Local standout Joshua Burke, 16, will compete at this year’s Sprite Soup Bowl Pro Junior.
HUNTINGTON BEACH, California/USA (Thursday, October 3, 2013) – The inaugural Sprite Soup Bowl Pro Junior has officially been added to the 2013-2014 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) ASP North America Pro Junior Series schedule. The new addition to the regional tour will host ASP 2-Star Men’s and 1-Star Women’s events at Barbados’ iconic wave of Soup Bowl from November 14 through 17, 2013.
The new event will count towards surfers’ qualification campaigns for the 2014 ASP World Junior Championships while giving up-an-coming talent the opportunity to compete at a world-class Caribbean destination.
“We’re really happy to have the addition of Soup Bowl to the ASP Pro Junior circuit,” Meg Bernardo, ASP North America Executive Manager said. “It’s a great opportunity for our younger members to gain some travel experience while competing at an iconic destination.”
Josh Burke (BRB), 16, has emerged on to the ASP North America Pro Junior Series recently and has become a leader of the Bejan surfing scene. With Burke spending the last year traveling to compete on the regional series, the islander is excited to capitalize on an event at his local break.
“I’m so glad that there is finally an ASP event at my favorite spot, Soup Bowl in Barbados, Burke said. “Every November since 1981 there has been an event here. My Dad won the men’s pro in 1994 and I got 5th in the one last year. I’ve always dreamed of surfing an ASP event at Soup Bowl I am really looking forward to this event.”
“I surf Soup Bowl every chance I get and have surfed it quite big numerous times,” Continued Burke. “However, the most memorable to date was in January this year with Kelly (Slater), Keith Malloy, Bill Hartley and Danny Edghill when it was maxing out and gnarly. Soup Bowl is the most consistent wave on the island and possibly the Caribbean. November can either be very rippable or heavy draining barrels. The best conditions are swell from the NE 6-10 ft with a light SW wind.”
Chelsea Tuach (BRB), 17, defending ASP Women’s North America Pro Junior Series Champion, is another rising talent looking to capitalize on a local event.
“When I found out that the ASP was having a Pro Junior event in Barbados, I couldn’t have been more excited,” Tuach said. “It’s going to be really nice to compete at home for a change, not having the pressure of traveling and learning a new wave and being able to surf an event like this in front of my home crowd. I think this is going to be a great event. Soup Bowl is by far my favorite wave, its just a rippable right point. It’s almost always fun and the tide doesn’t effect it much.”
