JUNIOR SURFERS GEAR UP FOR $15K OAKLEY PRO JUNIOR ASP NORTH AMERICA CHAMPIONSHIP IN SANTA CRUZ

SANTA CRUZ, Calif., Oct 16, 2008 – The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Grade-3 Oakley Pro Junior ASP North America Championships will kickoff on October 21, 2008 at Santa Cruz’s prized Steamer Lane. The event will cap off an exciting year of competition and will see the crowning of both the 2008 ASP North America Pro Junior Series and Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series Champions.

The Oakley Pro Junior ASP North America Championships in Santa Cruz marks the last of 10 events held on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series, with six of the surfers top 10 results added up throughout the year to determine each competitors rating. The top five surfers at year’s end earn their spot to compete in the ASP World Junior Championships held in Narrabeen, Australia each January. The contest also marks the last of three events held in the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series, an ASP specialty series, which is held alongside the ASP Pro Junior events. and offers an additional prize purse to its top three finishers.

Cory Arrambide (Ventura, CA), 19, is currently leading the competitive field towards the finish line and is looking to seal the deal on his first ASP North America Pro Junior Series title. The explosive Californian has shown poise and consistency that has gone unmatched throughout the season and will hope to claim the title at the Oakley Pro Junior ASP North America Championships.

“It would mean a lot to me for sure,” Arrambide said. “I’ve worked really hard all year to be there and it was my goal from the start of the season. To finish at the top would be great!”

Arrambide’s standout season will earn him a position amongst the world’s finest junior competitors in Australia, where he will have the chance to showcase his talent in hopes to claim the title of ASP World Junior Champion.

“There are a lot of great surfers from all over that push my surfing which makes it fun,” Arrambide said. “It should be exciting and hopefully I get a good result.”

Nat Young (Santa Cruz, Ca), 17, the defending Oakley Pro Junior Santa Cruz champion and current No. 2 on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series ratings, will be out to defend the title in front of his home crowd. The versatile goofy-footer has proven to be a threat to the competition in a variety of conditions throughout the year and is a favorite going into the event at his home break.

“It meant a lot to me to win last year because so much of the community was rooting for me,” Young said.  “It really meant a lot to win at my home break, The Lane.”

Young has been working on his competitive strategy on his down time and will look to put it to use at the Oakley Pro Junior.

“I've been doing all the ASP Pro Junior Events, and some WQS events,” Young said. “Nike 6.0 arranged for its riders to get some heat training from Ian Cairns and that training has helped me a lot. It is really staying in my mind.  I haven't been home much, so I haven't been able to surf The Lane as much as I'd like, but when I do get home, I'll surf there everyday before the event to prepare.”

Young is currently sitting in second behind Arrambide on the ratings and will hope to solidify his position for the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships. The Santa Cruz native is looking forward to gaining international experience in Australia that he hopes will transition to his future professional surfing career.

“I'd be excited for the opportunity to surf at the Pro Junior Championships in Australia because it will give me a chance to surf against the best international juniors in the world,” Young said. “It will prepare me for surfing against all the international surfers on the ‘QS. Plus, it will give me another chance to surf in Australia at some breaks I haven't been to.”

Dillon Perillo (Malibu, CA), 18, is currently sitting in sixth overall on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series and second on the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series. The regular-footer won the last Oakley Pro Junior in Newport Beach, CA and will look to put on another notable performance in order to claim a seed in the ASP World Junior Championships. Perillo will also look to top current Trifecta leader Sebastian Zietz (Kilauea, HI), 20, to claim the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series title for the juniors.

“Now that I have a chance of making world’s I want to do as best as I can to make it, so you can say I have a lot of drive behind me,” Perillo said. “It would be one of my biggest accomplishments for sure and would top off my pro junior year.”

Perillo has been building momentum throughout the season. He earned a second- place finish at the ASP WQS Vans El Ponto Loco last month and has used the Final berth as a confidence builder for the remainder of the ASP Pro Junior season. Perillo feels he is ready for the challenge entering the final event.

“I've been getting good boards towards the second half of the year and after that first result I've had a lot more confidence than I've had ever,” Perillo said. “I also feel better than ever and I had mono in the beginning of the year.”

The Oakley Pro Junior will be webcast from October 21-26, 2008. For all of the LIVE action log on to www.coldwaterclassic.net