It was homegrown talent, inspired by the Australia Day celebrations, that dominated the latest round of the Billabong World Junior Championship at Burleigh Heads in Queensland…
ASP World Junior Title contenders Jack Freestone and Garrett Parkes enjoyed home advantage at the Billabong World Junior Championship today, scoring big and advancing to the next round. Elsewhere, Japan's Arashi Kato, Brazil's Filipe Toledo, Hawaii's Nathan Carvalho and Red Bull's own Conner Coffin also ensured progress to the later stages with solid wave time.
For those still in the running for the overall ASP World Junior Title, things got even better when Australian surfer (and trials victor) Wade Carmichael knocked out current ASP World Junior number one, Caio Ibelli. The title race is now wide open with six contenders still in with a shout.
"I'm pretty frothing!" said Carmichael afterwards. "I just wanted to get some good waves and this was the first heat I've had on the good tide with some nice waves, so it's good to get a win. I just wanted to get a good score early to put some pressure on him, then I was able to find a couple of good back-up waves. I fell off the back of my jet ski and then lost priority in the last 30 seconds, so I was pretty nervous. But it all worked out."
"It sucks because I want all the Americans to do well. I've always liked Jake's fast and powerful style, so it's not fun knocking him out of the event" – Coffin
Reigning junior champion Freestone saw off the youngest male competitor Jack Robinson with a series of big airs and gouging carves, notching up the biggest heat total of the event so far, 18.00 (out of a possible 20).
"I was feeling a bit nervous going up against Jack, because I know what he's capable of," said Freestone. "It was fun to have a heat with him, though. I've been watching him since he was ten years old and I think he's a great surfer. I was excited about the heat, too, because there's been a lot of talk in the last few days and I really wanted to get out there and try to beat him."
American surfer and Red Bull athlete Conner Coffin was another of the standout performers, eliminating Jack Halstead with some long right-handed waves.
"It's always a bummer when you have to come up against one of your friends," said Coffin. "It sucks because I want all the Americans to do well. I've always liked Jake's fast and powerful style, so it's not fun knocking him out of the event. But that's what happens in competition."
Next up for Coffin is Ian Gouveia. Red Bull's Japanese surfer Kaito Ohashi progressed, too, after defeating David Van Zyl.
Want more?
- Billabong World Junior Championship webcasts
- Official ASP World Tour website
- More surfing on redbull.com
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