KERAMAS, Bali/Indonesia (Thursday, October 11, 2012) – Today the 2012 Oakley ASP World Junior Championships Bali was treated to a classic day of competition surfing. The surf was in the 4 foot (1.5 meter) range, with a variety of barrels and turn sections on offer. The competitors put it all on the line, fighting through the first elimination round, catching some solid waves over sharp, shallow reef, as the Round 2 winners took one step closer to being crowned ASP World Junior Champion.
Jack Robinson (AUS), the 14-year-old wildcard caused the upset of the event eliminating the reigning ASP World Junior Champion Caio Ibelli (BRA). Robinson used superior wave selection to put himself on the best waves of the heat, and threaded the tubed skillfully to advance to Round 3 with a new title – ‘the giant killer’.
“There wasn’t a lot of waves,” Robinson said. “If he caught the waves I did he would have gotten big scores too. I surf waves like this at home in WA all the time, so barrel riding is one of my strengths. I’m pretty happy, it feels good to win that one.”
Keanu Asing (HAW), the Oakley ASP World Junior Championships number 1 seed survived a scare in the first heat of the morning. Conditions turned tricky as soon as the siren sounded and at one point it looked like the local Indonesian wildcard would cause an upset, but Asing went to work and posted a couple of scores to progress to Round 3.
“There were no waves in that heat,” Asing said. “It would have been nice if we could have shared a bunch of barrels, but a win is a win. In the freesurf this morning I was getting wave-after-wave and it was so much fun. That’s just how it goes sometimes. I’m stoked be in Round 3. Last year at this event I got some of the best waves I’ve ever had in competition, so I hope I score like that in the next round.”
Andrew Doheny (USA), last year’s Oakley World Pro Junior runner-up bounced back from his Round 1 loss to post an impressive Round 2 win. Doheny was one of the day’s top performers because of his unique ability to unleash a combination of moves on one wave.
“The level of surfing at this event is so high!” Doheny said. “I get nervous because everyone is so good. I was off my game in the first round, so it feels good to come back and have a good heat. I’m loving being in Bali, there’s a lot of good rights and the people, food and everything are great.”
Wade Carmichael (AUS) put his powerhouse surfing on display in Round 2 today, eliminating fellow Australian Soli Bailey (AUS). Carmichael was the standout surfer in an exciting day of surfing, using explosive turns to book a ticket into Round 3 where he’ll face Peterson Crisanto (BRA) when competition resumes.
“I’m frothing,” Carmichael said. “That was fun. I stayed here at Komune a week before the event and it was great to get lots of practise sessions. I’m feeling good. I feel like this wave suits my surfing so I just want to get one a roll.”
Hairil Anwar (IND), the local wildcard from Lakey Peak, Sumbawa has spent the last few years working on his competitive surfing prowess on the Gold Coast, Australia. He put that knowledge to good use today defeating Dylan Lightfoot (ZAF) and keeping his ASP World Junior Title campaign alive.
“It’s good to win for my family and friends who have come to visit and for my country.” Anwar said. “When I’m in Australia I miss my home, but it’s great to surf Snapper with guys like Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson. It’s done so much for my surfing. If my friends want to make it in surfing they will probably have to do the same.”
Kaito Ohashi (JPN) defeated South African surfer Slade Prestwich (ZAF) in a tight heat today. Ohashi finished the heat with a series of backhand snaps that catapulted him into the lead and onto the next Round.
“I love Keramas,” Ohashi said. “I fell on some good waves, so I am happy to win the heat and make Round 3.”
A call will be made at 5:45am for a possible 6am start to the women’s Final and the Men’s Round 3. The Oakley ASP World Junior Championships Bali will run from October 6 – 17. For LIVE webcast, event videos and more check www.oakleyprojunior.com.
UPCOMING OAKLEY ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS MEN’S ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS: HEAT 1: Ezekiel Lau (HAW) vs. Deivid Silva (BRA) HEAT 2: Carlos Munoz (CRI) vs. Vicente Romero (ESP) HEAT 3: Tanner Hendrickson (HAW) vs. Evan Thompson (USA) HEAT 4: Peterson Crisanto (BRA) vs. Wade Carmichael (AUS) HEAT 5: Maxime Huscenot (FRA) vs. Caue Wood (BRA) HEAT 6: Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) vs. Cooper Chapman (AUS) HEAT 7: Koa Smith (HAW) vs. Andrew Doheny (USA) HEAT 8: Keanu Asing (HAW) vs. Jack Robinson (AUS) HEAT 9: Jack Freestone (AUS) vs. Geovane Ferreira (BRA) HEAT 10: Michael February (ZAF) vs. Arashi Kato (JPN) HEAT 11: Luke Davis (USA) vs. Kalani David (HAW) HEAT 12: Connor Coffin (USA) vs. Hairil Anwar (IND) HEAT 13: Matt Banting (AUS) vs. Italo Ferreira (BRA) HEAT 14: Frederico Morais (PRT) vs. Kaito Ohashi (JPN) HEAT 15: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) vs. Hiroto Arai (JPN) HEAT 16: Thomas Woods (AUS) vs. Ryan Callinan (AUS)
