Great Waves Expected for Start of TNS Rangiroa Pro Junior
AVATORUA, Rangiroa/French Polynesia (Friday, April 1, 2011) - Fifty of the highest rated Australasian pro junior surfers have landed on the idyllic French Polynesian island of Rangiroa to compete in the US$25 000 TNS Rangiroa Pro Junior that kicks off tomorrow.
Renowned as the largest Atoll in the Tuamotu’s, Rangiora’s North facing Avatorua beach boasts a perfect barrelling right-point break that is expected to produce some world-class pro junior surfing this week.
“At the moment there are reports of very good waves in Hawaii, particularly ‘Pipe’ (Pipeline) in the last day or so and usually the swell comes down from Hawaii towards Tahiti, so it is looking favourable for a possible start tomorrow,” Head Judge Ian Buchanan said.
With great looking one-meter waves on offer at Avatorua today, junior surfers were out in force preparing for tomorrow’s start.
“At the moment the swell is in the 2-3 ft mark with plenty of barrels and high performance waves out there,” Buchanan continued. “We’ll wait and start on the best tide and in the best conditions each day and keep an eye on the forecast as well as what is happening elsewhere in the Pacific.”
Ryan Callinan (Mereweather) is the event’s top seed and leads an esteemed field of Australian pro junior surfers including ASP Australasia ratings leader Thomas Woods (AUS) , 2009 World Junior Champion Dean Bowen (AUS) and Matt Banting (NSW) to name just a few.
They will take on a fierce crop of Tahitian surfers who will be tough to beat in local waters. Youngsters Enrique Ariitu, Mateia Hiquily , Keoni Yan, Ariihoe Tefaafana and O’Neill Mason could be standouts this week.
The opening ceremony kicks off at the Avatorua events site this afternoon and the contest call will be made at 07h00 local time.
For live scores log on to http://www.aspaustralasia.com/live/asp/tahiti/live.php
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Category: All ASP News, ASP Junior News
