The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 4-Star Vans Pier Classic and Vans Pro Junior presented by Jack’s Surfboards and hydrated by Vitaminwater saw ideal four-to-six foot waves deliver throughout the day at Huntington Beach and ASP Pro Junior surfers were responsible for the highest scores.
Santa Barbara’s Conner Coffin advanced in both competitions on Friday. Coffin won his heat in the main draw Round of 64 over notables Evan Geiselman and Ian Crane. He also placed second behind Colton Sarlo in the Pro Junior Round of 64.
Parker Coffin won his heat in the Pro Junior over Derek Peters, Pat Schmidt and Knox Harris.
Saturday’s action is scheduled to see the completion of both Vans Pier Classic and Vans Pro Junior Round of 32 competition.
Vans Pier Classic and Vans Pro Junior presented by Jack’s Surfboards and hydrated by Vitaminwater competition will recommence at 8am local time and will be webcast LIVE in HD.
Peterson Crisanto (BRA), 20, was a standout in both divisions today. The Brazilian talent advanced through his men’s Round of 64 heat and went on to take the day’s highest single-wave score of a near-perfect 9.10, out of 10, in his Pro Junior match up.
“I had the 9, which was my best wave of the day in the Juniors, so I was just trying to find a back-up score,” Crisanto said. “I’m so stoked to get through in both the Juniors and the Men’s event. I love surfing both. I’m feeling really comfortable out here because the waves remind me of home.”
Tanner Hendrickson (Maui, HI), 19, reveled in the glassy afternoon conditions and was sharp on both his forehand and backhand to open his Vans Pro Junior campaign in convincing fashion. The Maui surfer belted a 7-point score on his opening ride and backed it up with committed backhand turns and was rewarded an 8.60 for the ride to garner the day’s highest heat-total of 15.60 (out of 20).
“The conditions stayed perfect and the waves probably even got better in my heat,” Hendrickson said. “It seems like it’s just getting better and better, it’s fun.”
Hendrickson is hoping to maintain his momentum in tomorrow’s competition in order to take his share of the points on offer towards his regional ASP Pro Junior rating in order to requalify for the ASP World Junior Tour.
“It feels good to start my event off like that,” Hendrickson said. “With this contest being a 4-Star, there are a lot of points and it’d mean a lot to do well here to help me qualify for World Juniors.”
Luke Davis (Capistrano Beach, CA), 19, was another young talent to open up with two dominant heat wins, while drawing clean open-faced lines and lofting committed airs. Davis was responsible for one of the day’s highest heat-totals, 14.66, and is out to use the Vans Pier Classic to begin to make a dent on the ASP World Ranking.
“That was fun and I’m excited to get that first heat out of the way,” Davis said. “I wasn’t nervous, but just more anxious because I wanted to get a heat under my belt. I’m surfing the Juniors too, but I’m starting to focus more on the men’s events and I’m looking to make a bunch of heats and do well in this event.”
Chase Wilson (Newport Beach, CA), 21, was a standout in the Vans Pier Classic today, posting the division’s top scores. Wilson boosted a massive lien air on a steep lefthand wall, taking an 8.17 for the ride and finished with a combined 14.84 heat total, the day’s highest in men’s main event.
“The waves are really fun out there,” Wilson said. “Yesterday kind of had that onshore in the afternoon, but luckily it’s staying down today. I didn’t really even expect that section to stand up like that. I just dropped in and did a little cutback and was setting it up and I saw the section standing up down the line and just went for it. Luckily I pulled it off.”
Wilson, who began in the Round of 128, feels he’s finding his feet as the competition continues and feels surfing extra heats have played a part in his success in the Vans Pier Classic.
“That was my third heat,” Wilson said. “It definitely feels good to get those first few heats out of the way, get them under your belt and it kind of builds your confidence when you make it through a few heats. It keeps the ball rolling.”
