Top Seeds Survive Early Scare on Day Two of Oakley Pro Junior North Stradbroke Island
NORTH STRADBROKE ISLAND, Queensland/Aus (Thursday, February 2, 2012) – Current U/18 Boys Australian Champion Eli Steele (Caloundra, Qld) and ASP Australasia Junior Men’s ratings leader Cooper Chapman (Narrabeen, NSW) both survived tough opening heats today, as the action continued on day-two of the 2012 5-Star, AUD$30,000 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Oakley Pro Junior.
Once again, powerful 1.5m beach-break conditions rolled in at Point Lookout’s Main Beach, with Steele advancing into the Round of 64 and Chapman advancing into the Round of 32 respectively.
In shifting conditions, Steele posted a combined two wave heat total of 6.75 (out of a possible 20), finishing in second place behind Jackson Carey (Terrey Hills, NSW – 7.65), only just edging out fellow Sunshine Coast surfer Jake Vincent (6.15) and Hayden Forrest (Mornington Peninsula, Victoria – 4.95) who finished third and fourth respectively.
It was a similar story for ratings leader Chapman, who was seeded into the highest round (64-surfers), with the highly touted North Narrabeen surfer posting a combined two wave heat total of 9.60 (out of a possible 20), finishing in second place behind Portugal’s Vasco Ribeiro (12.50), only just edging out Frenchman William Aliotti (8.35) and Australia’s Tom Hatcher (5.30) who finished third and fourth respectively.
Meanwhile, outside of competition, Oakley in conjunction with North Stradbroke Island Surf School held a learn-to-surf day for a handful of Indigenous children who travelled all the way from Mt. Isa in Queensland’s north-west.
Oakley identities including the likes of former ASP World Tour surfers Tom Whitiker and Beau Emerton joined Kai Hing, Keahla Naihe and North Stradbroke’s own top international surfer Lincoln Taylor shared the thrill of surfing with the super-stoked kids, many of whom had never seen the ocean before.
Running from February 1-5 and held in the varying breaks surrounding the island paradise, the Oakley Pro Junior is the third stop on the prestigious ASP Australasia Pro Junior Men’s tour.
Up for grabs is the JS Tractor Big Boost, which will see 12 hand picked competitors (four locals, four Australians and four international competitors) compete for three brand new custom JS surfboards with the best placed local surfer also winning one brand new JS surfboard.
The Oakley Pro Junior is proudly supported by Oakley, JS Surfboards, ASP Australasia, Surfing Queensland and Redland City Council.
ASP Australasia Pro Junior Men’s Ratings (after two events)
Cooper Chapman (Narrabeen, NSW) – 2316 points
Haril Anwar (Indonesia) – 1678 points
Wade Carmichael (Avoca, NSW) – 1594
Visit www.oakleyprojunior.com for news, photos and updates relating to the 2012 Oakley Pro Junior.
The Oakley Pro Junior will commence February 1 and conclude February 5.
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Category: All ASP News, ASP Junior News
