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Nick Godfrey and Klee Strachan also through to Round 3 in Australia

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 5 January, 2009 : - - South Africa’s Rudy Palmboom Jr. was one of the stars on Day 3 of the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships, posting the second highest heat total of the event to date and the third highest single ride score to advance to Round 3.

The deciding event in the hunt for the undisputed ASP World Junior Title recommenced this morning with the final seven heats of men’s Round 1 before completing the dramatic elimination Round 2 in clean three foot (1 metre) waves at Sydney’s North Narrabeen beach as the world’s best junior surfers locked in the highest scores of the event.

Palmboom, 20, from Durban’s Bluff, was narrowly relegated to second place in Round 1 on Saturday, but made amends today. Recording an impressive heat total of a 17.10 out of a possible 20 Palmboom eliminated Jules Thomet (FRA) from the event in today’s Round 2 man-on-man bout.

“I was a bit nervous at the start – as I am with most competitions – but this high-scoring heat has given me much more confidence,” Palmboom said. “Last year was my first year in this competition and I got 9th. I want to better that result by taking it heat by heat and see what happens.”

Palmboom punctuated his impressive Round 2 victory with an excellent single wave-score of a 9.10 out of a possible 10 for a series of vicious backhand blasts, a score only bettered by the day’s standout Julian Wilson (AUS).

“I’m stoked with my 9-point ride in the last couple of seconds,” Palmboom said. “The other guy in my heat was in a good position so I made sure I caught (that wave). It had a nice wall and I got a good score on it.”

All five SA men in the event failed to win their opening encounters which guaranteed advancement directly to Round 3 and needed to win their do-or-die Round 2 encounters to stay in contention for the world’s most prestigious annual junior title.

Klee Strachan (Winkelspruit), the 2008 ASP Africa Pro Junior champion, and Nick Godfrey (Cape St Francis) battled their way to victory over North American opponents to reach the last 32.

Casey Grant (Scottburgh) and Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay) were eliminated by Alex Ribeiro (BRA) and Blake Jones (USA) respectively in their Round 2 match-ups, ending equal 33rd and earning US $650 (approx. R6 000) each.

Julian Wilson (AUS), 20, who gained entry into the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships via his win at the VonZipper Trials, rebounded from a morning loss in Round 1 to absolutely decimate his Round 2 heat this afternoon, netting the event high heat total of an 18.50 out of a possible 20 to dispatch of Koki Nakamura (JPN).

'I had a pretty shaky start this morning in Round 1 but I feel way better after that one,” Wilson said. “The conditions are getting way better and I think the level of surfing is going to really lift in the coming days.”

Part of a star-studded Australian contingent, Wilson is keen to claim the ASP World Junior Title for himself, bringing the prestigious accolade back to Australia, where it hasn’t been held since current ASP Dream Tour standout Joel Parkinson (AUS), 27, last claimed it in 2001.

“It’s been ages since an Aussie won this title,” Wilson said. “That spurs us all on…we want it back here in Oz!”

Alex Ribeiro (BRA) was another to flare in the dying conditions this afternoon, posting an incredible 9.00 out of a possible 10 for a series of impressive forehand fin wafts on the roping lefthanders to dispatch Grant to the sidelines.

The two SA girls in the event, Nikita Robb (East London), 19, and Sarah Baum (Athlone Park), 14, were eliminated in Round 3 of the women’s event on Sunday. Both were relegated to Round 2 encounters after placing third in their respective opening heats in the 18 strong format.

Both placed second in their respective match-ups to reach Round 3 where Baum was eliminated by Airini Mason (NZL) before Robb came up against an in-form Courtney Conlogue (USA) who posted the highest score of the women’s event to date, 15.67 out of a possible 20. The SA pair finished equal 9th overall with earnings of US $500 each.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow (Tuesday) morning at 7am for a possible 7:30am start (10.30pm today South African time).

All the action from the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships can be followed live via billabongpro.com , including highlights from the previous days’ competition.

www.aspafrica.com
www.billabongpro.com

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