Mother Nature Whips Up Huge Waves For Oakley Pro Junior

February 7, 2008

North Stradbroke Island, Qld

Mother nature continued to unleash its awesome power on South East Queensland today, serving up huge waves for day three of the all-new Oakley Pro Junior at North Stradbroke Island.

A large easterly swell that remained constant throughout Tuesday and Wednesday increased considerably today, whipping up a stronger pulse peaking in the six to eight foot range.

Australia and the world's hottest junior surf stars (20-years and under) relished the solid conditions, setting free their exciting competition repertoires in massive beach break peaks at Main Beach, Point Lookout.

Oakley's surfing sensation Julian Wilson also stamped his mark on the 9-star rated ASP Australasian junior tournament, spawning a dominating performance in the final heat of round three.

Wilson, 18, defied tide-affected conditions to bag the morning's highest individual wave score, a near perfect 9.83.

The explosive natural foot backed it up with a 5.33 to storm through to round four of competition with a 15.16 combination.

"Conditions changed just before the start of my heat," said Wilson.

"I was throwing up whether to surf the outside bank or on the inside, but by heat's start I stayed in close. I knew the best chance of getting through the heat was by sticking on the inside reforming peaks."

Wilson, who has been touted as a future world champion, entered the event as fourth seed and is searching for a big result after a slow start to this year's circuit.

"I haven't really been in the swing of things," added Wilson

"I've been feeling good, but haven't had the consistency I've wanted. My confidence is there and hopefully I can turn things around in this event."

Wilson went on to wow the crowd again, winning his next heat in Round 4 and advancing to the prestigious final day of the Oakley Pro Junior at Straddie.

It has been a whirlwind 12 months for the Coolum teenager which has seen him defeat eight-time world champion Kelly Slater (USA), bag a string of wins on the Australasian Pro Junior circuit and become the youngest-ever recipient of the industry's coveted Breakthrough Performer of the Year award.

The prestigious new tournament is the first of six Oakley pro junior events organized for Brazil, Europe, Japan, USA and South Africa in '08. The champion and runner-up from each event will be taken to a secret location to battle it out for more cash and prizes.

The Oakley Pro Junior is the 4th of 12 stops on the 2008 ASP Australasian Pro Junior Series and offers a six-day surfing window, from Tuesday 5th February to Sunday 10th February, 2008, for only four days of competition surfing.

The main event site will be at Cylinder Beach, however the tournament has the option of going to the best surf from Adder Rock to Main Beach.

The Oakley Pro Junior is proudly supported by Redlands Shire Council, Stradbroke Ferries, Stradroke Island Holidays, Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel, Red Bull, Waves Magazine, Surfing Queensland and ASP Australasia.