Santa Barbara’s Conner Coffin competing in Bali this week. (Hein/ASP Photo)
KERAMAS, Bali/Indonesia ? The 2012 Oakley ASP World Junior Championships Bali was treated to another stellar day of competition surfing at Keramas today. Competitors revelled in the 3 to 4 foot (1.5 meter) right handers running down the reef at the world famous Keramas. From a field of 48 surfers, just eight remain in the draw, who will battle it out to be crowned the 2012 ASP World Junior Champion.
Santa Barbara’s Conner Coffin advanced to the Quarterfinals against the odds after scoring an interference in the first minute of the heat. Coffin paddled for a wave when Kalani David (HAW) had the inside position. When David stood up, Coffin pulled back, but it was too late and he collapsed a section of the wave ahead. His interference penalty was losing half of his second scoring ride. Coffin was however still able to amass enough points to advance.
“I didn’t think he (Kalani David) was going to make it onto the wave,” Cofffin said. “But as soon as I saw that he did, I pulled back. It must have been too late though because I got the interference. I just though ‘oh well at least I get to surf Keramas for another 29 minutes with no one out’, but then I found a couple of waves and still made it through the heat. Stoked.”
Jack Freestone (AUS) scored the 2012 Oakley ASP World Junior Championships’ first perfect 10-point-ride for a monster full-rotation alley-oop aerial. Freestone had a couple of shaky heats earlier in the event, but was back to his devastating best today, posting multiple scores in the excellent range to finish with a two-wave heat total of 18.17 (out of a possible 20).
“I already had a couple of good scores and thought it was time to do a big air,” Freestone said. “I stood up, saw the section and the rotation felt good then I landed, it felt really good. I love this event, I love Bali. I’m looking forward to surfing some more with just one other guy out.”
Ezekiel Lau (HAW) posted yet another impressive heat win in Round 4 over Carlos Munoz (CRI). Munoz pushed Lau to the brink, with both surfers throwing down massive moves, but the Hawaiian came home strong and sending the Coasta Rican home.
“It’s great to win that heat,” Lau said. “But you can’t think about it too much because you’ve got another one coming up. Also when the conditions are this good you can’t get over excited. It’s been a great event for me so far, I’m into the Quarterfinals like last year so hopefully this year I can go further.”
Andrew Doheny (USA) eliminated Hawaiian powerhouse surfer Keanu Asing (HAW) in their Round 4 bout. Doheny’s classic Californian style impressed the judges and all onlookers, as he takes another step closer to matching his result from this event last year, a Final berth.
“That heat was gnarly,” Doheny said. “I knew that Keanu (Asing) is good with heat tactics and stuff, so my plan was to try and get the first good wave of the heat and it must have worked. I came second here last year and I want to do as good, if not better because this is my last year in the juniors.”
Cooper Chapman (AUS) came flying out of the gates and laid down some of the day’s most impressive turns to make it to?the Quarterfinals in his first ever Oakley ASP World Junior Championships event.
“I kept falling on the end sections,” Chapman said. “It’s good to know I can still get a good score without completing the wave. This is my first year at the ASP World Junior Championships so it feels great to make it into the Quarterfinals.”
Frederico Morais (PRT) won the closest heat of the day, eliminating Brazilian Italo Ferreira (BRA) by a mere 0.50. Morais will now face Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) in Quarterfinal 4 when competition resumes.
“I feel like Keramas really suits my surfing,” Morais said. “That heat was close, but I’m in the Quarterfinals now and I’m feeling confident. I’m looking forward to the surfing my Quarterfinal, hopefully we have some more great waves.”
Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) from Morocco defeated Australian Thomas Woods (AUS) in the final heat of the day. Boukhiam is the last goofy-footed (right foot forward) surfer left in the event, using his powerful backhand attack to secure a Quarterfinal berth.
“That heat was really hard,” Boukhiam said. “The conditions changed just before I paddled out, it was more like a beachbreak than Keramas. I’ve been training hard, I had a really European season and I’m just trying to keep the same mind-set at this event.”
The swell is decreasing rapidly and Beau Emerton, Contest Director has called that tomorrow will be a lay-day and the next call will be Monday at 6am local time.
The Oakley ASP World Junior Championships Bali will run from October 6 ? 17. For LIVE webcast, Heats on Demand, event videos and more check OakleyProJunior.com.
For more information, log onto ASPworldtour.com
UPCOMING OAKLEY ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS MEN?S QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
QF 1: Ezekiel Lau (HAW) vs. Wade Carmichael (AUS)
QF 2: Cooper Chapman (AUS) vs. Andrew Doheny (USA)
QF 3: Jack Freestone (AUS) vs. Connor Coffin (USA)
QF 4: Frederico Morais (PRT) vs. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR)OAKLEY ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS MEN?S ROUND 4 RESULTS:
HEAT 1: Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 17.27 def. Carlos Munoz (CRI) 15.76
HEAT 2: Wade Carmichael (AUS) 12.50 def. Evan Thompson (USA) 6.50
HEAT 3: Cooper Chapman (AUS) 14.93 def. Caue Wood (BRA) 14.33
HEAT 4: Andrew Doheny (USA) 15.57 def. Keanu Asing (HAW) 13.10
HEAT 5: Jack Freestone (AUS) 18.17 def. Arashi Kato (JPN) 10.33
HEAT 6: Connor Coffin (USA) 12.17 def. Kalani David (HAW) 8.86
HEAT 7: Frederico Morais (PRT) 13.00 def. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 12.50
HEAT 8: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 13.63 def. Thomas Woods (AUS) 12.40
