Held in clean 1m waves at Main Beach on Queensland’s (Australia) North Stradbroke Island, Crews defeated Cathels in the final of the prestigious professional junior event, registering a combined two-wave total of 16.30 points (out of a possible 20) to Cathels’ 13.00.

“The monkey is finally off my back,” said Crews.

“I won a pro-junior about three years ago as a grommet and have been struggling to get over that final hurdle again for ages, so I’m just super stoked.”

“This year had been so frustrating, because in the first three events of the series I’ve finished runner-up twice and made a semi-final, so to finally win one…I’m just over the moon,” he said.

After disposing of 140 of the world’s best international surfers this week, today’s result levels the score between Crews and Cathels at one win a piece in finals this year, after Cathels toppled Crews in the final of last month’s opening event of 2010 ASP Australasian Junior Men’s series.

Furthermore, the results sees Crews maintain his current ASP Australasian Junior Men’s ratings lead, while Cathels moves into second position.

Both competitors will be hoping to stay atop the series standings throughout the year in order to qualify for October’s Oakley ASP World Junior Event in Bali, where they will compete for their share in the world’s richest junior surfing prize-pool of USD$75,000.

Cathels said that despite the loss, he is happy to be back featuring on finals day.

“I had a shocker at the last event, so I’m just happy to make another final and close the gap a little on the ratings,” said Cathels.

“Crewsy (Mitch Crews) just had a sick heat today and there was nothing I could really do,” he said.

2010 ASP Australasian Junior Men’s Series Ratings

* After The Oakley Pro Junior:

1. Mitch Crews (Currumbin, QLD) 9490 points

2. Davey Cathels (Narrabeen, NSW) 8000 points

3. Chris Friend (Alexandra Headland, QLD) 7130 points

4. Dean Bowen (Gerroa, NSW) 6830 points

5. Chris Salisbury (Newport, NSW) 6230 points

Oakley Pro Junior Results – Day Five

Semi-Finals

Heat 1

Mitch Crews (Currumbin, QLD) 16.00 def. Matt Banting (Port Macquarie, NSW) 12.95

Heat 2

Davey Cathels (Narrabeen, NSW) 15.30 def. Jordi Watson (South Coast, NSW) 15.25

Final

Mitch Crews (Currumbin, QLD) 16.30 def Davey Cathels (Narrabeen, NSW) 13.10

The 2010 Oakley Pro Junior is the first stop of Oakley’s international junior surfing series, which has grown to become one of the most notable in the world.

The Oakley Pro Junior is proudly supported by Xbox 360, ASP Australasia, Surfing Queensland, Waves Magazine, Red Bull, Stradbroke Ferries, Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel, Stradbroke Island Holidays, Redland City Council, surfermag.com, Surfing Magazine and wavewatch.com

Visit www.oakleyprojunior.com for news, photos and updates relating to the 2010 Oakley Pro Junior.

The Oakley Pro Junior will commence February 9 and conclude on February 13, 2010.

About The Oakley Pro Junior Series

The Oakley Pro Junior series has arrived as the premier forum to showcase the abilities and hone the competitive aptitude of the world’s best junior surfers. The idea for the Oakley Pro Junior series came to fruition four years ago and has since expanded to now include events in South Africa, Brazil, France, and Australia, among others.

Number-one seed Mitch Crews (Currumbin, Qld), Matt Banting (Port Macquarie, NSW), Davey Cathels (Narrabeen, NSW) and Jodi Watson (South Coast, NSW) are the final four surfers left in the draw, which began earlier this week with a field of 140 of the world’s best international junior surfers.

It was action aplenty today as the Grade – 5 AUD $30,000 event entered the pointy end of competition with Main Beach (North Stradbroke Island, Queensland) serving up a contestable 0.5m swell for the round-of-16 and quarter finals.

In a close affair, Coolangatta (Qld) surfer Jack Freestone was narrowly eliminated in the quarter finals by good friend and fellow Gold Coaster Mitch Crews (Currumbin, Qld).

Freestone was edged out by just over one point with Crews scoring a combined two wave total of 12.50 (out of a possible 20) to Freestone’s 11.10.

Crews who is the current ratings leader, continues his absolutely stellar run during this year’s Australasian Junior Men’s series and advances through to the semi-finals where he will now meet Port Macquarie’s (NSW) Matt Banting for a place in the final.

“Wow, it’s a bit of mixed emotions winning that heat,” said a relieved Crews.

“Jack (Freestone) is a really good friend of mine and with the waves being a little slow today, some tactics had to come into play and its never fun knocking out your mates,” he said.

Meanwhile, Davey Cathels (Narrabeen, NSW) eliminated fellow Northern Beaches competitor Chris Salisbury (Newport, NSW) during the quarter finals.

In the closest heat of the day, Cathels registered a combined two-wave total of 14.50 (out of a possible 20) to Salisbury’s 14.15, with both surfers trading blows until the final siren before Cathels sealed the win with a 7.75 ride (out of a possible 10).

