NORTH NARRABEEN, Australia (Tuesday, January 6, 2009) – The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships steamrolled through the men’s Round 3 today before crowning the women’s ASP World Junior Champion in rippable three-to-four foot (1 metre) surf on offer at Sydney’s North Narrabeen beach.
The deciding event in the quest for the undisputed ASP World Junior Title, the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships is the paramount junior event on the planet and today’s competition saw the biggest upsets of the week go down with some major favorites eliminated from competition.
Lincoln Taylor (AUS), 20, posted the highest single-wave score of the event, a 9.60 out of a possible 10, for a vicious forehand assault, eliminating favored South African Rudy Palmboom, 20, from Billabong ASP World Junior competition.
“I was really lucky that I managed to get the two best waves come to me in that heat,” Taylor said. “At this level if you don’t get excellent scores on the set waves you’re going to quickly end up behind the eight ball.”
While several of Taylor’s fellow countrymen still in contention at the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships, the young goofy-footer is keen to claim the ASP World Junior Title for Australia – a feat that has yet to be repeated since current ASP Dream Tour stalwart Joel Parkinson (AUS), 27, in 2001.
“I’m not trying to focus on anything else but doing well right now,” Taylor said. “I didn’t come in this event to finish last.”
Taylor will face Kiron Jabour (HAW), 17, in Round 4 when competition resumes.
Maxime Huscenot (REU), 16, reigning ASP European Pro Junior Champion, scored one of the biggest upsets of the day, eliminating ASP International Wildcard and event favorite Dusty Payne (HAW), 20, in Round 3 of the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships. The young natural-footer going as far as to post an impressive 9.00 out of a possible 10 in the last minute to cement the victory.
“Still no pressure after beating Dusty (Payne),” Huscenot said. “Dusty is such a good surfer up there with Julian (Wilson). I got a 9-point ride which was so good.”
Huscenot will face Alex Ribeiro (BRA) in Round 4 when Billabong ASP World Junior competition resumes.
Fellow European Marc Lacomare (FRA), 18, caused another major upset in the elimination of Australian Owen Wright, 18, from Billabong ASP World Junior competition. The Frenchman took command of the heat early on, collecting an 8.00 and an 8.50 in the opening minutes, posting what would prove to be an insurmountable lead for the highly-touted Australian.
“I feel so good to beat Owen (Wright),” Lacomare said. “He always beats me. We have surfed against one another about five or six times and he has beaten me most. Before the heat I was not that nervous because Owen is such a favorite. I’m just here do my best and see what happens.”
Lacomare will take on Jayke Sharp (AUS), 20, in Round 4 when competition resumes.
Following the completion of the men’s Round 3, the Billabong ASP World Junior women’s title will be decided beginning with the Quarterfinals at 2:30pm local time
The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships will be webcasting LIVE scores and audio via www.BillabongPro.com with Heats on Demand available in the VIDEO section.
BILLABONG ASP WORLD JUNIORS (MEN) ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Tamaroa McComb (PYF) 15.17 def. Tonino Benson (HAW) 9.66
Heat 2: Julian Wilson (AUS) 13.17 def. Klee Strachan (ZAF) 8.73
Heat 3: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 13.00 def. Blake Jones (USA) 8.94
Heat 4: Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 14.67 def. Alex Lima (BRA) 13.00
Heat 5: Lincoln Taylor (AUS) 18.10 def. Rudy Palmboom (ZAF) 11.33
Heat 6: Kiron Jabour (HAW) 8.90 def. Medi Veminardi (REU) 8.90
Heat 7: Granger Larsen (HAW) 16.00 def. Travis Beckmann (USA) 12.14
Heat 8: Jadson Andre (BRA) 14.33 def. Dean Bowen (AUS) 6.00
Heat 9: Maxime Huscenot (REU) 16.67 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 12.00
Heat 10: Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 16.00 def. Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 13.34
Heat 11: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 16.50 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 12.50
Heat 12: Jayke Sharp (AUS) 12.33 def. Casey Brown (HAW) 9.50
Heat 13: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 13.50 def. Magno Pacheco (BRA) 10.34
Heat 14: Nat Young (USA) 9.23 def. Jatyr Berasaluce (EUK) 9.23
Heat 15: Stuart Kennedy (AUS) 16.50 def. Nicholas Godfrey (ZAF) 12.17
Heat 16: Kai Barger (HAW) 13.17 def. Charles Martin (GLP) 9.84
BILLABONG ASP WORLD JUNIORS (MEN) ROUND 4 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Tamaroa McComb (PYF) vs. Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 2: Alejo Muniz (BRA) vs. Tanner Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 3: Lincoln Taylor (AUS) vs. Kiron Jabour (HAW)
Heat 4: Granger Larsen (HAW) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 5: Maxime Huscenot (REU) vs. Alex Ribeiro (BRA)
Heat 6: Marc Lacomare (FRA) vs. Jayke Sharp (AUS)
Heat 7: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Nat Young (USA)
Heat 8: Stuart Kennedy (AUS) vs. Kai Barger (HAW)
BILLABONG ASP WORLD JUNIORS (WOMEN) QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
QF 1: Arini Mason (NZL) vs. Pauline Ado (FRA)
QF 2: Courtney Conlogue (USA) vs. Paige Hareb (NZL)
QF 3: Leila Hurst (HAW) vs. Diana Cristina (BRA)
QF 4: Laura Enever (AUS) vs. Bethany Hamilton (HAW)
The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships is proudly supported by Sony, Virgin Blue, Warringah Council, Waves, VonZipper, Kustom, Nixon and ASP International.