Santa Barbara’s Parker Coffin is the 2014 ASP North American Junior Series champion. (ASP Photo/Ruby)
Huntington Beach, CA/USA (October 24, 2014) – Parker Coffin (USA) and Meah Collins (USA) are the 2014 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) North America Junior Series Champions. Both surfers have also earned a spot into the 2014 Allianz ASP World Junior Championships in Portugal, which is set to run from October 25th – November 4th. This year’s North America Junior Series was filled with some amazing surfing and plenty of standout performances from both the Men and the Women.
Coffin’s victory came all the way down to the wire and, after a back-and-forth battle with Cam Richards (USA) for the series points lead, the Santa Barbara goofy-footer clinched the title with his 2nd place finish at the last North America event of the season, the Fins Pro Junior in Belmar, New Jersey. Coffin has claimed his first ever Junior Series win, along with his maiden trip the Allianz ASP World Juniors.
“I actually didn’t know that I needed to get 2nd in Belmar to win the series, I was just focusing on winning the event regardless of whatever I needed to win the Junior title,” said Coffin. “This season I just really wanted to qualify for World Juniors, because I’ve come so close to qualifying in years past, so that was my main goal. When I started getting good results I realized that I was in contention to win the series as well, so I re-assessed and put my efforts towards that and making it fun.”
ASP North America Women’s Junior Series champ Meah Collins (USA) showed competitive prowess and consistent surfing throughout this year’s Junior Series. The Newport Beach native claimed her first ever ASP event win this season at the North Shore Surf Shop Pro Junior in challenging Sunset Beach conditions. This is Meah’s first time heading to World Juniors.
“I am so thrilled to have won the ASP North America Women’s Junior Series this year! All of the events were amazing and I was so happy to get my first ASP Pro Junior win this year,” said Collins. “I have so much fun competing with all of the other girls and it’s so awesome to see all of the incredible talent of women’s surfing now. I can’t wait to represent USA in Portugal and compete against all of the amazing girls from around the world.”
Chelsea Tuach (BRB) will be the other ASP North America Women’s qualifier heading to Portugal with her noteworthy performance on the World Qualifying Series this year. Tuach finished equal 3rd in the 2013 ASP World Juniors, and is looking to build on that result.
Fellow Bajan surfer Joshua Burke (BRB) also made a last-ditch effort in qualifying for Worlds with his 1st place finish at the Fins Pro Junior in Belmar. Burke needed to win the event to qualify, and along with Coffin, this will be the Barbados native’s first ever ASP World Junior event.
“That was my first win on the ASP Junior Series, my first ever Final at that, and I needed that win to make Worlds, so I’m unbelievably psyched that I won and qualified,” said Burke. “This season started at home in Barbados at the Soup Bowl Pro Junior, and now to end with a win in Belmar and earn a spot into the event in Portugal is amazing.”
There will be 9 surfers from the ASP North America Junior Series heading to Portugal to compete for the World Junior titles. Qualifying via the ASP Qualification Series, the ASP Junior Series or as a Wild Card selection, the following surfers will be representing the North America region in Portugal:
Junior Men:
QS: Kanoa Igarashi (USA)
QS: Noe Mar McGonagle (CRI)
Jr #1: Parker Coffin (USA)
Jr #2: Cam Richards (USA)
Jr #3: Joshua Burke (BRB)
Jr #4: Miguel Tudela (PER)
ASP Wild Card: Jake Marshall (USA)
Junior Women:
QS: Chelsea Tuach (BRB)
Jr. #1: Meah Collins (USA)
The 2014 Allianz ASP World Junior Championships will run from October 25th through November 4th at the iconic righthand pointbreak of Ribeira d’Ilhas in Ericiera, Portugal. At this stand-alone event, the 2014 ASP World Junior Champions will be crowned.
Ribeira d’Ilhas is one of Portugal’s finest venues for high-performance surfing. The immense talent puddle will take on the long, peeling rights of Ericeira in the most anticipated Junior events on the ASP calendar.
Coming in hot from an excellent 5th place at the Cascais Billabong Pro, Brazil’s Italo Ferreira (BRA), 19, will lead the pack of aspiring professional athletes into this year’s Junior final. Currently ranked 12th on the Qualifying Series, Ferreira will bring confidence from an excellent run of events across Europe.
Recently crowned ASP European Junior Champion, Portugal’s Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) 19, will try to capitalize on home-court advantage as he represents the Old Continent’s best chances of a World title in 2014.
“I’m really happy to take part in this event, Ribeira d’Ilhas is such a good wave, I’m sure it will be pumping. It’s in my home country and it’s good to be with friends and family and to feel the support from the Portuguese fans. Since I’m the European champion I hope I can lead Portugal and Europe for the title this year! This would be a dream come true and a good outcome for working very hard all year.”
Among the exciting lineup of athletes, Jacob Willcox (AUS) 17, will pose a legitimate threat for the ultimate title.
“I’m really looking forward to competing in the Allianz ASP World Junior Championships in Ericeira,” Willcox said. “I’m feeling confident after being here in Portugal for a little while now and surfing heats as the wildcard in Peniche.”
Reigning ASP World Junior Women’s Champion Ella Williams (NZL), 19, will take on the new generation to defend her title in Ericeira. The talented Kiwi surfer, who won an event she entered only days before the start as an injury replacement, will now face the pressure of coming in with a target on her back and will look to confirm her dominance at the top of the Junior field.
“I’m really looking forward to competing at Ribeira d’Ilhas for the World Juniors and I hope to back up my Junior title from last year in Brazil,” she said.
In addition to crowning ASP Junior Champions, this event is a unique chance for the winners to secure a wildcard into the biggest Qualifying Series events the following year, making a potential qualification race that much easier. With the Northern Atlantic systems starting to produce long range swells heading towards the Portuguese coastline, this event promises red-hot action in world-class waves.
