Competition for the Billabong Association of Surfing Professionals World Junior Championships began yesterday in Australia. Kaua‘i’s Sebastian Zietz was scheduled to take the water in the final heat after the men’s competition started at 8 a.m. local time. Leila Hurst
Competition for the Billabong Association of Surfing Professionals World Junior Championships began yesterday in Australia.
Kaua‘i’s Sebastian Zietz was scheduled to take the water in the final heat after the men’s competition started at 8 a.m. local time. Leila Hurst and Bethany Hamilton were on standby for a possible afternoon start.
Hurst was assigned to Heat 6 to compete against fellow Hawai‘i teen and reigning Supergirl Junior Pro champion Coco Ho and Brazilian Gabriela Leite.
Hamilton, in Heat 4, will surf against France’s Alizee Arnaud and Australia’s Tyler Wright.
Zietz, Kaua‘i’s lone male entry in the championships, has been pit against the Mainland’s Andrew Doheny and France’s Marc Lacomare.
O‘ahu’s Kiron Jabour was the first surfer up in the competition.
Other Hawai‘i surfers slated to compete wereTonino Benson, Dusty Payne, Casey Brown, Kai Barger and Granger Larsen.
Larsen caused a big upset yesterday, defeating No. 1 seed Jadson Andre of Brazil. Larsen stole the heat on his final ride, producing an 8.5 ride score to win through to Round 3. Andre must now finish within the top two of his Round 2 heat in order to continue.
The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships is the premiere junior event in the world, with surfers from seven ASP regions (North America, South America, Australasia, Europe, Hawai‘i, Africa and Japan) as well as wildcards from ASP International and Billabong all vying for the ASP World Junior Title.
