Tanner Gudauskas (USA), 25, will be the top seed in the 2013 Vans Pro.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia/USA (Friday, August 16, 2013) – The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 4-Star Vans Pro is set to return to 1st Street Jetty in Virginia Beach, Virginia, running in conjunction with the East Coast Surfing Championships from August 19 through 25, 2013.
The Vans Pro is the only US East Coast event on the 2013 ASP Qualifying Series, attracting some of the nation’s top talent and international rising stars who are in search of crucial points towards their ASP World Ranking.
Tanner Gudauskas (San Clemente, CA), 25, top seed at the Vans Pro, was a standout in last year’s event and was quick to mention that board selection is crucial in earning a top result in Virginia Beach’s often challenging conditions.
“ECSC is all about having the right equipment,” Gudauskas said. “Especially being a big human like myself. “If you can generate speed on the small waves then it is unlimited fun.”
Gudauskas is a perennial standout at the Vans Pro and is excited to take in the sights and sounds brought on by the Vans Pro’s festival atmosphere.
“I love VB,” Gudauskas said. “It’s great to hang with all the boys and enjoy the time, have a couple orange crush drinks, check out Big D at Coastal Edge, buy a Yolo t shirt and be stoked! They said Virginia Beach is for lovers man, who doesn’t like that? For me I am stoked because Dane is coming out of semi retirement of the jersey to compete again in Virginia. We are stoked to harness the energy and try to make some heats! Don’t let Dane get in his zone!”
Keanu Asing (Ewa Beach, HI), 20, winner of last year’s Vans Pro Junior, has been climbing the Men’s ASP World Ranking with some standout results this season and will be a double-threat in both the men’s and junior event this year.
“Winning that Pro Junior last year was amazing and boosted my confidence for sure,” Asing said. “It would mean a lot to win the men’s at ECSC but I’m mainly looking forward to my performance and getting waves. I can’t win without waves or a good performance so I’m just mainly looking forward to hopefully having some waves down in VB and surf best to my ability.”
While Asing has the opportunity to surf in world-class conditions surrounding his home Island of Oahu, his local breaks in Ewa Beach have helped Asing develop his small wave skills.
“Coming from Hawaii where the waves are always big, people tend to think that we might not be as good competing in smaller surf, but I kind of thrive off of these waves sometimes,” Asing said. “Where I’m from in Ewa Beach has a lot of waves that are fairly similar to Virginia Beach, and the past few years this place has brought me some success so I guess I’m pretty comfortable here.”
While the Vans Pro will headline as the main event, the ASP 4-Star Vans Pro Junior will play a vital role in deciding both qualifiers for the 2013 ASP World Junior Championships and the regional under-21 champion.
Jake Halstead (La Jolla, CA), 19, current No. 1 on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series, has put together an impressive return to competition following a severe ankle injury, taking out his first ASP Pro Junior win while marching atop the regional rankings. The Californian knows another crucial result at the Vans Pro Junior is crucial in solidifying the ASP North America Pro Junior Series Title and is focused on earning another banner result.
“Going in to Virginia Beach being first in the points ratings is a good feeling,” Halstead said. “At the start of the year, I really didn’t expect to be in this position. Because of an injury, I had to miss the first Pro Junior contest at Sunset Beach which I really wanted to do because I love that wave, but I was super stoked to win in Florida which was a huge confidence builder for me. Virginia beach is going to be a key event because it is the last 4 Star event of the year and I know I just need to go there and let my surfing do the talking. The waves in Virginia Beach are mostly small wind waves and I have some really good equipment for that this year. Winning the ASP Pro Junior North America Series would mean the world to me. It is something I have been working hard towards.”
The Vans Pro and Vans Pro Junior will run in conjunction with the Coastal Edge ECSC pres. By Vans and will run from August 19 through 25, 2013.
