KUTA, Bali/Indonesia (Friday, October 5, 2012) ? The 2012 Oakley ASP World Junior Championships Bali got underway in style this evening with a press conference at the Pullman hotel in Kuta. This event has been running for five years, but 2012 will see the Oakley ASP World Junior Championships soar to new heights with this year’s edition being the first event in Indonesia to crown an ASP World Champion. The international field have been locked in, the draw has been finalised and it’s very likely that tomorrow the event will start at Echo Beach, Canggu.
Conner Coffin in Bali in 2011 at the World Junior Championships. (ASP Photo)
Santa Barbara’s Conner Coffin, who reached last year’s semifinals in Bali, surfs against Deivid Silva (Bra) and David Clark (USA) in the first round.
Beau Emerton, Oakley ASP World Junior Championships and former elite ASP World Championship Tour competitor is thrilled to be at the helm of an event that not only will crown the men’s and women’s 2012 ASP World Junior Champions, but also puts future surfing stars on the world stage.
“Everyone really looks forward to this event,” Emerton said. “The forecast looks amazing once again. We’re looking at starting tomorrow morning at Canggu and then moving to Keramas later in the waiting period. We will have the best young surfers in the world in some amazing waves, this event is going to be one to watch.”
Glen Elliot, Oakley ASP World Junior Championships Head Judge has witnessed the level of surfing increase exponentially at this event over the last few years and he’s expecting this year to be one of the most exciting junior events of all time with a coveted ASP World Junior Title on the line.
“I feel very privileged to head judge an event of this calibre,” Elliot said. “To crown an ASP World Champion in Bali’s high performance waves is an exciting prospect. I think with the amount of swell we’re anticipating it’s going to be a fantastic event. Thanks to Oakley for supporting junior surfing and this event.”
Caio Ibelli (BRA), reigning ASP World Junior Champion posted an impressive result at this event last year finishing equal fifth. Ibelli is well aware he’ll need to be on the winners podium to claim back-to-back ASP World Junior Titles.
“I’m really happy to come back to Bali,” Ibelli said. “Winning the ASP World Junior Title was really good last year. Last year we had three events so it was really hard. I’m not felling any pressure, I’m trying to focus on this event. This is my favourite event so it would be nice to score in Bali. Last year I lost in the Quarterfinals so I hope this year to do better.
Thomas Woods (AUS) finished first on last year’s ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series and third this year. He will no doubt be one of the favourites to take the title.
“I’m stoked to be back here,” Woods said. “I feel like I’m more ready this year compared to last year where I didn’t do very well. I was nervous, but I learnt a lot and feel like I’m much more prepared this year. The field is packed with great surfers, the waves will be firing and I can’t wait for it to start.”
Frederico Morais (PRT) from Portugal is in red hot form after a stellar finish to the ASP Europe Pro Junior Series, finishing the season with four finals appearances from five events.
“I think the Oakley ASP World Junior Championships is the most important event for juniors,” Morias said. “I?m stoked that I qualified again this year. Bali is a great place and I’ve been going there for some years now and always got fantastic waves. I?m feeling good, I?m in shape and very motivated so I think I’m ready to do a good contest.”
Hairil Anwar (IND), local Indonesian wildcard is entering this prestigious event for his first time and will be joined by his brother Gazali Hamzah (IND) who won the local trials.
“Thanks to ASP for giving me the wildcard,” Anwar said. “These surfers are the best in the world and I’m really looking forward to surfing against them. My brother won the trials and I’m excited to surf in such a special event with him.”
The Oakley ASP World Junior Championships Bali will run from October 6 ? 17. For LIVE webcast, event videos and more check OakleyProJunior.com.
For more information, log onto ASPworldtour.com.
OAKLEY ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS MEN’S ROUND 1:
HEAT 1: Beyrick De Vries (ZAF), Ryan Callinan (AUS), Wade Carmichael (AUS)
HEAT 2: Maxime Huscenot (FRA), Soli Bailey (AUS), Jocelyn Poulou (PYF)
HEAT 3: Caio Ibelli (BRA), Vicente Romero (ESP), Slade Prestwich (ZAF)
HEAT 4: Luke Davis (USA), Evan Thompson (USA), Kanoa Igarashi (USA)
HEAT 5: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR), Kaito Ohashi (JPN), Luan Carvalho (BRA)
HEAT 6: Ezekiel Lau (HAW), Arashi Kato (JPN), Italo Ferreira (BRA)
HEAT 7: Peterson Crisanto (BRA), Andrew Doheny (USA), Geovane Ferreira (BRA)
HEAT 8: Keanu Asing (HAW), Michael February (ZAF), Gazali Hamzah (IND)
HEAT 9: Jack Freestone (AUS), Koa Smith (HAW), Nyoman Satria (IND)
HEAT 10: Matt Banting (AUS), Makai McNamara (HAW), Jack Robinson (AUS)
HEAT 11: Vasco Ribeiro (PRT), Hairil Anwar (IND), Dylan Lightfoot (ZAF)
HEAT 12: Conner Coffin (USA), Taylor Clark (USA), Deivid Silva (BRA)
HEAT 13: Thomas Woods (AUS), Kaimana Jaquias (HAW), Hiroto Arai (JPN)
HEAT 14: Carlos Munoz (CRI), Cooper Chapman (AUS), Reo Kanao (JPN)
HEAT 15: Tanner Hendrickson (HAW), Caue Wood (BRA), Takumi Nakamura (JPN)
HEAT 16: Frederico Morais (PRT), Kalani David (HAW), Davey Brand (ZAF)OAKLEY ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS WOMEN’S ROUND 1:
HEAT 1: Joanne Defay (FRA), Leila Hurst (HAW), Mahina Maeda (HAW)
HEAT 2: Sarah Baum (ZAF), Canelle Bulard (REU), Rosanny Alvarez (VEN)
HEAT 3: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), Frankie Harrer (USA), Minato Takahashi (JPN)
HEAT 4: Philippa Anderson (AUS), Ellie-Jean Coffey (AUS), Juliana Meneghel (BRA)
HEAT 5: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS), Nao Omura (JPN), Brianna Cope (HAW)
HEAT 6: Alessa Quizon (HAW), Maud Le Car (FRA), Quincy Davis(USA)
