QUALIFYING RACE HEATS UP AS SWEET 16 DECIDED AT OAKLEY PRO JUNIOR ASP NORTH AMERICA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT THE O’NEILL COLD WATER CLASSIC PRESENTED BY JEEP

The qualifying race for the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Junior Championships heated up today as the ASP Grade-3 Oakley North America Pro Junior Championships, the final event of the 2007 ASP North America season, narrowed the draw down to the final 16 surfers.

The first ASP Grade-3 Pro Junior event in North American history, the Oakley Pro Junior offers more prize money and ratings points than any event before it, and will play a vital role in determining the top four North American qualifiers for the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships in January.

Adam Wickwire (Satellite Beach, FL) survived a tight heat in the Round of 32 to keep his Oakley Pro Junior campaign alive. Despite inconsistent conditions, the prodigious goofy-footer slashed his way through the lumpy righthanders to come away with the win.

“The surf in my heat went near flat,” Wickwire said. “It was pretty tough as we were all fighting over 2s and 3s. The whole time I was worried that a bomb would come through and I would miss it. Eventually, I just sat on the inside and was able to pick off a couple where I could do some turns.”

Opting not to compete in the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 4-Star O’Neill Cold Water Classic presented by Jeep, which is running in conjunction with the Oakley Pro Junior ASP North America Championships, Wickwire poured all his focus into the Oakley Pro Junior event in hopes of finally attaining a qualifying spot for the prestigious Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.

“I’m not trying to qualify for the World Tour this year so I set out with the goal of making it to World Juniors,” Wickwire said. “The past two years, I’ve had to watch my chance slip away at this event, so I’m stoked I’m still in it, and hopefully we can confirm it in the next couple of heats.”

With his advancement into the Quarterfinals, Wickwire moves into the ratings lead on the 2007 ASP North America Pro Junior Series, following the surprise elimination of former leader Cory Arrambide (Ventura, CA) from competition yesterday.

Eric Geiselman (New Smyrna Beach, FL), last year’s ASP North America Pro Junior Champion, was ousted from O’Neill Cold Water Classic presented by Jeep competition this morning, but punctuated his presence in the ASP Grade-3 Oakley Pro Junior this afternoon with an emphatic win to advance through to the Quarterfinals.

“I was a bit bummed that I didn’t get the waves in my ’QS heat, but I managed to get a few good ones in today’s junior heat,” Geiselman said. “The setup here makes it really hard to determine which waves are going to flatten out and which will be good and run.”

Currently sitting in third on the 2007 ASP North America Pro Junior Series, Geiselman knows that he’ll need a solid result in the Oakley Pro Junior to solidify his Top 4 placing.

“There’s definitely a lot of pressure in this junior event,” Geiselman said. “There are so many points up for grabs that a lot can happen. Every heat I make puts me closer to qualifying for World Juniors and that’s the goal. I’m trying not to think about it though. I’m just taking it one heat at a time.”

The top four finishers on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series will join Tanner Gudauskas (San Clemente, CA), the highest-rated North American surfer on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) who is of junior age (20 and under), at the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships in January.

The ASP Grade-3 Oakley Pro Junior is also the third and final event in the Oakley Pro Junior division of the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series presented by Jeep. After the completion of April’s ASP Grade-2 Oakley Pro Junior at Lowers and September’s ASP Grade-2 Oakley Pro Junior in Newport Beach, competitors at the Santa Cruz event will be vying for one of three top ratings positions, which will split a bonus $5,000 purse.

At present, Australian import Brent Dorrington (Gold Coast, AUS) leads the charge, but with the ASP Grade-3 points on offer in Santa Cruz, anything can happen.

Tomorrow will be the day of reckoning as the champions will be decided in the ASP Grade-3 Oakley Pro Junior, the Oakley Pro Junior division on the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series presented by Jeep, the 2007 ASP North America Pro Junior Series as well as the North American qualifiers for the prestigious Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.

All O’Neill Cold Water Classic presented by Jeep as well as Oakley Pro Junior action will be webcast LIVE at www.coldwaterclassic.net

An event hotline is available for competitors and spectators at (831) 479-5577. The hotline will provide information on schedule and locations throughout the O’Neill Cold Water Classic presented by Jeep.

WAVEWATCH FORECAST:

Sun (10/14): Northwest windswell continues at 3.9 ft @ 11 secs. Surf 2.5 to 3 ft. Calm wind in the morning turning northwest 10 kts afternoon adding a little sideshore texture.

RESULTS:

Oakley Pro Junior – ASP Grade-3
Round 2: 32 surfers remaining (1st and 2nd advance)
Heat 5: Adam Wickwire (USA) 11.50, Kevin Kapsky (USA) 5.83, Eddie Guilbeau (USA) 5.37, Clay Marzo (HAW) 4.00
Heat 6: Nat Young (USA) 15.50, Jesse Heilman (USA) 9.83, Cody Thompson (USA) 7.74, Scott Hammonds (USA) 4.30
Heat 7: Eric Geiselman (USA) 14.43, John John Florence (HAW) 12.06, Shey Yates (USA) 10.16, Matt Mohagen (USA) 9.10
Heat 8: Kilian Garland (USA) 10.57, Andrew Doheny (USA) 9.47, Phillip Goold (USA) 3.90, Blake Jones (USA) 2.83