Nikki Van Dijk (Phillip Island, VIC/AUS), is one of only four females left in the women’s Be The Influence Surf Pro draw. Pic ASP/Will H-S
COFFS HARBOUR, NSW/Australia (Saturday, July 13, 2013) – Day two of the inaugural Be The Influence Surf Pro, the final event on the 2013 men’s and women’s ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series, was treated to an entertaining mix of massive performances, upsets and solid scores. Another full day of competition saw the field that started with over 110 surfers culled to just four Semifinalists in the women’s draw and eight Quarterfinalists in the men’s.
Nikki Van Dijk (Phillip Island, VIC/AUS), who took out the ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series Championship last year, surfed her way to a perfect 10-point-ride, and backed it up with a 9.50 making her intentions clear that she’s hungry for the Be The Influence Surf Pro title. Van Dijk picked off the best waves of the heat, and proceeded to unload a barrage of technical and powerful carves.
“I’m just having fun and it’s showing in my results,” Van Dijk said. “It always feels good to get a 10-point-ride. I usually like to stay busy and catch a lot of waves, but in that heat there wasn’t a lot of good ones so it paid off to wait for the good ones. I’m really enjoying this event and it helps that it’s spreading a good message to teenagers.”
Ellie-Jean Coffey (Gold Coast, QLD/AUS) survived a scare in her Quarterfinal against Keely Andrew (Sunshine Coast, QLD/AUS) late this afternoon. Coffey was on the back foot, needing multiple scores to take the lead and her patient waiting paid off as she snared two excellent waves in the dying stages of the heat to advance into the Semifinals and keep her ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series Championship campaign alive. Coffey will need to win her Semifinal and advance into the Final to amass enough points to overtake Stephanie Single (Lennox Head, NSW/AUS) and claim the 2013 ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series Championship.
“I was really nervous for a while there,” Coffey said. “A perfect wave came through and I was able to make the most of it. It felt good to comeback like that, I usually try to start strong and make my opponent chase me, but it was the other way around this time. As I said yesterday, I’m not worrying about the event or championship. The waves were fun and I was just trying to enjoy myself. I’m looking forward to tomorrow, it should be a fun day.”
Codie Klein (Kingscliff, NSW/AUS) caused a mammoth upset by eliminating Stephanie Single (Lennox Head, NSW/AUS), the current ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series No. 1 ranked surfer in a back-and-forth affair. Single had the highest single wave score of the heat, but a small back up score. Klein capitalised on the last wave of the heat with a series of sharp backhand snaps earning the score and advanced into the Semifinals.
“I was walking up the beach and feeling sick not knowing if I got the score,” Klein said. “I knew the first turn was good, but I didn’t see Steph’s 9-point-ride so I didn’t know. I didn’t go to Tahiti so I don’t have anything to lose at this event, the ratings aren’t on my mind. I’m just chilling, having fun, with no pressure!”
Soli Bailey (Byron Bay, NSW/AUS) today posted the most complete performance of the men’s division, clocking a massive heat total of 17.75 out of a possible 20. Bailey used his full bag of tricks including stylish snaps and lofty airs to impress the judges and easily advance into the Quarterfinals.
“It always feels nice to get some big scores in your first heat,” Bailey said. “But sometimes there’s pressure to go even better in the next round. It’s been a few years since I’ve been to Coffs, but I always enjoy my time here and the waves are really fun. It’s great to have the Be The Influence campaign supporting surfing and the young people of Australia.”
Michael Wright (South Coast, NSW/AUS), younger brother of ASP World Championship Tour campaigners Tyler and Owen Wright, is keeping explosive surfing in the family after posting one of the highest two-wave heat-total of the event thus far – 18.00 out of a possible 20. Wright displaced mass volumes of water with every powerful turn, getting the attention of the judges and the surf fans on the beach.
“This is my first ASP Australasia Pro Junior event of the year,” Wright said. “I was away and sick for a couple of the other ones, so it feel good to come out in my first heat and get a 9-point-ride. The waves are fun, there are plenty of walls to bust out some big turns, I had a lot of fun out there. I’m so happy to make the Quarterfinals, I’m really excited for tomorrow! My older brother Owen is one of the ambassadors for Be The Influence, I’ve looked up to him my whole life, he’s like a mentor of mine and it’s great to see him setting a good example to all the young people in Australia.”
Josh Hay (Central Coast, NSW/AUS) caused the upset of the event by eliminating Jake Sylvester (Newcastle, NSW/AUS), who was crowned ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series Champion yesterday. Hay surfed a smart heat, caught the best waves and proceeded to unload a series of impressive turns and carves.
“This is my best ever result,” Hay said. “That Round of 32 has been a killer for me in the past so it feels unreal to make the Quarterfinals. It also gives me confidence beating Jake (Sylvester), he’s proven this year that he’s the guy to beat and hopefully I can keep this roll going.”
Jake Sylvester (Newcastle, NSW/AUS) has experienced all the highs and lows of professional competition in the last two days, yesterday he claimed the ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series Championship, and today he was eliminated in a heat he should have won.
“I don’t really know what happened,” Sylvester said. “I thought I was in second place and it turns out I was in third. The pressure was off because I won the ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series Championship yesterday, but I was hoping to go further in this event. I came here and did what I wanted to do, so I’m both happy and disappointed.”
The event will run from 12 – 14 July with live scores, news and images available via – www.betheinfluencesurfpro.com
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.
