Saturday, 09 January 2010 00:00
Ryan Callinan making the most of the best left in the final.
Merewether surfer Ryan Callinan won the Von Zipper Trials, earning himself a spot in the main event of the world’s most prestigious junior surfing tournament, the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships fuelled by Monster Energy.In clean one-metre waves at Sydney’s North Narrabeen beach, the 17 year-old goofy-footer overcame a field of 15 other international hopefuls, including competitors from the USA, Tahiti and Brazil to advance with a last minute wave in the half-hour final decider.
Callinan’s two-wave was just enough to edge out Brazil’s Alex Ribeiro by a mere 0.2 of-a-point after the Brazilian found himself involved in a double interference penalty with another Aussie surfer, James Woods.
Woods and Ribeiro were jostling for the lead when the interference occurred, with both surfers attempting to ride the same wave. But with the door thrown wide open, Callinan pounced on a small right-hander in the dying moments to take the win. The main event wildcard is among the best opportunities of the young surfer’s career and he was clearly ‘stoked’ with the outcome.
Joining Callinan in the main event of the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships fuelled by Monster Energy is Cabarita’s Brent Savage and the USA’s Cody Thompson. Savage and Thompson earned their place in the main event as the highest-placed Billabong surfers and will contest the 48-man Round one when competition resumes.
World number two Joel Parkinson also made a special appearance at Narrabeen today after having recently returned from Hawaii. 28 year-old Parkinson is the last Aussie male to have won the Billabong World Junior Championships when he defeated his good mate and current World Champ Mick Fanning at Phillip Island back in 2001.
As a two-time winner of the event, Parkinson reflected on the incredible standard of the international competition, but believes the Aussie contingent has what it takes to bring the title home this week.
Competition organisers will assess conditions again at 7am tomorrow morning for a possible start in either the women’s or men’s round one.
The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships fuelled by Monster Energy can be watched LIVE! via the webcast at
www.billabongpro.com
I feel sorry for the kids having to surf the junk with a title on the line.