(Kuta-Bali, July 9,2008): The highly anticipated second stop of the Billabong Pro Junior Series in Indonesia was delayed on the first day of the competition window due to a combination of howling offshore winds and a treacherous low tide. Event organizers and officials were surprised by the conditions at the start of the day, which offered a much smaller swell than originally predicted. The strong winds that have plagued touring professionals and recreational surfers in Bali for the past week are set to calm down as the competition progresses and with officials expecting this improvement in conditions, the stacked international field is anticipating a good run of medium sized Kuta Reef for the duration of the event.
Round 1 action is likely to start first thing tomorrow morning with little room for error in the high quality earlier rounds. The event has again attracted almost sixty entrants from all corners of the globe, all of which will be looking to take out last years Billabong Pro Junior Kuta Reef winner Madison Williams. “I was really excited to win last year and it’s great to be back for another crack.” Williams said. “The waves don’t look like they’ll be as good this year around so it’ll be tough out there, anyone could win”.
Williams from Coffs Harbour Australia will be defending his title against formidable locals Garut (Kuta, Bali), Raditya (Kuta, Bali), Mega (Bukit, Bali), and Mustofa Jeksen (Kuta, Bali). The locals should definitely have the upper hand in the shifty Kuta Reef conditions, but will be challenged by international juniors Nick Vasicek (Coolangatta, Aus), Josh Johnson Baxter (Victoria, Aus), and Blake Ainsworth (Coolangatta, Aus).
All well wishes and thoughts go out from all involved in the event to Billabong Malaysia’s pro junior entrant Mamat from Cherating who was involved in a serious motor bike accident on the weekend. The goofy footer that hails from one of the most world class monsoon swell lefthanders on the globe is recovering in hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. With a long road ahead of rehabilitation, Mamat has already set his sights on next years series as motivation.
The Billabong Pro Junior Series is supported by Discovery Kartika Plaza, Hawaiian Tropic Suncare, Nixon, Kustom, and Von Zipper.
About The Billabong Pro Junior Series:
The Billabong Pro Junior Series is sanctioned by the Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championships as part of the Pro Junior Championship Division. The series is the most lucrative on the Indonesian calendar, attracting surfers from Australia, Indonesia, USA, Hawaii, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Europe.
In line with the ISC’s goal of seeing talented young Indonesian surfers on the WQS and eventually on the WCT, Billabong is delighted to be an integral part of attaining this goal, as the Billabong Pro Junior Series is widely recognized as the premiere career booster for surfers aged 20 and under with world renown surfers such as Andy Irons and Joel Parkinson having launched their careers with wins at the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.
2008 Billabong Junior Series
June 18-22: Billabong Pro Junior Series Keramas
July 9-13: Billabong Pro Junior Series Kuta Reef
August 13-17: Billabong Pro Junior Series Canggu
August 13-17: Billabong Occy’s Grom Comp Canggu
Media Contacts:
Tim Hain (On Ground, BALI)
Indonesian Surfing Championship
+62 812 360 6674
[email protected]
Simon Barratt (In Australia)
[email protected]
Peter Thew
Billabong SE Asia
+62 812 380 8855
[email protected]
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