For additional ASP information log on to ASPWorldtour.com
Vans Pier Classic Round of 64 Results:
Heat 1: Mitch Crews (AUS) 12.34, Brad Ettinger (USA) 11.83, Cory Arrambide (USA) 8.60, Blake Jones (USA) 5.60
Heat 2: Teppei Tajima (JPN) 11.00, Phillip Goold (USA) 6.77, Yujiro Tsuji (JPN) 6.53, Yuri Sodre (BRA) 5.76
Heat 3: Krystian Kymerson (BRA) 11.47, Hank Gaskell (HAW) 9.10, Franklin Serpa (BRA) 8.16, Keanu Asing (HAW)
Heat 4: Nathan Yeomans (USA) 12.74, Jeremy Johnston (USA) 9.36, Chris Waring (USA) 9.27, Izuki Tanaka (JPN) 7.44
Heat 5: Cristobal De Col (PER) 13.27, Christian Saenz (USA) 10.10, Ruda Carvalho (BRA) 9.57, Brian Toth (PRI) 6.44
Heat 6: Chris Ward (USA) 10.70, Evan Valiere (HAW) 10.33, Ian Gouveia (BRA) 9.66, Hiroto Arai (JPN) 8.47
Heat 7: Marco Fernandez (BRA) 12.00, Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 8.90, Brandon Jackson (ZAF) 8.07, Nils Schweizer (USA) 7.73
Heat 8: Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 12.53, Jason Harris (USA) 11.10, Robert Patterson (HAW) 8.37, Nathan Florence (HAW) 6.60
Heat 9: Nat Young (USA) 13.17, Asher Nolan (USA) 11.50, Andrew Doheny (USA) 9.23, Aaron Cormican (USA) 5.50
Heat 10: Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 13.60, Gavin Gillette (HAW) 11.10, Olamana Eleogram (HAW) 10.70, Miguel Tudela (PER) 6.43
Heat 11: Romain Cloitre (FRA) 13.40, Matt Pagan (USA) 11.17, Guillermo Satt (CHL) 8.56, Marcelo Rodriguez (ARG) 7.86
Heat 12: Eric Geiselman (USA) 11.17, Joel Centeio (HAW) 11.00, Brendon Gibbens (ZAF) 10.67, Caue Wood (BRA) 7.25
Heat 13: Gabe Kling (USA) 13.07, Jake Halstead (USA) 12.67, Ian Gentil (HAW) 8.50, Oliver Kurtz (USA) 6.43
Heat 14: Chase Wilson (USA) 14.84, Nathaniel Curran (USA) 11.94, Chris Foster (HAW) 10.94, Michael Dunphy (USA) 9.47
Heat 15: Luke Davis (USA) 14.66, Jesse Merle-Jones (HAW) 9.30, Nobuyuki Osawa (JPN) 8.00, Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 3.47
Heat 16: Conner Coffin (USA) 13.04, Francisco Bellorin (VEN) 11.73, Evan Geiselman (USA) 10.84, Ian Crane (USA) 10.00Vans Pro Junior Round of 64 Results:
Heat 5: Luke Davis (USA) 12.77, Cristobal De Col (PER) 11.70, Jake Davis (USA) 6.33, Ryan Croteau (USA) 5.63
Heat 6: Taylor Clark (USA) 10.50, Derrick Disney (USA) 8.80, Tanner Strohmenger (USA) 8.73, Kelly Zaun (USA) 7.84
Heat 7: Tanner Hendrickson (HAW) 15.60, Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 12.60, Chris Tucker (USA) 9.10, Noah Schweizer (USA) 7.24
Heat 8: Ian Crane (USA) 12.97, Makai McNamara (HAW) 10.74, Breyden Taylor (USA) 7.50, Giorgio Gomez (USA) 5.80
Heat 9: Colton Sarlo (USA) 11.20, Conner Coffin (USA) 10.67, Nic Hdez (USA) 7.74, Josh Giddings (USA) 5.47
Heat 10: Parker Coffin (USA) 10.17, Derek Peters (USA) 10.10, Pat Schmidt (USA) 7.90, Knox Harris (USA) 6.60
Heat 11: Evan Thompson (USA) 11.97, Arashi Kato (JPN) 10.87, Scott Weinhardt (USA) 8.97, Max Colvin (USA) 6.37
Heat 12: Nathan Carvalho (HAW) 12.10, Keto Burns (USA) 8.90, Nathan Florence (HAW) 7.86, Matty Lewis (USA) 7.54
