Lincoln Taylor : photo Robertson/ASP Australasia

Oakley Pro Junior

ASP Australasia Grade 4 Men's Event
North Stradbroke Island Queensland
5 - 10 February 2008

Mother Nature Whips Up Huge Waves For Oakley Pro Junior

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 7 February, 2008 : - - Mother Nature continued to unleash its awesome power on South East Queensland today, serving up huge waves for day three of the all-new Oakley Pro Junior at North Stradbroke Island. A large easterly swell that remained constant throughout Tuesday and Wednesday increased considerably today, whipping up a stronger pulse peaking in the six to eight foot range.

Australia and the world’s hottest junior surf stars (20-years and under) relished the solid conditions, setting free their exciting competition repertoires in massive beach break peaks at Main Beach, Point Lookout. Leading the charge towards the business end of competition was local star Lincoln Taylor, who defied enormous power-packed waves to qualify for the next round of the inaugural  $30,000 event.

The 19-year-old Straddie ace ran riot in his 30-minute round four heat, jagging a set wave before letting loose a series of committed, yet powerful maneouvers to net a heat high 8.83 out of a possible 10 on his opening ride.

Taylor extended his lead, nabbing a 7.33 on his second scoring ride to surf away with an impressive victory at his home break. Taylor finishing with the morning’s top heat score, a two-wave combined total of a 16.16 to convincingly defeat Jasper Endersby (Peregian Beach – 10.60) and Eli Jacobs (Bilinga – 6.54).

“ I definitely feel like I had an advantage out there today,” said Taylor. “I surf out here everyday and know the wave better than anyone. But in saying that, there is a little added pressure to do well on home turf....I really want to take out the event in front of my friends and family,” added Taylor. Taylor, 19, will be tough to beat heading into the final rounds with local knowledge on his side.

Coolum surfing sensation Julian Wilson also stamped his mark on the 9-star rated ASP Australasian junior tournament, spawning a dominating performance in the final heat of round three. Wilson, 18, defied tide-affected conditions to bag the morning’s highest individual wave score, a near perfect 9.83.

The explosive natural foot backed it up with a 5.33 to storm through to round four of competition with a 15.16 combination. “Conditions changed just before the start of my heat,” said Wilson. “I was throwing up whether to surf the outside bank or on the inside, but by heat’s start I stayed in close. I knew the best chance of getting through the heat was by sticking on the inside reforming peaks.”

Wilson, who has been touted as a future world champion, entered the event as fourth seed and is searching for a big result after a slow start to this year’s circuit. “I haven’t really been in the swing of things,” added Wilson “I’ve been feeling good, but haven’t had the consistency I’ve wanted. My confidence is there and hopefully I can turn things around in this event.”

Stuart Kennedy : photo Robertson/ASP Australasia

It has been a whirlwind 12 months for the Coolum teenager which has seen him defeat eight-time world champion Kelly Slater (USA), bag a string of wins on the Australasian Pro Junior circuit and become the youngest-ever recipient of the industry’s coveted Breakthrough Performer of the Year award.

Top seed Stuart Kennedy (Lennox Heads) maintained his junior series ratings lead today after advancing behind Tahitian giant killer Tamaroa McComb in his round four heat. Kennedy amassed a 11.23 combination to McComb’s 12.17. Other high scoring round four winners included Noah Lane (Rainbow Beach), Heath Joske (Nambucca Heads) and Mitch Crews (Currumbin).

Huge waves are predicted to continue tomorrow with competition expected to finalise by Saturday. The prestigious new tournament is the first of six Oakley pro junior events organised for Brazil, Europe, Japan, USA and South Africa in '08. The champion and runner-up from each event will be taken to a secret location to battle it out for more cash and prizes.

The Oakley Pro Junior is the 4th of 12 stops on the 2008 ASP Australasian Pro Junior Series and offers a six-day surfing window, from Tuesday 5th February to Sunday 10th February, 2008, for only four days of competition surfing. The main event site will be at Cylinder Beach, however the tournament has the option of going to the best surf from Adder Rock to Main Beach.

The Oakley Pro Junior is proudly supported by Redlands Shire Council, Stradbroke Ferries, Stradroke Island Holidays, Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel, Red Bull, Waves Magazine, Surfing Queensland and ASP Australasia.

About Oakley. 

Decades of Oakley research have achieved performance innovations for the world’s best athletes. In the process, we have raised the bar of durability and protection, and our inventions now serve the industries of health, safety and defense. Categories include eyewear that protect against extreme impact and laser light; fire-resistant gloves utilized by professional race drivers; and footwear developed for combat, motor sports and environmental extremes.

Previous reports:
# 1 : Oakley secures Queensland's richest Pro Junior contest
# 2 : Oakley Pro Junior set for start at North Stradbroke Island
# 3 : Oakley Pro Junior underway at North Stradbroke Island
# 4 : Pristine waves served up for top seeds at Oakley Pro Jr. 

www.oakleyprojunior.com
www.surfingqueensland.com
www.aspworldtour.com/oakley

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Jake White

Junior Contests - Surfersvillage