AVATORUA, Rangiroa / French Polynesia (Sunday, April 3, 2011) – Eight surfers remain in this year’s ASP TNS Rangiroa Pro Junior as 16 surfers were reduced to eight in powerful one- meter swell at Avatorua Point on Rangiroa, in French Polynesia today.

Five Australians and three Tahitian surfers proved their superior barrel riding skills to advance into the quarterfinals.

Tahitian surfers Keoni Yan and O’Neill Massin put on a great show early this morning, top scoring with near perfect 8-point rides (out of ten) in their round of 32 match-ups.

Both surfers advanced into the round of 16 where they won their respective heats to earn places into the quarterfinals.

“I tried to get the better waves but its hard because the Australian’s are good at positioning,” Yan said. “I hadn’t surfed this wave before this contest but it’s good, I like it and I’m just trying to go as best I can to impress my sponsors.”

Residing just twenty minutes from the world renowned Teahupo’o break, Yan’s obvious experience in one of the world’s most dangerous waves saw him sitting deeper and taking off later than the other surfers, earning him a decisive over former World Junior Champion Dean Bowen (Aus) who also advanced into the quarterfinal.

O’Neill Mason showed similar great form to advance in first position over ASP Australasia ratings leader Thomas Woods.

Garret Parkes (Byron Bay, NSW) revealed his barrel riding affinity posting successive 6.25 and 7.25 scores (out of ten) to advance with the highest score of the round of 16, a 13.50 (out of 20.00). Parkes secured first place over fellow quarterfinalist Harrison Mann (Vic).

Yesterday’s top scorer James Woods (Gold Coast, Aus) posted yet another great victory, defeating defending champion and local favourite Tamaroa McComb, (PYF) the pair advancing into the quarterfinals over Jack Scollard (Aus) and Mitchell James (Aus).

“I’m happy with how I went against Tamaroa today,” Woods said. “I’d really like to surf against him in pumping waves so that we can see who’s better. We surfed against each other last year in perfect waves and I snapped my board so I didn’t really get a proper chance to prove myself. I am hoping we can come up against each other tomorrow.”

The event will continue tomorrow with the next call at 11h00. Organisers are looking to complete the Quarterfinals before assessing conditions with the possibility of running the Semifinals as well.