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04/01/2007:// Hawaiian Dusty Payne has ended the chances of Briton Reubyn Ash at the Billabong World Junior Championships in Australia.
The pair met in the sudden-death second round of the North Narrabean, in Sydney, but it was Payne who ran secured a 14.66 points to 8.23 victory.
"It's difficult to surf out here, so it's a heat-by-heat situation," said Payne.
"I was shattered after losing that first heat yesterday so I'm wrapped to be back on the right path to success. I'll just take it as it comes," he added.
Ash, the current European and English junior champion finished equal 33rd at the event and will now head for Hawaii to surf the waves along the famed North Shore of Oahu.
Grabbing one of the top scores of the second round was Australian Julian Wilson, who after faltering in round one managed to put his championship aspirations back on track with a sterling performance.
Whipping and weaving over the fairly powerless swells, Wilson showed true determination when he defeated fellow Australian James Wood 15.00 to 9.67.
"It felt good to get a few waves under my belt today," said Wilson. "Yesterday I was in the first heat of the day and it was stormy and windy and I found myself a bit lost at sea. But today it had cleaned up a bit and I found a good bank to sit on."
Wilson did well to hold off Wood who excelled a few days earlier when he won the Von Zipper Trials to advance into the main draw. Wood is renowned for big performances and Wilson was relieved that he ended up in front today.
"I knew it was going to be a tough heat as I watched him come through the trials," said Wilson. "It sucks to take out a fellow countryman but in the end it had to be one of us getting through and I'm glad it was me."
In the truly international field that contains surfers from all corners of the surfing universe, other heat winners came from Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, USA, France, Tahiti and Hawaii.
Making possibly the biggest stir in the event today was Noboyuki Osawa from Japan who ousted one of the biggest names of Australian junior surfing in Laurie Towner.
Towner, who has a reputation for taking on monster waves, couldn't find any momentum and left the door open for the talented Osawa to steal the show.
Osawa, who speaks little English was very pleased with himself, sporting an ear-to-ear grin on leaving the water.
"I am very happy right now," said Osawa. "To win any heat here is a big feat and I am even more happy to beat Towner."
Also claiming a win today was the youngest competitor in the event, 14-year-old Tamaroa McComb (PYF) who defeated number four seed Ola Eleogram (HAW).
McComb stole the show with a high scoring ride on the opener - a 9.17 - and from there held on to take down the proceedings.
The youngster, who has the world class Teahupoo in his backyard at home in Tahiti, looked strong all the way and will be happy to grab his round three berth given the difficult conditions that he had to face today.
"The conditions were hard out there again," said McComb. "They were really mushy and difficult. It's also very cold here compared to where I come from. I am happy to get through. There is a lot of pressure. Everybody is good in this event."
[Carissa Moore (in yellow) receiving the winner's prize]
[The number of high-rated Australian surf competitions are set to increase]
[Pablo Gutierrez winner of the Superbock Pro]
Hawaiian Carissa Moore won the Roxy Pro Junior surfing in her first ever contest in France
ASP International has announce the inception of their fourth regional branch, ASP Australasia
Twenty-six-year-old Pablo Guitierrez took top honours in the Superbock Pro in Portugal after defeating fellow Portugeuse surfer Eduardo Fernandes in the final
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