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ASP North America Pro Junior Series Heats Up with Arnette Pro Junior
NEWPORT BEACH, California (Monday, May 19, 2008) – The 2008 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) North America Pro Junior Series will return to action at Newport Beach’s 54th Street for the inaugural Arnette Pro Junior from June 7 – 8, 2008.
Event No. 4 of 10 on the 2008 ASP North America Pro Junior Series, the Arnette Pro Junior boasts an ASP Grade-2 rating which will attract the region’s top seeds in their efforts to qualify for the prestigious Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.
Travis Beckmann (Vero Beach, FL), current No. 1 on the 2008 ASP North America Pro Junior Series, has enjoyed a consistent season thus far, but will be looking for his first win of the year at June’s Arnette Pro Junior.
“I’ve had a pretty alright season so far, but I’m really looking for a victory now,” Beckmann said. “Consistency is good, but you need those wins in your score line come the end of the season if you want to qualify.”
Beckmann, who narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships in 2007, hopes to remedy last season’s finish by qualifying in his final year of eligibility.
“It’s my last year on the ASP Pro Junior series and I’ve made it my goal to qualify this season,” Beckmann said. “I came really close last year and missed out by one spot. That’s not going to happen this season and hopefully I can put a win on the board here in the next few events.”
Cory Arrambide (Ventura, CA), current No. 5 on the 2008 ASP North America Pro Junior Series, began this season will a bang, winning the opening event of the year, is hungry to put another victory in his score line and will apply his progressive approach to Newport Beach’s high-performance waves.
“If there is swell, then we could get really good waves for the event,” Arrambide said. “I made a final in Newport last season and the wave really suits my surfing. Just hoping to put another result on the board and surf well.”
Nic Lamb (Santa Cruz, CA) and Christian Saenz (Huntington Beach, CA) have been awarded wildcards into the Arnette Pro Junior and will look to do some damage against the top seeds.
“I am very stoked to be in the first Arnette Pro Jr.,” Lamb said. “I hope there will be waves at the event because it will bring out everyone’s talents.”
“I am stoked to be in the Arnette Pro Junior,” Saenz said. “I would like to thank Arnette for giving me the opportunity to be in this event.”
In addition marquee athletes like Beckmann and Arrambide and wildcards Lamb and Saenz, the Arnette Pro Junior will see top juniors Cody Thompson (Jacksonville Beach, FL), Blake Jones (Melbourne Beach, FL), Nat Young (Santa Cruz, CA), Evan Geiselman (New Smyrna Beach, FL) among others to the rippable peaks of Newport Beach’s 54th Street.
The ASP North America region qualifies the top 4 finishers of the season as well as the highest finishing North American surfer on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) who is of junior age for the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships, held in Narrabeen, Australia each January.
The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships crown the undisputed ASP World Junior Champions, awarding them preferred seeding on the ASP WQS that season. The prestigious event has crowned past champions such as Andy Irons (Hanalei, HI), Joel Parkinson (Coolangatta, AUS), Jordy Smith (Durban, ZAF), Jessi Miley-Dyer (Bronte, AUS), Sally Fitzgibbons (Gerroa, AUS), among others.
The ASP Grade-2 Arnette Pro Junior will now play an important role in determining this season’s ASP North America Pro Junior Qualifiers.
Action kicks off June 7, 2008 and will be webcast LIVE via www.arnetteprojr.com
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com, www.aspnorthamerica.org or www.arnetteprojr.com
The Arnette Pro Junior is happy to have support from Jack’s, Red Bull, SURFER, SURFING, and WaveWatch.
Additional Info: Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP)
Dave Prodan
International Media Manager
ASP International
(714) 536-3500 Main
(949) 678-0987 Mobile
dave@aspworldtour.com
www.aspworldtour.com
“World’s best surfers, world’s best waves…”
About ASP:
The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America. These regions manage all their respective domestic affairs under the guidance of ASP International, which is located on the Gold Coast of Australia. ASP International and ASP North America are committed to the progression of surfing and are dedicated to continuing excellent relationships with their surfers, event operators, sponsors and media. For more information log onto www.aspworldtour.com or www.aspnorthamerica.org.
About Arnette:
Founded in 1992, Arnette quickly became the leader in action sport and youth lifestyle eyewear. Arnette is dedicated to progressive design, maximum functionality and unparalleled quality. Supported by a powerful roster of athletes such as Jamie O’Brien, Timmy Reyes, Roy Powers, Joel Centeio, Sanoe Lake, Danny Supa and Randall Harris, Arnette continues to be the leading choice in action-sports eyewear. Arnette (www.arnette.com) is a Luxottica Group company.
