Nat Young Shines at World Pro Juniors

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Form Guide
© ASP/ Hennings

CANGGU, Bali/Indonesia (Tuesday, October 5 2010): A building swell continues to deliver a smorgasbord of waves for the Oakley ASP World Pro Junior, event no.1 on the ASP World Junior Tour (WJT), with competition being run for the fourth day in a row at Canggu in Bali today. In clean 4 ft (1-1.2m) waves, Contest Director, Beau Emerton, decided on completing Round 2 of the men's, before sending out the first 8 heats of Round 3. And, albeit the steamy conditions, the sophomores of the surfing world were cool under pressure, throwing plenty of big, modern moves on a stellar day of progressive surfing. Setting the pace was Santa Cruz star Nat Young (USA), who lifted the performance bar with the event's first perfect 10-point ride in the opening heat of Round 3. After a slow star against Kaimana Jacquias (HAW), Young got busy, jagging a set wave before depositing a variety of powerful backhand moves to land a 9.47 (out of a possible 10). "It was kind of a slow start," he said. "We were both trying to hold position but I kept getting the good waves. I felt I was in rhythm and focused on building bigger scores." The young Californian then asserted his dominance, performing a radical ‘Gorkin Flip', a backside double grab inverted 360 air, to score a 10.00 and finish with the event's highest combined heat total of a 19.47 (out of a possible 20). "I try them a lot at home," he said. "I've had a few big scores with them so I just went for it and got lucky. I was kind of nervous as the natural footers can do air reverses so easily out there." He'll now take on Tyler Newton (HAW), who dispatched of Beyrick De Vries (ZAF), in Round 4. Kauai young gun Newton asserted his dominance in both his Round 2 and 3 heats to advance to Round 4. Newton unloading an electric mix of powerful rail carves and new-school moves in Round 2, notching an 8.83 in the early stages of the 25-minute showdown againstAndrew Doheny (USA)before waiting till the final minutes to land a heat winning 8.13. "It felt good on the outside, but I didn't want to fall through the inside break," he said. "I was like Bali, please be good to me and just hoped I would get the score." The Hawaiian charger then collected a 9.17 and a 7.50 to beat South African De Vries - 16.67 to 16.13, in their tight Round 3 heat. No.1 seed Alejo Muniz (BRA) was the day's biggest casualty, going down to Conner Coffin (USA) in the last heat of Round 3. Coffin laid down a 14.90 total (out of a possible 20) to Muniz' 13.60. Other Round 3 standouts included Kolohe Andino (USA), Jack Freestone (AUS), Caio Ibelli (HAW), Shaun Joubert (ZAF) and Krystian Kymerson (BRA). Contest Organisers will reconvene at 5.30am at Keramas tomorrow morning for a possible 6am start. The Oakley ASP World Pro Junior will be webcast LIVE via www.oakleyprojunior.com