Julian Wilson and Sally Fitzgibbon Win at Billabong Pro Junior Series Wollongong

Source: Surfing Australia -www.surfingaustralia.com-  
Press Release sent on September 16, 2007

Surfing young guns Julian Wilson (Coolum Beach, QLD) and Sally Fitzgibbons (Gerroa, NSW) have trumped Australia's hottest junior surfers to win their respective divisions at the $13,000 Billabong Pro Junior Series tournament at Bulli Beach in Wollongong today.

Stop no. 9 of 11 on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Australasian Pro Junior Series, the 5 star rated Billabong Pro Junior offered $13,000 in prize money to aspiring male and female surfers aged 20-years and under.

The five event, $75,000 Billabong Pro Junior Series comprises half of the overall ASP Australasian circuit, which culminates in the crowning of the ASP World Junior Champion at North Narrabeen each year.

After the postponement of day three action, today's finals were staged in increasing 0.5-metre beach break conditions.

Showing no signs of nerves in the highly anticipated final, Sunshine Coast surfing sensation Julian Wilson kept his ASP Australasian Pro Junior Series title aspirations alive, netting his second junior series victory for 2007.

The 18-year-old prodigy was in dominating form; trouncing Stuart Kennedy (Lennox Head, NSW), Parrish Byrne (Thirroul, NSW) and Brett Burcher (Mollymook, NSW) to pocket $2,800 along with 2000-rating points.

"I'm so happy with my win," said Wilson.

"I haven't really had the year that I was hoping for, so my win today sure does help get things back on track. I've got really good boards at the moment, so my confidence is high leading into the end of the series."

In what proved to be a fierce battle, it was Wilson who took an early lead in the 25-minute final, snaring a pair of 6.5's to leave his foes needing high scores for victory. The exciting natural foot put the result beyond doubt, unleashing a series of vertical maneouvres to net a heat high 9.5 and a 7.15 for victory.

Final scores: Wilson 16.65, Kennedy 14.25, Byrne 12.70 and Burcher 9.00.

In doing so, Wilson's victory bumped him up from no.4 to no.3 on the ASP Australasian Pro Junior Series ratings.

With only two events remaining, Mitchell Coleborn's (Maroochydore, QLD) early exit in today's quarterfinals leaves the door wide open for Wilson and no.2 seed Heath Joske (Nambucca Heads, NSW) to peg back his ratings lead.

"My confidence is good and my boards are feeling great... So bring it on," said Wilson.

Leaving Wollongong, Coleborn sits in the numero-uno position on 15,634-points, nearly 2000-points clear of Joske on 12,754 and Wilson on 12,263.

In semi-final one, the South Coast duo of Burcher and Byrne bundled out Jesse Adam (Merewether, NSW) to secure exclusive final births. While in semifinal two, no.4 seed Wilson came from behind to progress along with Kennedy, eliminating Blake Wilson (Maroochydore, QLD) in equal 5th position.

Kennedy's runner-up placing was his best to date on the pro junior series and he's earmarked to improve on his 12th ranking by year's end.

ISA World Junior Surfing champion Sally Fitzgibbons (Gerroa, NSW) stepped up to the winner's podium yet again today, defeating Airini Mason (Tugun, QLD), Kirby Wright (Culburra, NSW) and Laura Enever (Narrabeen, NSW) enroute to winning the $3000 girl's division.

"I'm really happy that I was able to score some good rides in the final," said Fitzgibbons.

"Conditions were deteriorating rather quickly and the competition was really fierce, so it was nice to come away with the win."

After breezing though her quarter and semi-finals, Fitzgibbons netted a 6.25 on the starting buzzer to setup a formidable lead. The Gerroa ripper bounced back with an even better 9.00 to finish with a two-wave total of 15.25 and like Wilson, jag her second junior series title for '07.

For her efforts, Fitzgibbons nabbed $1,000, 1,500 rating points along with extending her ratings lead heading into the last girls' tournament at Bells Beach. Fitzgibbons is in the box seat with 10,130-points, nearly 500-points clear of Mason in second.

Final scores: Fitzgibbons 15.25, Mason 11.65, Wright 9.6 and Enever 9.1.

Meanwhile, Avalon young gun Alex Chacon surfed away with tournament's best "Kustomised Maneouvre" for an innovative fins-free re-entry maneouvre. Chacon pocketed $500 for his efforts. Not bad for a single wave!

ASP Australasian Series Junior Boys Ratings (After event 9, Billabong Pro Junior Series Wollongong)

1st Mitchell Coleborn 15,634
2nd Heath Joske 12,754
3rd Julian Wilson 12,263
4th Beau Atchison 10, 453
5th Brendan Leckie 10,248
6th Parrish Byrne 9,923

ASP Australasian Series Junior Girls (After event 8, Billabong Pro Junior Series Wollongong)

1st Sally Fitzgibbons 10,130
2nd Airini Mason 9,670
3rd Laura Enever 8,515
4th Jessie Hickson 8,180
5th Kirby Wright 8,015

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