A rain-lashed Burleigh Heads on Australia’s Gold Coast played host to a massive day of competition that saw all quarterfinalists decided in both the men's and women's draws at the Billabong World Junior Championships Gold Coast.
Driving rain, stormy seas and hot competition in 2-3 foot waves contributed to an extraordinary day in the ASP event. The Women's ASP World Junior Title race has been whittled down to just three contenders after number-three seed Dimity Stoyle lost her Round 3 clash with Hawaii’s Alessa Quizon. France’s Joanne Defay , Hawaii’s Leila Hurst and Australia’s Philippa Anderson are still in the running after winning their heats and advancing to the quarterfinals today.
"I'm trying so hard not to put pressure on myself," Hurst said. "Of course there's a little bit of pressure, everyone's talking about the world title, but I'm just trying to have fun."
New Zealand’s Sarah Mason once again showed that her backhand attack is capable of posting some big scores at Burleigh Heads. Mason eliminated one of the standout performers of the event Australia’s Ellie-Jean Coffey, and will now advance to the Quarterfinals.
"I knew that heat wasn't going to be easy," Mason said. "Ellie is a great surfer, so I'm stoked to be into the quarters. I was behind for a lot of that heat but I try not to think about what anyone else is doing. That helped me stay calm and get the scores needed."
Hawaii’s Nage Melamed caused an upset by eliminating the defending Billabong World Junior Championships event champion, South Africa’s Bianca Buitendag. Melamed posted the highest wave score of the women's event thus far a 9.80 (out of a possible 10), thanks to some high-risk turns.
"I knew I needed a big score so I waited for a set," Melamed said. "I was hoping the wave would be a really good one and it turns out I got a big score, so I'm really happy. When I saw that I had Bianca, I knew I had to step up my game. This is my first time at this event so I'm stoked to make it into the quarterfinals and hopefully I can keep it going and make the final."
The Men's ASP World Junior Title race has also seen a mix up with USA’s Connor Coffin bowing out of the race after losing to Brazil’s Ian Gouveia . There's still quite a few scenarios that could play out with only Caio Ibelli, Garrett Parkes, Jack Freestone, Filipe Toledo and Ian Gouveia still in the running. There is even a couple of scenarios where we could see a tie between two surfers, in which case there will be a surf-off - meaning there will be one more heat to decide the 2011 ASP World Junior Champion.
Australia’s Jack Freestone survived a close call, only defeating Japanese surfer Arashi Kato by 0.07. Freestone got the nod from the judges for his smooth style and his ability to link manoeuvres together.
"I thought he won, because the scoreboard said he had a 7.27 and a 6.00," Freestone said. "Then at the last minute it changed so I didn't know what was going on. But I'll take the win. It just felt like I was over surfing the wave, it's pretty slow and fat so I guess I was trying to overdo it."
'It's pretty bad out there, like a dog fight.'
Australia’s Dean Bowen survived a nail-biter in the last heat of the day against fellow countryman Soli Bailey. Both surfers posted a couple of scores in the good range, but it was Bowen who edged out in front by less than half a point thanks to his solid backside snaps.
"I only really caught one wave," Bowen said. "It's pretty bad out there, like a dog fight. I've got a really good board, I just didn't get the right waves. It's just good to get the shocker heat out of the way, I just have to keep the roll going and make a few more heats."
Every heat of the Billabong World Junior Championships Gold Coast will be webcast live via www.billabongpro.com
BILLABONG WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS GOLD COAST WOMEN'S ROUND 3 RESULTS:
HEAT 1: Philippa Anderson (AUS) 9.43 def. Quincy Davis (USA) 4.23
HEAT 2: Sarah Mason (NZL) 13. 57 def. Ellie-Jean Coffey (AUS) 11.67
HEAT 3: Nage Melamed (HAW) 15.63 def. Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 14.16
HEAT 4: Joanne Defay (FRA) 10.16 def. Holly-Sue Coffey (AUS) 5.96
HEAT 5: Leila Hurst (HAW) 12.17 def. Eden Putland (AUS) 11.33
HEAT 6: Felicity Palmateer (AUS) 10.67 def. Nao Omura (JPN) 10.57
HEAT 7: Sarah Baum (ZAF) 16.94 def. Maud Le Car (FRA) 7.83
HEAT 8: Alessa Quizon (HAW) 12.90 def. Dimity Stoyle (AUS) 11.93
BILLABONG WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS GOLD COAST MEN'S ROUND 4 RESULTS:
HEAT 1: Medi Veminardi (REU) 12.50 def. Mateia Hiquily (PYF) 7.67
HEAT 2: Jack Freestone (AUS) 10.20 def. Arashi Kato (JPN) 10.13
HEAT 3: Ian Gouveia (BRA) 10.90 def. Conner Coffin (USA) 5.77
HEAT 4: Wade Carmichael (AUS) 11.50 def. Vasco Riberio (PRT) 6.33
HEAT 5: Garrett Parkes (AUS) 14.43 def. Kaito Ohashi (JPN) 6.60
HEAT 6: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 17.30 def. Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) 10.44
HEAT 7: Nathan Carvalho (HAW) 12,77 def. Evan Thompson (USA) 8.43
HEAT 8: Dean Bowen (AUS) 10.20 def. Soli Bailey (AUS) 10.07
Want more?
- Billabong World Junior Championship webcasts
- Official ASP World Tour website
- More surfing on redbull.com
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