NORTH NARRABEEN, New South Wales/Australia (Monday, January 10, 2011) – The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships fuelled by Monster Energy switched back to men’s action today and saw onshore two-to-four foot (1 metre) waves provide the perfect canvas for a high-performance showdown for the world’s best under-21 talent in Round 2.
The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships is the last stop on the inaugural ASP World Junior Tour, with the first event unfolding at the Oakley ASP World Pro Junior in Bali.
Davey Cathels (AUS), 19, current No. 9 on the ASP World Junior Tour, built momentum throughout his heat against Tahitian Enrique Ariitu (PYF), eventually earning the day’s highest heat-total of 15.83 out of 20 by combining an impressive repertoire of powerful rail-carves, tail-free turns and a no-grab air-reverse on two alley rights to snag a Round 2 heat win.
“I started out kind of shaky in the beginning,” Cathels said. “It was a bit weaker and softer than I thought it was so I kind of had to switch up my game-plan about halfway through and started catching more waves.”
Cathels, who is a North Narrabeen local, capitalized on his intimate knowledge of the shifty lineup to assure his advancement into Round 3 in the tricky onshore conditions.
“I surf out here everyday and know which waves to choose and where to sit,” Cathels said. “It helps to have local knowledge when it’s a bit messy out there on days like today.”
Caio Ibelli (BRA), 16, current ASP World Pro Junior No. 3, navigated through the disorganized beachbreak conditions to defeat event wildcard Keala Naihe (HAW), 17, to keep the Brazilian natural-footer’s chances of the 2011 ASP World Junior title alive.
“This is my first time to Narrabeen,” Ibelli said. “I had two nice scores in that heat and I’m feeling much better now after losing in the first round. I’m just going step-by-step and I hope the waves are better in the next round. This is the biggest Pro Junior event in the world. It’s my first time here and I want to win this event.”
Kaimana Jaquias (HAW), 17, whose father Kaipo finished equal 3rd at North Narrabeen in the past, relied on his father’s advice in his first trip to the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships regarding the break and his impressive combination of new-school aerials and classic power-turns earned him one of the day’s highest heat totals, 14.83 out of 20, showing that the young Hawaiian is out to make a name for himself.
“My Dad is pretty much the one telling me everything about this wave so I’m just listening to him and taking it in,” Jaquias said. “My dad knows that this wave is just like Kealia, a wave we have at home, so I’ve just been surfing there everyday for the last few months. I just want to try and match my Dad’s result or up him one. Everyone is good in this event and I just want to make a name for myself.”
Charles Martin (GLP), 20, 2010 ASP European Champion, earned a come-from-behind heat victory over Takumi Nakamura (JPN) despite an impressive showing from the young Japanese talent, by smashing four electric backhand blasts on a bowly lefthander in the dying seconds of his Round 2 bout to advance to Round 3.
“I was watching the clock with two minutes to go and I was thinking ‘oh no not again, I got a last here last year,’” Martin said. “The wave came and I wasn’t sure if it was a good one. I got a couple of good waves so I’m stoked. The other surfer was on the outside and I was just hoping he didn’t get a score. I’m happy to get through that heat. This is my last event as a Junior and I really want to do well.”
Evan Geiselman (USA), 17, ASP North America Pro Junior Series Champion, put on a marquee performance in his Round 1 heat despite finishing second to Miguel Pupo (BRA), 18, and returned to form in Round 2 as one of the rare goofy-footers to dismantle the lefthanders.
“I’m having a blast out there,” Geiselman said. “The waves are punchy and have some really good ramps. I’m just trying to surf as good as I can and it’s just like home (Florida) so I’m loving it.”
The talented Floridian surfer is also out to gain the priceless experience of man-on-man competition that mimics the latter rounds of ASP PRIME and ASP World Tour events.
“The man-on-man format is a new challenge,” Geiselman said. “I had an error in that heat and went on the first wave of a set and the second one was better, but I love when I get the chance to compete in man-on man. I was looking forward to coming to this event to gain the experience of the big stage like the guys on the World Tour.”
A cash reward is also handed out at the end of each competition day, the Von Zipper More Bang Bang for Your Buck, which recognizes the competitor who pulls off the most progressive maneuver of the day.
Billabong ASP World Junior Championships Round 2 Results:
Heat 1:
Caio Ibeli (BRA) 11.67 def. Keala Naihe (HAW) 8.43
Heat 2: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 12.43 def. Tom Cloarec (FRA) 9.20
Heat 3: Shaun Joubert (ZAF) 13.10 def. Arashi Kato (JPN) 7.40
Heat 4: Davey Cathels (AUS) 15.83 def. Enrique Ariitu (PYF) 8.73
Heat 5: Hiroto Arai (JPN) 10.20 def. Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) 10.00
Heat 6: Andrew Doheny (USA) 10.20 def. Ian Gouveia (BRA) 8.10
Heat 7: Charles Martin (GLP) 14.10 def. Takumi Nakamura (JPN) 12.56
Heat 8: Chris Salisbury (AUS) 13.43 def. Evan Thompson (USA) 12.27
Heat 9: Alex Smith (HAW) 13.03 def. Conner Coffin (USA) 11.03
Heat 10: Nic Von Rupp (DEU) 11.56 def. Ian Gentil (HAW) 9.80
Heat 11: Evan Geiselman (USA) 13.67 def. Kaishu Tanaka (JPN) 10.44
Heat 12: Luke Davis (USA) 10.27 def. Kaito Ohashi (JPN) 8.86
Heat 13: Krystian Kymerson (BRA) 12.67 def. David Vlung (AUS) 8.00
Heat 14: Felipe Jervis (PRT) 10.17 def. Teoro Tahutini (PYF) 6.70
Heat 15: Kaimana Jaquias (HAW) 14.83 def. Albee Layer (HAW) 8.57
Heat 16: Dean Bowen (AUS) 11.84 def. Guillermo Satt (CHL) 10.70
Upcoming Billabong ASP Women’s World Junior Championships Semifinals Heats:
Heat 1:
Justine Dupont (FRA) vs. Laura Enever (AUS)
Heat 2: Alizee Arnaud (FRA) vs. Bianca Buitendag (ZAF)
