SURFERMAG.COM ONLINE EXCLUSIVES

Australia moved into first place at the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships today, with a dominating performance from the 2004 world junior champions as they top-scored every qualifying division of Under 18 and 16 Boys, and Under 18 Girls.

Australia also lost only one of their 12-man team in difficult storm conditions at Brazil’s Maresias Beach. It was a big loss however, considering it was their top-seeded Under 18 surfer, Nick Vasicek (Coolangatta, Qld). With yesterday’s elimination of Garrett Parkes, they now have 10 surfers aiming for the finals on Sunday.

In the overall pointscore, Australia moved ahead of current world champions Hawaii, with hosts Brazil third, France fourth, South Africa fifth and USA sixth.

The swell was three to four feet (1.2 metres) but surfing conditions were made difficult by heavy rainsqualls and a strong onshore wind, which picked up soon after competition started this morning.

Team Australia manager Mark Lane, 42, said that with two days remaining, the team was happy with their position. “Our kids showed a lot of maturity in difficult conditions today. We finished fourth last year, after winning every title in Tahiti two years ago, so we’re on track to regaining some lost credibility,” Lane said.

Defending world junior champions Hawaii had three of their team eliminated today – Nathan Rex and Torrey Meister in the Under 18 Boys and Lani Hunter in the Under 18 Girls.

Team Hawaii manager, Tommy Asing, 46, said Hawaii had now lost four surfers, one-third of their team, from the competition. “Australia lost only one today and one yesterday. But it’s not over until the finals are contested so we’re going to take it to the wire,” Asing said. “There are high expectations for us as defending world champions but there is so much talent here you never know which way it will go.”

Despite today’s losses, Asing said team morale was high and everyone was positive. “I think the key is staying relaxed and composed and giving it your best shot,” he said.

Hosts Brazil lost only one surfer today, Andre Pastori in the Under 16 Boys, and they have now also lost four surfers.

Alex Zeni, from Team Brazil, said the team was expecting more from the boys because of the home turf advantage. “The national titles were held at Maresias just before this event and the team looked strong. But we still have four surfers – Wiggolly Dantas and Franklin Serpa in the Under 18s, and Nathan Brandi and Alejo Muniz in the Under 16s – and we’re expecting some to reach the finals like last year. And the girls are doing a great job and are all still in the event.”

The French team lost four surfers today – Joan Duru and Romain Cloitre in the Under 18 Boys, Justin Delanne in the Under 16 Boys, and Alize Arnaud in the Under 18 Girls. They now have seven of the original 12 team members left in the event.

Team France coach Didier Piter, 34, said that despite today’s losses the team is buoyant. “We are very happy to be here and this means everything is still possible. Even though we lost some riders today, we have some surfers who can take the individual titles, and this impacts heavily on the final team rankings.

“France has taken a good approach to improving our performance and it is satisfying to see that we are challenging the top nations.”

And South Africa, who were coming equal first with Hawaii, Australia, and France at the end of competition yesterday, lost five surfers today, including their whole Under 18 Girls team. They have now lost seven of their 12-member team. Today’s eliminations were: Rudy Palmbloom (Under 18 Boys), and Tarry Chudleigh, Chantelle Rautenbach, Alice McGregor and Nikita Robb in the Under 18 Girls.

The general manager of Surfing South Africa, Robin de Kock, 55, said that despite today’s heavy losses, the team still had its top two seeds in both the Under 18 and Under 16 divisions - Jordy Smith and Matthew Bromley (Under 18s) and Under 16s’ Kyle Lane and Shaun Joubert, who has progressed through the top-level qualifiers.

“It’s going to be tough and we are going to have to rely on those guys to pull out all the stops,” de Kock said. “We finished fifth last year and we’re aiming for a better finish here in Brazil. Today’s conditions were tough but they’re a top bunch of surfers so they’ll do fine.”

In the individual qualifiers today, Australians Caleb Reid-Boquist, Owen Wright and Sally Fitzgibbons all posted highest heat scores.

Reid-Boquist (Maroochydore, Qld) won his Under 18 Boys round five qualifying heat with a total of 12.50 (out of 20), defeating France’s top gun, Jeremy Flores, and South Africa’s Kyle Lane. Reid-Boquist and Flores move through on the qualifiers, while Lane will now have to contest the sudden-death repechages.

Owen Wright (Culburra, NSW) won his Under 16 Boys round five qualifying heat with a total of 13.17, while Sally Fitzgibbons (Gerroa, NSW) scored 14.17 to win her round five Under 18 Girls qualifier, continuing her strong run through the event.

Fitzgibbons, 15, defeated Brazil’s Diana Souza (9.73 points) and fellow-Australian Jessica Hickson (7.04). Hickson will now have to contest the sudden-death repechages, while Fitzgibbons and Souza continue through the top-level qualifiers.

“They were pretty tough conditions but there were still a few good waves and all the girls surfed well,” Fitzgibbons said. “It’s really nice here in Brazil and I feel comfortable. While I’m keen to win, I think everyone is a threat for the title,” she said.

The Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships has two days left to run, with all finals being held this Sunday 14 May.