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ASSOCIATION OF SURFING PROFESSIONALS (ASP) NORTH AMERICA

O’NEILL SI PRO PRESENTED BY RON JON
Sebastian Inlet, Florida
January 5-11, 2007

BIG ACTION DESPITE SMALL SURF AT DAY TWO OF THE O’NEILL SI PRO

SEBASTIAN INLET, Florida (Saturday, January 6th, 2007) – Despite today’s decreasing swell, competitors still managed to throw down some big scores for day two of the O’Neill SI Pro presented by Ron Jon.

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) four-star event opened up this morning with the round of 128 and saw the younger competitors reveling in the diminutive conditions.

Kilian Garland (Santa Barbara County, CA), 19, took the honors this afternoon securing the event high single wave score of an 8.50 out of a possible 10 for a series of rapid forehand snaps punctuated by an explosive fin-free maneuver on the end section.

“I was just sitting out there and paddling around,” Garland said. “I was waiting and waiting and finally a good one came through and I think it was the best one that’s come through all contest. Another surfer was deeper but I think I was in a little better position so he let me have it. I just got really lucky.”

Garland, who finished 7th on last season’s ASP North America Pro Junior series, will be looking to further transition into the men’s division this year as he competes on both his last season on the ASP Pro Junior series as well as edging into the ASP WQS.

“I’m planning on surfing both divisions this season,” Garland said. “I really want to do well on the ASP Pro Junior series as it’s my last year. I’m also doing the WQS because I want to get my points so I can get seeded in the higher-rated events.”

Long-time ASP WQS battler Adam Virs (Ventura, CA) blasted through his afternoon heat wowing the crowd with an impressive display of progressive aerial maneuvers. Fully rehabilitated from a knee injury suffered two years ago, Virs will now use the O’Neill SI Pro as a starting point for his 2007 ASP WQS campaign.

“I’m going to be making a push this season,” Virs said. “I’m traveling with some boys from Ventura and doing all the events. Both of my knees feel good and I’m looking forward to a good year.”

Mark Dawson (Melbourne Beach, FL) led the local charge this morning exhibiting superb local knowledge en route to a round three heat win.

“You’ve just got to know what you’re doing out here,” Dawson said. “I’m from here so I know which waves are going to be the good ones.”

Following the completion of the first five heats of round three, event organizers elected to go on hold until conditions improved.

In the interim, the Red Bull Tow-At specialty event ran featuring a slew of aerial and progressive specialists. Alek Parker (Melbourne Beach, FL) took the honors amongst the stacked field and was awarded a Sea-Doo for his troubles.

When competition resumed, it was Nick Kovak (La Jolla, CA) who got things off to a blazing start securing a solid 12.83 out of a possible 20 for a combination of explosive maneuvers and excellent wave selection.

“It’s pretty small right now and all the guys are struggling,” Kovak said. “Everyone is riding small-wave, lighter boards out there. I think it was a good call to wait for the lower tide (to resume competition). The waves are a bit punchier and it’s that much more contestable.”

Surfline has forecast unfavorable conditions over the next few days so event organizers will assess conditions each morning to determine how many heats will be run.

Competition will look to resume tomorrow morning at 8:00 am with Heat 13 of the Round of 128.

Live scoring will be available at www.aspnorthamerica.org.

For more information, log onto www.aspnorthamerica.org or www.oneillsipro.com.

RESULTS: DAY ONE O’Neill SI Pro presented by Ron Jon – ASP WQS four-star

Round One: 128 surfers remain (1st and 2nd advance)
Heat 1: Mark Dawson (USA) 12.97, Jason Reagan (USA) 11.50, Alex King (HAW) 8.10, Eddie Lester (USA) 7.60
Heat 2: Cory Arrambide (USA) 13.50, Eddie Guilbeau (USA) 9.53, Blake Jones (USA) 7.56, Sean Taylor (USA) 4.96
Heat 3: Eric Taylor (USA) 11.36, Dave Reardon-Smith (AUS) 10.77, Jordan Gaudet (USA) 9.17, Jesse Heilman (USA) 4.90
Heat 4: Arthur Bourbon (GLP) 11.50, Rodrigo Lima (USA) 9.20, Matt Myers (USA) 5.40, Golden Depesa (HAW) 4.82
Heat 5: Charles Martin (GLP) 11.60, David Awbrey (USA) 9.17, Layne Harrison (USA) 8.50, Sam Watson (AUS) 4.06
Heat 6: Nick Kovak (USA) 12.83, Wesley Larsen (HAW) 8.47, Justin Jones (USA) 8.43, Kyle Knox (USA) 4.34
Heat 7: Brandon Ragenovich (USA) 10.67, Brandon Guilmette (USA) 8.80, John Daniels (USA) 6.60, Tommy Bursian (PRI) 5.43
Heat 8: Adam Virs (USA) 12.54, Jorge Spanner (BRA) 8.84, Kahana Kalama (USA) 7.53, Thomas Bady (FRA) 6.90
Heat 9: Kilian Garland (USA) 14.00, Wesley Toth (PRI) 8.83, Ricky Whitlock (USA) 8.13, Roger Eales (USA) 7.73
Heat 10: Jeremy Johnston (USA) 12.67, Dane Hamilton (AUS) 8.29, Jamie Parkhurst (USA) 6.47, Zander Morton (USA) 5.80
Heat 11: Travis Beckmann (USA) 13.66, Alek Parker (USA) 13.17, Austin Smith-Ford (USA) 8.77, Matt Shadbolt (USA) 7.66
Heat 12: Blake Howard (USA) 15.16, Sean Tubbs (USA) 11.27, Jeremy Sherwin (USA) 9.54, Justin Swartz (USA) 7.44

Event Schedule: O’Neill SI Pro pres. by Ron Jon – ASP WQS four-star event

Day One – Friday, January 5, 2007
8:00 am – 12:00 am: Heats 1 – 8 (Round of 176)
12:00 am – 4:00 pm: Heats 1 – 16 (Round of 160)
Day Two – Saturday, January 6, 2007
8:00 am – 4:00 pm: Heats 1 – 12 (Round of 128)
Day Three – Sunday, January 7, 2007
8:00 am – 9.20 am: Heats 13-16 (Round of 128)
9:20 am – 4:00 pm: Begin Round of 96
Day Four – Monday, January 8, 2007
To be determined
Day Five – Tuesday, January 9, 2007
To be determined
Day Six – Wednesday January 10, 2007 or Thursday, January 11, 2007
To be determined

NOTE: SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

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