Nikki Van Dijk (Phillip Island, VIC/AUS), Ellie-Jean Coffey (Gold Coast, QLD/AUS), Jack Duggan (Sunshine Coast, QLD/AUS) and Jordan Lawler (Narrabeen, NSW/AUS). Pic ASP/Will H-S
COFFS HARBOUR, NSW/Australia (Saturday, July 13, 2013) – An exciting finals day at the inaugural Be The Influence Surf Pro saw Ellie-Jean Coffey (Gold Coast, QLD/AUS) take out the ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series Championship, and Nikki Van Dijk (Phillip Island, VIC/AUS) and Jordan Lawler (Narrabeen, NSW/AUS) claim event wins in clean two foot (1.5 meters) surf at Coffs Harbour.
Ellie-Jean Coffey (Gold Coast, QLD/AUS) claimed the 2013 ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series Championship after she amassed enough points to overtake Stephanie Single (Lennox Head, NSW/AUS). Coffey has made the final of all three ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series events this year, claiming a win at the season opener in Newcastle, and runner-up finishes in Tahiti and here at the Be The Influence Surf Pro.
“I’m happy with this year’s performance I made the final at every event,” Coffey said. “I just wanted to come and surf and have fun and that’s what I did and I ended up with the ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series Championship and a runner-up finish so I’m really happy. It’s been a big week so I’m looking forward to going home and taking it easy for a while. This win is big for my career, and will give me a good seed in the ASP 6-Star World Tour events next year.”
Nikki Van Dijk (Phillip Island, VIC/AUS) was in ominous form throughout the entire Be The Influence Surf Pro this week, posting six of the top ten wave scores in the women’s division. She carried that form into the Final against Coffey, posting excellent scores courtesy of her razor sharp turns and gouges.
“I was lucky in the final to get some scores early because there was a long lull in the middle,” Van Dijk said. “At the start of the Final I had a flashback to the Newcastle Pro Junior final where Ellie-Jean (Coffey) and I matched up and she beat me, so I wanted to get her back and I was thinking ‘not again, this one is mine’. I’m really happy to get back in competition mode because it had been a while. I’m feeling good and ready for the ASP 6-Star World Tour events that are coming up in the US and Europe. ”
Jordan Lawler (Narrabeen, NSW/AUS) was one of the most exciting surfers to watch all weekend at the Be The Influence Surf Pro, launching massive airs and surfing with style and flow on both his backhand and forehand. In the Final Lawler was in second position with two minutes on the clock and was able to find a wave, executing a big turn and stylish air-reverse to move into the lead and claim his first ASP Pro Junior Series win.
“This is incredible!” Lawler said. “My family is here and to win my first ASP event in front of them feels amazing! I’ve had such a good time in Coffs Harbour, the weather has been great and the waves are fun and now I’ve won the event and I’ll remember this forever.”
Jack Duggan (Sunshine Coast, QLD/AUS) finished runner-up to Lawler and posted the best result of his ASP Pro Junior career. Duggan mixed airs and solid turns to get an early lead in the Final, but was unable to hold onto it and had to settle for second.
“I’ve had a good year, I got a 3rd in Newcastle and a 2nd here so I feel really good,” Duggan said. “He (Lawler) was trying to get me to catch all of these little waves and I was letting them go. Then this one came through and he got it, did a nice air and he got the score. Congratulations to Jordy, he surfed really well and I’m stoked for him. It’s really good for Be The Influence to be involved with this event and for us surfers to spread a good message to all the kids.”
Leonardo Fioravanti (Italy) was one of the event’s most exciting surfers, laying down impressive combinations of snaps, airs and carves to work his way to an equal 3rd place finish. Fioravanti could only be stopped by a rampaging Lawler in an epic Semifinal battle that saw the two young guns go back and forth in what was one of the best heats of the event.
“I just couldn’t find any waves at the start,” Fioravanti said. “I got one at the end and got a 9.00 for a nice air, but it was too late and wasn’t enough. I’m happy with third, the waves have been fun all week. I would have liked to make the Final, but there are a lot of good surfers at this event so I’m glad to come and do well here.”
Jacob Wilcox (Margaret River, WA/AUS), Be The Influence Surf Pro wildcard stormed through the draw, all the way to an equal 3rd place finish after being eliminated by Duggan in the Semifinals. This is Wilcox’s first ASP Pro Junior event and after an impressive showing he’s set himself up as one to watch in future ASP Pro Junior events.
The Be The Influence Surf Pro was the last event on the men’s and women’s ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series and helped decide the Australasian qualifiers for the up-and-coming ASP World Junior Championships to be held later this year.
The event is backed by the Be the Influence – Tackling Binge Drinking initiative, which is an Australian 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.
