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HUNTINGTON BEACH, California (Sunday, January 25, 2009) – Some of America’s top Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) North America Pro Junior Series surfers including Nat Young (Santa Cruz, CA), 17, Dillon Perillo (Malibu, CA), 18, and Michael Dunphy (Virginia Beach, VA), 18, ventured to Burleigh Heads, Australia this past week to compete in the ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series season opener, the Hurley Burleigh Pro Junior. The heightened competition at the ASP Grade-4 event will be an excellent warm-up for the young American surfers before they attack their respective regional tour.
The ASP Pro Junior Series allows surfers from each respective region to qualify for the prestigious Billabong ASP World Junior Championships each following year in an attempt to claim the title of ASP World Junior Champion. With the ASP North America Pro Junior Series not hosting its season opener until the Ezekiel Pro Junior at Huntington Beach Pier from March 25-29, 2009, the select American surfers competing in the Hurley Burleigh Pro Junior will already have one contest under their belt in comparison to the majority of their fellow ASP North America Pro Junior Series competitors.
Young, who finished second overall on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series in 2008 and ninth at this year’s Billabong ASP World Junior Championships, kicked off his Hurley Burley Pro Junior campaign in the Round of 96 and advanced through to the Round of 24 before bowing out to Brazilian standouts Alejo Muniz (Santa Catarina, BRA), 18, and 2008 ASP World Junior runner-up Jadson Andre (Natal, BRA) 20.
The up-and-coming Santa Cruz standout claimed a heat victory over Tahitian prodigy Tamaroa McComb (Huahini, PYF), 16, on the way to his 13th place finish.
Perillo, who started the event in the opening Round of 144, tied Young’s performance, also earning a 13th place finish overall. The young Californian had some impressive heats throughout his campaign, including a 15.25 out of 20 heat total in his victory over Australian surfers Josh Johnston-Baxter (Ocean Grove, AUS), Wes Bainbridge (Merewether, AUS) and Khai Adams (Middleton, AUS) in his Round of 96 heat.
Perillo was only one spot shy of qualification for the ASP World Junior Championships last year and his standout performance against the international field of competitors in this event shows he will be one to watch against his regional competition in 2009.
Dunphy, who finished 11th overall on the 2008 ASP North America Pro Junior Series, also began in the opening round of competition and finished 19th overall. The East-Coaster battled through three heats before he was stopped one round shy of a Quarterfinals berth.
In ASP World Qualifying Series news, the first ASP WQS 5-Star event of the 2009 season is just around the corner, with the Hang Loose Pro in Fernando de Noronha, BRA. The event will be held from February 9-15, 2009.
To catch up on additional ASP news log on to www.aspworldtour.com or www.aspnorthamerica.org
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