chris Martin (GLP), both surfers unanimous standouts throughout the event but unlucky not to put it together in the Semifinals. Semifinal Heat 1 saw a ‘see-saw’ battle between Benson and 19-year-old Gudauskas (USA), the two surfers raising the stakes on each exchanging ride. Benson ultimately earning him golden ticket into the Final.

Tanner Gudauskas : photo Robertson/ASP Covered Images

“It’s a bittersweet feeling,” Gudauskas lamented. “You’re super bummed that you lost on the one hand and on the other, you’re stoked to make the Semi’s. It’s a good result for me, I learnt so much in every heat and I’ll be back for a spot in the Final next year, for sure.”

Semifinal Heat 2 just didn’t go Chris Martins way. While Paulino pounced on each wave like a brazen predator would its prey, the Caribbean surfer couldn’t seem to keep his feet on his board. “It was a hard heat, I didn’t choose the good ones, I lost my priority on bad waves and I kept falling,’ Martin said, "but I’m pretty proud to represent my country and place high in this contest.”

The Australian surfers suffered a disappointing finish, toppling at the hands of their international rivals with five equal fifth place finishes. Their consistency was however rewarded, the team emerging as the overall ratings leaders, ahead of Europe who finished in second and South America who took third on the point standings.

South African surfer Klee Strachan won the Panasonic Expression Session.  Round two of the Girls division was completed in the late afternoon, Leila Hurst (HAW), Nao Omura (JPN), Coco Ho (HAW) and Alessa Cuizon (HAW) advancing into Round 3. The Girls division will be completed tomorrow.

Owen Wright : photo Luke Southern

A total field of 48 junior men, 18 junior women plus four wildcards from eight surfing regions feature in this year’s Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.

The event will be broadcast live via the internet on billabongpro.com. For more information log-on to aspworldtour.com. The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships are supported by Panasonic, The Association of Surfing Professionals, Von Zipper, The Warringah Shire Council and Surfing NSW.

Boys Final Results:
Pablo Paulino (BRA) 15.00 def Tonino Benson (HAW) 9.93

Boys Semifinal Results
Heat 1: Tonino Benson (HAW) 14.50 def Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 13.66
Heat 2: Pablo Paulino (BRA) 16.67 def Charles Martin (GLP) 8.67

Boys Quarterfinal Results:
Heat 1:Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 14.44 def Nicolau Van Rupp (DEU) 8.17
Heat 2: Tonino Benson (HAW) 14.17 def Owen Wright (AUS) 13.06
Heat 3: Pablo Paulino (BRA) 13.17 def Mitchell Coleborn (AUS) 13.00
Heat 4: Charles Martin (GLP) 15.83 def Beau Atchison (AUS) 6.54

Mitch Coleborn : photo Robertson/ASP Covered Images

Boys Round 4 Match-ups:
Heat 1: Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 12.50 def Rudy Palmboom (ZAF) 8.00
Heat 2: Nicolau Von Rupp (DEU) 15.17 def Tatsuya Fukagawa (JPN) 5.00
Heat 3: Tonino Benson (HAW) 17.67 def Romain Cloitre (FRA) 7.37
Heat 4: Owen Wright (AUS) 12.57 def Brandon Jackson (ZAF) 9.00
Heat 5: Pablo Paulino (BRA) 12.24 def Julian Wilson (AUS) 11.67
Heat 6: Mitchel Coleborn (AUS) 11.60 def Jayke Sharpe (AUS) 11.16
Heat 7: Beau Atchison (AUS) 8.66 def Josh Redman (ZAF) 6.90
Heat 8: Charles Martin (GLP) 15.77 def Chris Waring (USA) 9.17

Girls Round 2 Results:
Heat 1: Leila Hurst (HAW) 10.33; Nao Omura (JPN) 9.07; Asako Mizuno (JPN) 3.50
Heat 2: Coco Ho (HAW) 16.50; Alessa Cuizon (HAW) 11.80; Tarryn Chudleigh (ZAF) 11.56

www.billabong.com.au
www.aspworldtour.com

Francaise

Pablo Paulino décroche sa deuxième victoire du BWJC!

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 10 January, 2008 : - - Le  surfeur  brésilien  PABLO  PAULINO,  surfeur  du Team Junior Billabong, décroche  sa deuxième  victoire  aux  Championnats  du Monde Billabong ASP Junior.

