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SEMIFINALISTS DECIDED FOR OAKLEY PRO JUNIOR
SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., Sept. 21, 2007 – The eight semifinalists
in the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Grade-2 Oakley
Pro Junior have been decided today after a stunning afternoon
of competition.
Although scheduled to run through the Semifinals this afternoon
with the Finals set to run on Sunday, event organizers at the
Oakley Pro Junior opted to call competition off following the
completion of the Quarterfinals due to the rapidly deteriorating
conditions.
Despite the trying afternoon surf, the points race at the second
of three Pro Junior events on the Macy’s California Trifecta
Surf Series saw surfers collectively lift their competitive game,
slicing through the shifting beachbreak peaks.
Trevor Saunders (San Clemente, CA) came out of nowhere and is
now the man to beat, dominating the afternoon conditions and
netting the highest heat total of the event, a 17.35 out of a
possible 20, dispatching of East Coasters Travis Beckmann (Vero
Beach, FL) and Cody Thompson (Jacksonville Beach, FL).
“It’s such a huge confidence boost to go out and
beat the top guys out here,” Saunders said. “It
feels really good. This is the farthest I’ve ever made
it in these events so I’m super stoked and I hope I can
go all the way.”
Cory Arrambide (Ventura, CA), current ratings leader on the
ASP North America Pro Junior Series, has been a standout surfer
all event, advancing through to the Quarterfinals of the Oakley
Newport Beach Pro Junior presented by Jeep as well as the Semifinals
of the Oakley Pro Junior.
“I’m doing double duty right now so it’s a
lot of surfing, but it’s good to get a lot of reps in,” Arrambide
said. “The conditions deteriorated this afternoon, but
I still managed to get through both my heats. It’s important
for me to do well in this event as it’s the second-to-last
of the season. It’s an important event in the qualifying
race for Australia.”
Brent Dorrington (Gold Coast, AUS), winner of April’s
Oakley Pro Junior at Lower Trestles, has been eliminated from
Oakley Newport Beach Pro presented by Jeep competition, but remains
a solid threat to the North American draw in the Oakley Pro Junior.
“It was a bit disappointing going down in the men’s
event, but that just happens in surfing,” Dorrington said. “I’m
stoked to still be in the junior event and hopefully I make another
final out here. The waves are similar to Duranbah back home on
the Goldy so I feel pretty comfortable out here. I’m looking
forward to tomorrow’s heats.”
The Semifinals of the Oakley Pro Junior will run tomorrow at
10:20am with the Finals running at 1pm on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007.
Complete results and daily live webcast at HYPERLINK "http://www.newportbeachpro.com" www.newportbeachpro.com
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