Women Open Oakley World Pro Junior Bali With Style

CANGGU, Bali/Indonesia (Monday, 3 October, 2011) - The Oakley World Pro Junior Bali got off to a great start today with the Women’s Round 1 action. The day began with an opening ceremony where all competitors dressed in traditional Balinese attire and a local chief performed a blessing ceremony on the sands of Echo Beach, Canggu.

The Oakley World Pro Junior Bali is the first of three events that will decide the 2011 ASP World Junior Champions so the Women hit the water and didn’t hold anything back. The competitors put on an epic show in the 3 – 4 foot (1.5 – 2 meter) surf, showing the world that the future of women’s surfing is in good hands.

Joanne Defay (FRA) opened the day with a win over Gabriela Leite (BRA) and Sarah Mason (NZL). Defay’s smooth style saw her earn two scores in the 6-point-range to advance directly into Round 3.

“I’m very happy that I chose to surf the right over the left,” Defay said. “Sarah (Mason) was on the left by herself and I was worried she would get a big score, but it was Gabriela (Leite) that got the big score right next to me. She only needed a 5 with a few minutes remaining, I was nervous, that’s why I’m so happy to win.”

Coco Ho (HAW) finished 6th in this year’s elite ASP Women’s World Title Race, and came to the Oakley World Pro Junior Bali to compete for an ASP World Junior Title in her last year in the under 21 competition.

“This is only my second time to Bali, so it was an easy decision to come and compete here,” Ho said. “Especially since the ASP Women’s World Tour has finished for the year. The surf is fun but it’s trickier than it looks from the beach, I fell a few more times than I should have, but I’m through to Round 3 so I’m happy.”

Ren Hashimoto (JPN), the youngest competitor in the field at just 13-years-old lost her opening heat but is soaking up every bit of experience and will have a second chance to progress in her Round 2 heat.

Felicity Palmateer (AUS) is coming into this event brimming with confidence after achieving the best result of her career, 2nd place at the ASP 6-Star event in Portugal last week. Palmateer used her powerful backhand attack to advancing easily into Round 3.

“It’s really fun out there,” Palmateer said. “I’m just stoked to be here, I only got the call saying I’d been given a wildcard about a week and a half ago. Before that I was bummed that all the girls would be here surfing great waves without me. I only arrived at midnight last night, I flew all the way from Europe so I’m pretty tired.”

Dimity Stoyle (AUS) finished the day with an explosive heat, earning the highest heat total of the day – 18.06 (out of a possible 20) with lightning fast, searing forehand carves. Stoyle has made her intentions clear early at the Oakley World Pro Junior Bali.

“I had so much fun, it’s awesome to be here,” Stoyle said. “I didn’t want to come in, it’s great to be able to surf Canggu with just two other girls.”

The onshore wind picked up and messed up the surf and competition was called off after completing Round 1. A call will be made at 9am tomorrow for a possible 9:30 start to Women’s Round 2 or Men’s Round 1.

The Oakley World Pro Junior Bali will run from October 3 – 14. Watch the LIVE webcast at www.oakleyprojunior.com

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

OAKLEY WORLD PRO JUNIOR WOMEN’S ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Joanne Defay (FRA) 13.43, Gabriela Leite (BRA) 12.90, Sarah Mason (NZL) 7.16
Heat 2: Coco Ho (HAW) 11.67, Faye Zoetmulder (ZAF) 7.23, Juliana Meneghel (BRA) 6.67
Heat 3: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 11.50, Quincy Davis (USA) 10.03, Alessa Quizon (HAW) 9.17
Heat 4: Maud Le Car (FRA) 7.36, Lani Doherty (HAW) 6.90, Diah Dewi Rahayu (IND) 1.30
Heat 5: Felicity Palmateer (AUS) 13.27, Nao Omura (JPN) 6.14, Ren Hashimoto (JPN) 3.67
Heat 6: Dimity Stoyle (AUS) 18.06, Philippa Anderson (AUS) 14.33, Leila Hurst (HAW) 11.50

OAKLEY WORLD PRO JUNIOR MEN’S ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Garrett Parkes (AUS), Dean Bowen (AUS), Noa Deane (AUS)
Heat 2: Marco Fernandez (BRA), Kaito Ohashi (JPN), Slade Prestwich (ZAF)
Heat 3: Kiron Jabour (HAW), Joao Abreu (BRA), William Aliotti (FRA)
Heat 4: Maxime Huscenot (FRA), Thomas Woods (AUS), Gustavo Machado (BRA)
Heat 5: Peterson Crisanto (BRA), Chase Wilson (USA), Jake Halstead (USA)
Heat 6: Ian Gouveia (BRA), Evan Thompson (USA), Kan Watanabe (JPN)
Heat 7: Caio Ibelli (BRA), Tanner Hendrickson (HAW), Deivid Silva (BRA)
Heat 8: Jack Freestone (AUS), Conner Coffin (USA), Ida Bagus Putu Simarai (IDN)
Heat 9: Ryan Callinan (AUS), Andrew Doheny (USA), Hiroto Arai (JPN)
Heat 10: Beyrick De Vries (ZAF), Arashi Kato (JPN), Dylan Lightfoot (ZAF)
Heat 11: Medi Veminardi (REU), Kaishu Tanaka (JPN), Filipe Toledo (BRA)
Heat 12: Davey Cathels (AUS), Vasco Ribeiro (PRT), Matt Banting (AUS)
Heat 13: Shaun Joubert (ZAF), Dylan Goodale (HAW), Italo Ferreira (BRA)
Heat 14: Nat Young (USA), Keanu Asing (HAW), Darmaputra Tonjo (IDN)
Heat 15: Dale Staples (ZAF), Eziekel Lau (HAW), Mateia Hiquily (PYF)
Heat 16: Frederico Morais (PRT), Keala Naihe (HAW), Michael February (ZAF)

Source - http://www.aspworldtour.com

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