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Briton pitted against Hawaii and Japan in opening round
by George Mojo
01/01/2007:// Briton Reubyn Ash is pitted against Hawaiian TJ Barron and Japan's Nobuyuki Osawa in the opening round of the Billabong World Junior Championships in Australia.
Ash, the current European Under-18 champion is surfing for the ASP specially-sanctioned International squad at North Narrabean, near Sydney.
Barron, grew up surfing at the famous Sunset Beach, on Oahu's North Shore and his waveriding style in both small and big surf has been impressive all over the world.
A regular footer, his boards are shaped by his father, Tim, one of the original Hawaiian enforcers and surfing gurus.
Ash, meanwhile, who lives and surfs at Widemouth Bay, in Bude, also holds the English title and the encounter should be a thrilling affair.
Top seeds among the 48 competitors vying for gold, include former world champion Adriano De Souza,
The South American is currently ranked 20th on the Foster’s ASP World Tour and won the junior crown back in 2003.
De Souza, from Brazil, takes on Hawaiian Dusty Payne and Australian and Luke headle in heat eight of the opening round.
The exciting youngster, who excels in beach break conditions, loves surfing at Narrabeen because it is so similar to his hometown of Guaruja.
“I love coming to North Narrabean,” said de Souza. “The waves are so much fun, so much like what I surf every day at home. And the place is really nice and everything about it is great.”
While de Souza regularly mixes with the big boys on the World Tour, he indicated that competing in the Billabong ASP World Juniors was very important for his career aspirations as in years to come many of the competitors here will be alongside him on top of the surfing pile.
“It’s really important for me that I compete with my generation,” said de Souza who is still only 20 years of age. “These boys who are competing here today will be up there with us on the Foster’s ASP World Tour in years to come so it is good to compete against them now and get to know how they surf. The guys here today surf a bit different to the guys on tour so I’m checking the talent that is coming through… seeing what they are doing.”
De Souza will also use the event as a springboard for his 2007 top tour campaign, hoping that if he were to secure a win here he will gain the confidence required to take it to the sport’s biggest names when the Foster’s ASP World Tour resumes in March.
“It would be great to start the year with a win as it will give me confidence going into the new season,” said de Souza.
“Plus by competing here I stay sharp and focussed and I learn something new every time I go out there.” Speaking on his chances of claiming win number two here this week…“I’m confident because I know this beach,” said de Souza. “And having won here before helps. I like Narrabeen a lot. Hopefully I can get another good result!”
Round One Heat Draw
Heat 1: Heitor Pereira (BRA); Casey Brown (HAW); Julian Wilson (AUS) Heat 2: Damien Fahrenfort (ZAF); Sterling Spencer (USA); Vincent Duvignac (FRA) Heat 3: Dion Atkinson (AUS); Romain Cloitre (FRA); Heath Joske (AUS) Heat 4: TJ Barron (HAW); Nobuyuki Osawa (JAP); Reubyn Ash (GBR) Heat 5: Hank Gaskell (HAW); Shota Nakamura (JPN); Halley Batista (BRA) Heat 6: Matt Wilkinson (AUS); Keegan Nel (ZAF); Bernardo Martins (BRA) Heat 7: Ola Eleogram (HAW); Torrey Meister (HAW); Tamarao McComb (PYF) Heat 8: Adriano de Souza (BRA); Dusty Payne (HAW); Luke Cheadle (AUS) Heat 9: Jordy Smith (ZAF); Marc Lacomare (FRA); James Wood (AUS) Heat 10: Sam Page (AUS); Eric Geiselman (USA); Mitch Coleborn (AUS) Heat 11: Dylan Graves (PRI); Kento Takahashi (JPN); Matias Mulanovich (PER) Heat 12: Mason Ho (HAW); Shu Hagiwara (JPN); Angelo Lozano (MEX) Heat 13: Hideyoshi Tanaka (JAP); Pierre-Valentin Laborde (FRA) Heat 14: Nick Rozsa (USA); Granger Larsen (HAW); Rory Beach (ZAF) Heat 15: Gavin Gillette (HAW); Thiago Camarao (BRA); Wade Goodall (AUS) Heat 16: Jean Sebastien Estienne (FRA); Brandon Jackson (ZAF); Adrien Toyon (REU)
[TJ Barron en-route to victory in Macy's E-Series Event #1 at Maili Point]
[Tassy Swallow]
[Toby Donachie]
The second of three events comprising the Macy's E-Series, presented by ASP Hawaii, will get underway as early as tomorrow at Ala Moana Bowls, surf pending
A Hundred groms from across the country congregated on Fistral Beach in Newquay to pit their wits and talents for the Moskito Surf Tour 2008 presented by Electric, Santa Cruz, Globe and FCS
St Merryn’s Toby Donachie fought one of the hardest contest battles of his career this weekend to ensure that he retained his title as the Quiksilver King of the Groms
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