Mitch Parkinson (AUS), current No.2 ranked surfer on the ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series. Pic ASP/Will H-S
COOLANGATTA, QLD/AUS (Thursday, April 18, 2013) – ASP Australasia are proud to announce that Surfing Australia have responded to the urgent need for more ASP Pro Junior events in Australia by launching a new event the Be the Influence Surf Pro.
An initiative of Surfing Australia, the ASP 2-Star rated men’s and women’s event at Coffs Harbour from 12th – 14th July will be the fourth and final event of the 2013 ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series.
Surfing Australia CEO Andrew Stark said it was critical there were more opportunities to compete for Australia’s huge talent pool of Pro Junior (20 and under) surfers and the organisation was determined to help ASP Australasia establish a new event.
Surfing Australia are investing heavily into their new high performance scholarship program through the new state of the art Hurley Surfing Australia High Performance Centre so it was critical to ensure there was a competition pathway provided for the athletes this year.
The new ASP Pro Junior in Coffs Harbour is also an absolute perfect start to Surfing Australia’s brand new partnership with Be the Influence a national campaign tackling binge drinking. The Pro Junior age demographic is a perfect target market to educate with this important health message. Surfing Australia and ASP Australasia would like to thank the Federal Government through the Be the Influence program for their support and also Surfing NSW for running the event.
Dane Jordan, ASP Australasia General Manager is grateful for the continued support from Surfing Australia and is looking forward to crowning the men’s and women’s 2013 ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series Champions at Coffs Harbour at at the inaugural Be the Influence Surf Pro.
“ASP Australasia, our fans and the surfers are grateful for the hard work and dedication from Surfing Australia to make this event happen,” Jordan said. “The ASP and Surfing Australia have a long history of working together and we’re looking forward to continuing that tradition at the Be the Influence Surf Pro, while at the same time adding two new ASP Australasian Pro Junior Series Champions names to the history books.”
Surfing Australia National Coaching Director Martin Dunn said the new event would provide an important step in the development of Australia’s leading junior surfers.
“Surfers get a lot of practise in local and regional competitions, but having a Pro Junior is the next big step for these kids to experience competition at this next level,” Dunn said. “It’s great that Surfing Australia has stepped up and backed the event.”
The event is backed by the Be the Influence – Tackling Binge Drinking initiative, which is a Federal Government campaign addressing youth binge drinking and the influence of alcohol promotion on young Australians by promoting anti-binge drinking messaging through sport sponsorships.
The Be the Influence – Tackling Binge Drinking sponsorship is managed through the Australian National Preventive Health Agency. The Be the Influence Surf Pro is proudly supported by Be the Influence – Tackle Binge Drinking, Coffs Harbour City Council, Surfing Australia, ASP Australasia and Surfing NSW.
