Fantastic Noodles Pro Junior

Association of Surfing Professionals
Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia
15 - 18 July 2010

Ty Watson wins in great surf at Fantastic Noodles Pro Junior

Waitpinga Beach, SA - Ty Watson (NSW/Currarong/Sth Coast) won his first ever ASP Australasian Pro Junior Series event by taking out the Fantastic Noodles Pro Junior in powerful surf at Waitpinga Beach in South Australia. ‘It’s the best feeling to finally win an ASP  Pro Junior event’ said Watson.

“This is my final year on this series and coming into this event, with just three events remaining I’ve had it on my mind to really try and win one – I’ve made finals and semi-finals but until today have not nailed a win and it just feels great.”

Mid way through today’s final Watson made his charge, throwing caution almost to the wind when he executed and landed a critical front-side  aerial  and was awarded an excellent 8 point ride to take the lead. A few minutes later Watson found another near excellent ride that included a barrelling section to score a 7.75 to take a comprehensive lead with a final  tally of 15.75 to Sam Wrench (Ulludulla/Sth Coast NSW) on 10.25.

“I knew I had to land that aerial move to win” added Watson. “I’ve been working really hard on my aerial’s for the past two years and today all that hard work paid off when I pulled that move.

“Dad told both myself and my younger brother Jordi that to succeed as a professional surfer you have to be able to surf aerials and  both of us have worked to become good aerialists and today just reinforces how important it is – I’m ecstatic and I have a great chance to qualify for the ASP World Junior Championships now and I’ll go to Bali really focused on a great result.”

Equal third place today went to Garrett Parkes (Byron Bay) and Chris Salisbury (Sydney) and the overall ASP Australasian Pro Junior  season ratings sees numerous surfers now well in contention to make the top four on the season end ratings with two very important events remaining.

Mitch Crews (Qld/Currumbin) today sealed his magnificent season by being crowned ASP Australasian Pro Junior champion. The twenty-year-old Gold Coast surfer fought back from a severe case of rheumatoid  arthritis diagnosed late last year and his success today is a story of determination and belief embraced by all his surfing peers.

“I’ve been really nervous the past few events knowing I was close to claiming the season ratings win and when Davey (Cathels) was eliminated today in his round four heat I figured maybe my season win was done – when I heard it officially I was overwhelmed- it feels great and I’m now really looking forward to surfing these next events, especially the coming Billabong event in Bali next week with no pressure and just going for an event win.”

Ty Watson : photo ASP/Robertson

The waves throughout this event in South Australia have been outstanding with numerous outstanding barrel rides.

The Pro Junior girls division will be finalised tomorrow most likely at Middleton Beach and the season ratings in their division is very much alive, particularly with number one rated surfer Sarah Mason eliminated in round one.

This event forms a crucial leg of the ASP Australasian Pro Junior circuit whereby professional surfers aged under 21 compete for points and prize money in a bid to become the Australasian Junior Champion and ultimately the World Junior Champion.

The event carries a Grade 5 boys rating and Grade 2 girls rating, and offers a stunning $36,000 prize pool, making the annual competition this years highest boys and girls combined event on the ASP Pro Junior Australasian circuit.

For the third year running the Fantastic Noodles Pro Junior organisers have decided to undertake a full Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions analysis and to commit to offsetting 100% of its associated emissions.

These efforts to reduce its impact on climate change are a clear demonstration of the Fantastic Pro Juniors commitment to environmental sustainability. The Fantastic Noodles Pro Juniors organisers are partnering with Balance Carbon Pty Ltd to analyse the GHG emission generating activities associated with the event.   Surfing SA, event managers have also committed to offsetting 100% of the audited emissions to achieve a zero net emission footprint or as more commonly referred, ‘carbon neutral’.

For more information, visit www.balancecarbon.com/event

The Fantastic Noodles Pro Junior is supported by:  Fantastic Noodles, Surfing South Australia, The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), Events South Australia, The Office of Recreation and Sport, UniSA, Hotel Crown Victor Harbor, Woolworths, Cutloose, Channel 10, Zero C Balance Carbon, and Swellnet.com.au.

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