«  C’était mon rêve de gagner une deuxième fois à Narrabeen, et cette année était ma dernière chance. Je suis très heureux ! » dit PABLO. Il  rejoint JOEL PARKINSON, Numéro 4 mondial et surfeur du Team Billabong, jusqu’ici seul détenteur du double titre.

PABLO  a  dominé la finale dans des vagues tubulaires parfaites de 2 mètres sur  la  plage de North Narrabeen à Sydney, sans laisser une seule chance à ses  adversaires.  A  20  ans,  il  remporte  l’événement  dans  les  mêmes conditions  exceptionnelles  qu’il  y  a  trois ans et c’est dans une forme explosive qu’il élimine l’hawaiien TONINO BENSON.

Le  Sud Américain hyper rapide prend l’avantage dans sa première série avec un  8.50  et  enchaîne  avec  un 6.50 qui oblige TONINO BENSON à marquer un score  parfait  de  10 s’il veut remporter la victoire. L’hawaiien est plus que  capable  de marquer un tel score, mais il n’y parvient pas à ce moment crucial  de  la  finale.  Avec  une série à 15.00 points, PABLO PAULINO bat aisément TONINO BENSON qui termine avec 9.93 points.

Les  Championnats du Monde Billabong ASP Junior réussissent plutôt bien aux surfeurs  brésiliens  puisqu’ils  ont déjà remporté quatre fois le titre en huit ans, depuis la création de l’évènement. PAULINO  et  BENSON vont bénéficier de pré sélections pour tous  les WQS de la saison 2008. PAULINO repart avec 6.500 $US pour sa victoire et BENSON se console avec 3.400 $US.

TANNER  GUDAUSKAS  était  l’américain  le mieux placé de la compétition, sa forme  impressionnante lui a valu sa place jusqu’en demi-finale où il a été
battu de peu par BENSON avec 14.40 points contre 13.66.

L’allemand  NICOLAUS VON RUPP est la grande surprise de ces championnats du monde  Junior  2007, il a su tenir tête à des adversaires expérimentés pour atteindre  les  quarts  de  finale où il laisse la victoire à GUDAUSKAS. Né bien  loin  des  vagues,  VON  RUPP (17 ans ) vit maintenant au Portugal et s’avère être un surfeur très prometteur.

Des invités de marque ont fait leur apparition sur la plage de Narrabeen : Joel  Parkinson  et  Mark  Occhiluppo,  parrains de la compétition, étaient présents  pour  encourager  la  relève.  Ils  ont  même pris du service aux caisses  du  shop Billabong de Manly, pour le plus grand bonheur des jeunes surfeurs ; Un moment fort, à l’heure où Occy vient de raccrocher son lycra. Un    site   en   son   hommage   lui   est   dédié   à   cette   occasion:
http://eu.billabong.com/occy

Au total, 48 surfeurs juniors masculins, 18 juniors féminins et 4 wildcards représentaient  huit  régions  de  surf dans ces Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.  Des  conditions  magnifiques  ont  permis  aux participants d’exprimer pleinement leurs talents durant ces six jours de compétitions.

ASP REGIONAL POINTS STANDINGS  
Based on Best 4 results from surfers from each region.  
Top 4 teams are given 6 invites into the 2008 WJC while bottom three teams get 5 invites.  

1 Australia 2796
2 Europe 2618
3 South America 2430
4 North America 2296
5 Hawaii 2262
6 South Africa 2025
7 Japan 1645

Previous reports:
# 1 : Von Zipper Trials will award WJC wildcards at Narrabeen
# 2 : Lineup for ASP World Junior Championships announced
# 3 : Billabong ASP World Jnr Champs sights on January '08

# 4 : Billabong ASP World Jr Champs bringing best to Sydney
# 5 : Owen Wright wins Von Zipper trials at North Narabeen..
# 6 : Great surf on tap for 2007 ASP Billabong World Juniors

# 7 : Wright & Wilson stars of R1 Billabong World Jr Champs
# 8 : Billabong ASP World Jnr Champs nailed with solid surf
# 9 : Wright upsets De Souza at Billabong ASP World Juniors

www.billabong.com.au
www.aspworldtour.com

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Billabong Media
Simon Barratt
sbarratt@billabong.com.au

Kirstin Scholtz
ASP Media Manager
Kirstin@coveredimages.com

Photography
Steve Robertson
stever@surfingaustralia.com.au

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