KERAMAS, Bali/Indonesia (Wednesday, September 26, 2012) – The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 2012 Men’s and Women’s World Junior Champions will be decided next month at the Oakley ASP World Junior Championships Bali. The ASP’s seven regions including: Australasia, Africa, Hawaii, Europe, Japan, North America and South America have used their respective Pro Junior series’ to determine their regional representatives at the event who will now battle it out to be the first ASP World Champions crowned in Indonesia.
Andrew Doheny (USA) finished runner-up at this event in Bali last year and will be looking to use his exciting brand of surfing to push for another solid result next month.
“Last year’s event was a good experience,” Doheny said. “The waves were really fun and I had a great time, doing well in the contest made the trip that much better. I’m really exited to go back and try my best in the contest and get some good surf. I like going to Bali it’s always fun times there.”
Maxime Huscenot (FRA), 2009 ASP World Junior Champion, will be competing as a junior for the last time at the Oakley ASP World Junior Championships Bali. Husenot’s smooth style and competitive experience will see him enter the event as one of the favourites to take it out.
“I’m feeling good and have good boards at the moment,” Huscenot said. “I’ve been working hard lately, I’ve trained physically since last year and I have a good rhythm going. This is my last opportunity as a junior so I’m going to Bali with hopes of clinching the World Title! I know the wave pretty well and it is very similar to my home wave in Reunion Island.”
Rosanny Alvarez (VEN) will be the first surfer from Venezuela to compete at the ASP World Junior Championships after she claimed the prestigious ASP South America Pro Junior title.
“I am very excited to have secured the ASP South American Junior Title, that is unheard of for my country,” said Alvarez. “Here in Venezuela we do not have much support for travel and to compete, but the president of the Venezuelan Federation of Surf is seeking sponsorship for me to represent my country for the first time in the Oakley ASP World Junior Championships and I believe everything will be okay. Already I am counting the days traveling to Bali!”
Matt Banting (AUS), the 18-year-old from Port Macquarie, Australia has had a breakthrough year in 2012. Banting started the year with a bang, winning both the Pro Junior and the men’s divisions at the prestigious Australian Open Of Surfing and now sits at a very respectable 65th on the ASP Men’s World Rankings.
“I watched the World Juniors at Narrabeen for years when I was a grom,” Banting said. “I watched guys like Adriano De Souza and Jordy Smith in the finals and it’s always been a goal to win one myself. Bali is a great venue! It has a wide variety of waves, great food, great people and the water is warm. My preparation has been good as I’ve just come off the Europe World Tour leg. It’s good to get home, tweak a few things and reset for Bali.”
Nao Omura (JPN) who finished equal 5th at last year’s Oakley ASP World Junior Championships is looking forward to returning to Bali and competing on the world stage.
“I’m so happy and excited to be in the Oakley ASP World Junior Championships again!” Omura said. “The waves in Bali are always fun, with both barrels and rippable waves. I’ve been following the ASP Star events because my home doesn’t have much waves, and I’m training hard at home for the competition.”
The Oakley ASP World Junior Championships Bali will run from October 6 – 17. For LIVE webcast and event videos and more check www.oakleyprojunior.com
ASP South America Representatives
Men
1) Caue Wood (BRA)
2) Peterson Crisanto (BRA)
3) Luan Carvalho (BRA)
4) Italo Ferreira (BRA)
5) Deivid Silva (BRA)
6) Geovane Ferreira (BRA)
Women
1) Juliana Meneghel(BRA)
2) Rosanny Alvarez(VEN)
ASP Australasia Representatives
Men
1) Thomas Woods (AUS)
2) Wade Carmichael (AUS)
3) Jack Freestone (AUS)
4) Matt Banting (AUS)
5) Cooper Chapman (AUS)
6) Soli Bailey (AUS)
Women
1) Nikki Van Dijk(AUS)
2) Ellie-Jean Coffey(AUS)
ASP North America Representatives
Men
1) Andrew Doheny (USA)
2) Evan Thompson (USA)
3) Taylor Clark (USA)
4) Luke Davis (USA)
5) Kanoa Igarashi (USA)
6) Conner Coffin (USA)
Women
1) Quincy Davis(USA)
2) Frankie Harrer(USA)
ASP Hawaii Representatives
Men
1) Keanu Asing (HAW)
2) Ezekiel Lau (HAW)
3) Kalani David (HAW)
4) Kaimana Jaquias (HAW)
5) Tanner Hendrickson (HAW)
6) Makai McNamara (HAW)
Women
1) Mahina Maeda (HAW)
2) Brianna Cope (HAW)
ASP Europe Representatives
Men
1) Maxime Huscenot (FRA)
2) Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR)
3) Frederico Morais (PRT)
4) Vasco Ribeiro (PRT)
5) Vicente Romero (ESP)
Women
1) Cannelle Bulard (REU)
2) Maud Le Car (FRA)
ASP Africa Representatives
Men
1) Davey Brand (ZAF)
2) Beyrick De Vries (ZAF)
3) Michael February (ZAF)
4) Slade Prestwich (ZAF)
5) Dylan Lightfoot (ZAF)
Women
1) Bianca Buitendag(ZAF)
2) Sarah Baum(ZAF)
ASP Japan Representatives
Men
1) Kaito Ohashi (JPN)
2) Arashi Kato (JPN)
3) Takumi Nakamura (JPN)
4) Hiroto Arai (JPN)
5) Reo Kanao (JPN)
Women
1) Nao Omura(JPN)
2) Minato Takahashi(JPN)
Wildcards
Men
Caio Ibelli (BRA)
Ryan Callinan (AUS)
Jack Robinson (AUS)
Carlos Munoz (CRI)
Jocelyn Poulou (PYF)
Hairil Anwar (IND)
Koa Smith (HAW)
