Two Qualifiers Remain For Entry Into Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge Championship Worth $75K

August 5, 2008

Oakley junior Romain Cloitre (REU) will be chasing a Global Challenge qualification in France. Photo: Russ

Australia, South Africa, USA and Brazil Down; Japan and France Remain

With four countries down, the Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge lands simultaneously in Japan and France this weekend for the final two qualifiers. The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Grade-1 Oakley Pro Junior Japan hits Shidashita Point, Chiba, August 8-9 with a $5,000 prize purse. Concurrently, the ASP Grade-2 Oakley Pro Junior France hits Grand Plage, Lacanua, Gironde, August 9-10 with a $10,000 prize purse. Each event will also award the top two finishers entry into the Global Challenge Championship, which takes place October 7-17 in Bali, Indonesia and boasts a $75,000 prize purse.

"The caliber of surfers that have already qualified is amazing," says Oakley Surf Marketing Manager Ronny Nelson. "There's a lot on the line and we're excited to see the level of talent that will emerge from the last two events and complete the Global Challenge field."

In its inaugural year, the 2008 Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge has been criss-crossing the globe, beginning in North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia in February. With a total of six international events for junior surfers to qualify for the final event and offering a cumulative prize purse of $163,000 along the way, the series has also landed at New Pier, Durban, South Africa; Lower Trestles, San Clemente, CA, USA; and, Itamambuca Beach, Ubatuba City, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The following surfers have qualified thus far:

AUSTRALIA
1. Lincoln Taylor (QLD)
2. Julian Wilson (QLD)
SOUTH AFRICA
1. Shaun Joubert (SAF)
2. Nick Godfrey (SAF)
USA 1. Sebastian Zietz (HAW)
2. Jason Harris (USA)
BRAZIL 1. Thiago Camarao (BRA)
2. Peterson Crisanto (BRA)

Oakley will also name a total of four wildcards who will gain entrance into the Championship. So far, Dusty Payne (HAW) and Yuki Seedwell (IND) have secured their spots and the remaining two will be named in September.

The Global Challenge Championship will connect four days of competition during a 10-day waiting period. The event will also feature a unique competition in which the athletes will choose what they want to be judged on for that specific day. So, if it's barreling, a tube-riding event will go down; if it's punting, it will be about innovative aerials.

In addition to the Global Challenge series, Oakley is hosting additional Oakley Pro Junior contests in the United States to help young American surfers acquire contest experience at key surf locations as well as lucrative points toward the ASP North America ratings. Three contests remain on the US mainland: an ASP Grade-2 Oakley Pro Junior in Sea Isle City, New Jersey worth $10,000, Aug. 29-30; an ASP Grade-2 Oakley Pro Junior in Newport Beach, Calif., Sept. 20-21 worth $10,000; and the Grade-3 Oakley Pro Junior ASP North America Championship, Oct. 25-26 worth $15,000.