ASP GRADE 2 OAKLEY PRO JUNIOR OPENS FINAL LEG OF 2007 ASP NORTH AMERICA PRO JUNIOR SERIES

Oakley Pro Junior presented by Heritage Surf and Sport
Event No. 8 on the 2007 ASP North America Pro Junior Series (Men)
Sea Isle, New Jersey, United States of America
August 31-September 1, 2007

SEA ISLE, New Jersey (Thursday, August 30, 2007) – The Oakley Pro Junior presented by Heritage Surf and Sport begins tomorrow at Sea Isle, New Jersey, and will usher in the final leg for this season’s pro junior competitors.

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Grade-2 Pro Junior event is the final East Coast event on this season’s ASP North America Pro Junior Series, playing a critical role in this season’s ratings race.

Chris Waring (Seal Beach, CA) and Adam Wickwire (Satellite Beach, FL), current No. 1 and 2 respectively on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series, will be absent from this weekend’s event, opening the door for a major ratings shift at the top.

Eric Geiselman (New Smyrna Beach, FL), last year’s ASP North America Pro Junior Champion and current No. 3 on this season’s ratings, has been a solid performer all year, but hopes to solidify his position in New Jersey.

“I feel like I’ve been having a pretty good run all season and my main goal is to stay consistent,” Geiselman said.  “Hopefully there are some waves this weekend and we are able to have a good event.  I would like to get a result in New Jersey to cement myself at the top before the last two events.”

Cory Arrambide (Ventura, CA), current No. 4 on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series, has been another standout competitor this season, but is still hunting for his first professional win.

“I’ve had a few bridesmaids this season, but haven’t gotten the win yet,” Arrambide said.  “Obviously the goal is to qualify for the World Junior Championships, but I would like to get a win before the season is out.”

The top four competitors on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series by year’s end, as well as the highest North American surfer on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) who is of junior age (20 and under), will qualify for the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships held in Narrabeen, Australia next January.

The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships is becoming a proven pipeline to surf superstardom, having crowned such greats as Andy Irons (HAW), Joel Parkinson (AUS), Adriano de Souza (BRA) and current ASP World Junior Champion Jordy Smith (ZAF).

Following the Oakley Pro Junior presented by Heritage Surf and Sport, the 2007 ASP North America Pro Junior Series will next head to the ASP Grade-2 Oakley Pro Junior in Newport Beach, California in September before culminating in the ASP Grade-3 Oakley Pro Junior in Santa Cruz for the 2007 ASP North America Pro Junior Championships – an event which will prove pivotal in the ratings race this season.