Billabong Pro Junior

ASP Australasia Grade 1 Men's Junior event
ASP Australasia Grade 1 Women's Junior event
Coffs Harbour, NSW Australia
14 - 17 February 2008

JESSE ADAM CAPTURES INNUAGURAL PRO JUNIOR VICTORY AT COFFS HARBOUR

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 17 February, 2008 : - - Coffs Harbour -- Nineteen-year-old Jesse Adam (Merewether, Newcastle, NSW) planted an ambush attack on Australia’s finest junior surfers to capture his first ever pro junior victory at the Billabong Pro Junior Series- Coffs Harbour, at Diggers Beach today

Breaking free from his string of average results on the ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series, Adam astonished spectators by taking down ASP Australasia No. 2 rated surfer Julian Wilson (Sunshine Coast, QLD) in the Semifinals and followed up with an astounding victory over ratings leader Stuart Kennedy (Lennox Head, NSW) in the Final.

“I am so stoked,” beamed Adam. “Julian and Stu are really good friends of mine but Stu’s been dominant all year and everyone knows that Julian’s one of the most respected junior surfers in the world; so to take them both down- there can be no better way to win a contest!”

Defeating the best of the best, Adam’s flawless performance in the Final included a near perfect 9.25 (out of a possible ten) ride which he backed up with an 8.20, leaving Kennedy chasing a near perfect 9.54 score.  “Stu’s had a few nines this contest alone so I wasn’t counting him out,” Adam said. “I just sat praying that no quality waves would come through at the end of the heat and it all worked out for me.”

Jesse Adam : photo Kirstin Scholtz/ASP Australasia

Adam’s victory marks the second out of five event wins from a Newcastle surfer this year, indicating a possible resurgence from the Newcastle contingent.  “There’ve been lots of good Newcastle surfers but no one’s been able to come through and do really well in the contest scene,” Adam explained. “This latest drive has three or four guys from Merewether pushing each other hard and it is showing. I hope it keeps coming together for us.”

A favourite going into the Final, Kennedy emerged visibly disappointed and somewhat stunned at his defeat.  “I was a bit surprised when he (Jesse Adam) beat Julian in the Semi’s,” Kennedy said. “I guess today he really proved that anyone’s beatable if you keep your head on.” Kennedy’s runner-up result marks his third of five Finals this year, and has extended his lead over his closest rival Julian Wilson on the ASP Australasia ratings.

“My objective was to beat Julian and keep my ratings lead at this event,” Kennedy said. “I’m stoked I was able to keep on a good roll with the five events despite being sick.”  Local surfer Heathe Joske (Valla Beach, Coffs Harbour Region, NSW) did his hometown proud by reaching the Semifinals where he was narrowly defeated by Kennedy; Joske’s16.65 heat score (out of 20.00) topped by Kennedy’s 16.75.

In one of the most nail- biting heats of the event - that saw the lead change hands a number of times - Joske posted an unbelievable near perfect 9.00 ride that proved not enough to keep Kennedy, who surfed home with an 8.00 and an 8.75, at bay. 

Julian Wilson joined Joske for an equal third place finish, the Queenslander not able to match Adam’s unprecedented form. Wilson’s pair of six point rides was toppled by Adam’s 6.50 and 7.25 off the better waves of the heat.

The Billabong Pro Junior Series – Coffs Harbour saw great waves in the one meter range and superb performances from junior surfers throughout the four day event. Final results and scores are available on www.surfingaustralia.com find the live event link down the front page and follow the live menu.

Final
Jesse Adam def Stuart Kennedy

Semifinal
Heat 1: Stuart Kennedy def Heath Joske
Heat 2: Jesse Adam def Julian Wilson

Check the Full Results

The Billabong Pro Junior Series is supported by Panasonic, Coffs Harbour, Von Zipper, Kustom, Surfing NSW, ASP Australasia and Coopers Surf.

2008 Billabong Junior Series
14-17 February        Billabong Pro Junior Series Coffs Harbour
6-9 March                 Billabong Pro Junior Series Taranaki New Zealand
4-7 September         Billabong Pro Junior Series Nelsons Bay
Sep 30-Oct 4           Billabong Pro Junior Series Bells Beach

Previous reports:
# 1 : Billabong Pro Junior series to set off Coffs Harbour NSW
# 2 : Blistering start for Billabong Pro Junior at Coffs Harbour..
# 3 : Kennedy & McComb on track at the Billabong Pro Junior
# 4 : Paige Hareb defeats Fitzgibbons at Billabong Pro Junior  

www.billabong.com
www.surfingaustralia.com

More Australasian Surfing News available here
Check the latest Australasian Surf Reports and Forecasts

New! B2B News ASBE-Surf   |  Receive News-Alerts

Simon Barratt
Billabong Australia
sbarratt@billabong.com.au

Surfing Australia Photography
Steve Robertson
stever@surfingaustralia.com

Junior Contests - Surfersvillage