Peru’s Alonso Correa was one international standout to find success on opening day of the Ron Jon Quiksilver Pro Junior.
COCOA BEACH, Florida/USA (Friday, March 8, 2013) – Opening day of the inaugural Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 3-Star Ron Jon Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Junior commenced today in clean two-to-four foot waves at Sheppard Beach Park and dove in to two rounds of men’s competition while narrowing the women’s field down to the Semifinals.
Stop No. 3 on the Men’s ASP North America Pro Junior Series and No. 2 for the women, the Ron Jon Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Junior plays a crucial role in surfers’ qualification campaigns for the ASP World Junior Tour.
Alonso Correa (Lima, PER) was one international to shine on the opening day of the Ron Jon Quiksilver Pro Junior. Correa attacked with a solid aerial game on his forehand and was equally successful with his backhand combinations.
“I’m trying to get some points on the ASP Pro Junior Series and trying to gain experience surfing internationally,” Correa said. “These waves are totally different than at home, but the waves were fun in the morning. I was lucky to get that right in my second heat, it was perfect.”
Noah Schweizer (New Smyrna Beach, FL), led the East Coast charge on opening day of competition, posting some of the day’s highest scores on the running righthanders on offer at Cocoa Beach.
“This is actually my first time surfing in Cocoa Beach,” Schweizer said. “It’s a cool town, but I usually stay in New Smyrna. The waves are kind of fun. There are a couple of ramps on the rights.”
Schweizer broke on to the ASP North America Pro Junior Series last season, and is hoping to emerge in to the top regional ranks in 2013.
“This is my first full year on the Juniors and I’m going to try and do as many as I can,” Schweizer said. “I made one final last year and I’m hoping to get a few good results this year.”
Chelsea Roett (Christ Church, BRB) led the opening rounds of Ron Jon Roxy Pro Junior while advancing through to the Semifinals. Roett took the day’s top scores in her Round 1 heat of an 8.20 single wave score to aid in her 15.63 heat total and was equally deadly in the quickly changing afternoon conditions.
“I had that good heat to start the day and conditions really changed a lot between rounds,” Roett said. “I’ve had some experience in some of the other Pro Junior events and I’m hoping I can post a strong result here in Florida.”
Dax McGill (North Shore, HI) showed impressive signs of versatility today with a polished small-wave game. The Hawaiian talent is currently competing for the first time in Florida and looked at home in the tricky beachbreak conditions.
“I’m really excited to be here,” McGill said. “Everything is much different than I thought it would be from the waves to the city. It’s fun to be out there and you can get a few runners. The first couple of days I came here it was flat, but it’s gotten bigger and better and it’s fun out there.”
The Ron Jon Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Junior will return at Sheppard Beach park tomorrow morning at 7am local time.