Cathels will now meet Jodi Watson (South Coast, NSW), who eliminated the last international competitor, Hawaiian surfer Alex smith.

Concluding tomorrow, the 2010 Oakley Pro Junior is the first stop of Oakley’s international junior surfing series, which has grown to become one of the most notable in the world.

Top competitors from this week’s event will qualify for the October’s Oakley ASP World Junior Event (Bali), where they will compete for their share in the world’s richest junior surfing prize-pool of USD$75,000.

The Oakley Pro Junior is proudly supported by Xbox 360, ASP Australasia, Surfing Queensland, Waves Magazine, Red Bull, Stradbroke Ferries, Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel, Stradbroke Island Holidays, Redland City Council, surfermag.com, Surfing Magazine and wavewatch.com

Visit www.oakleyprojunior.com for news, photos and updates relating to the 2010 Oakley Pro Junior.

The Oakley Pro Junior will commence February 9 and conclude on February 13, 2010.

About The Oakley Pro Junior Series

The Oakley Pro Junior series has arrived as the premier forum to showcase the abilities and hone the competitive aptitude of the world’s best junior surfers. The idea for the Oakley Pro Junior series came to fruition four years ago and has since expanded to now include events in South Africa, Brazil, France, and Australia, among others.

Held in punchy 1m conditions at Main Beach on Queensland’s North Stradbroke Island, three of the Gold Coasts’ up-and-comers, Blake Ainsworth, Ice Pereira-Ryan and Mitch Crews lead a host of Queenslander’s who cemented their status as potential event champions come the conclusion of competition on Saturday.

Ainsworth, Pereira-Ryan and Crews all convincingly won their respective heats today, with Ainsworth scoring a combined two-wave of 15.00 (out of a possible 20) eliminating Victorian Tom Allan and fellow southern Gold Coaster Harry Wheeler.

Ice Pereira-Ryan became the second Coolangatta surfer of the day to advance to the Round of 48 scoring a combined heat total of 11.20 (out of a possible 20) to progress alongside fellow Gold Coaster Dan Pryor (Tugun) as they eliminated local surfer Murray Antonieff (North Stradbroke Island) and Moroccan Ramzi Boukhiam.

Not far behind was the Sunshine Coast’s Chris Friend (Alex Headland), who on the back of two consecutive finals appearance on the Australasia Junior Men’s Pro Junior series continued his run of good from scoring a combined two-wave of 16.00 (out of a possible 20) to set up a stellar next round matchup against highly touted West Australian Creed McTaggert, Sam Wrench (South Coast, NSW) and New Zealander Matt Lewis-Hewitt.

One of the few stumbles for the Queensland contingent was local star and reigning Australian U/18 Boys Champion Tim Macdonald (North Stradbroke Island, Qld) who was eliminated by good friend and rival Jack Freestone (Coolangatta, Qld).

Both surfers finished second and third respectively behind Duncan McNicol (Caves Beach, NSW), however, Freestone sneaked past Macdonald into second position of their third-round encounter, scoring a 5.85 ride (out of a possible 10) in the dying seconds of the heat, edging out Macdonald by less than half a point with a combined heat total of 12.50 to Macdonald’s 12.10.

Another highlight of the day was the Xbox 360 Expression session, with a whopping AUD$3,000 on the line for the competitor who executed the best aerial move in a 20-man, 20-minute free-for-all.
As competitors launched for the sky, in the end, the shootout was won by American Brent Reilly who landed a huge grab-rail, air-reverse walking away the cash for just one big move.

“Xbox 360 and Oakley are sick for putting this expression session on, all the guys were just going for it and for me to walk away with three-grand is just unreal,” said Reilly.

Running from February 9-13, this week’s Australasia Oakley Pro Junior will spearhead 2010’s international series which includes competitions in South Africa, USA, Brazil, Japan, and Europe – culminating in Bali with the Oakley ASP World Junior Event, which has just been confirmed as part of the brand new ASP World Junior Tour (WJT).

The Australasian Oakley Pro Junior is one of the richest and most prestigious professional junior surfing events in the world and the event’s lineup reflects that.

Top competitors from this week’s event will qualify for the October’s Oakley ASP World Junior Event (Bali), where they will compete for their share in the world’s richest junior surfing prize-pool of USD$75,000.
The Oakley Pro Junior is proudly supported by Xbox 360, ASP Australasia, Surfing Queensland, Waves Magazine, Red Bull, Stradbroke Ferries, Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel, Stradbroke Island Holidays, Redland City Council, surfermag.com, Surfing Magazine and wavewatch.com

Visit www.oakleyprojunior.com for news, photos and updates relating to the 2010 Oakley Pro Junior.

The Oakley Pro Junior will commence February 9 and conclude on February 13, 2010.

About The Oakley Pro Junior Series

The Oakley Pro Junior series has arrived as the premier forum to showcase the abilities and hone the competitive aptitude of the world’s best junior surfers. The idea for the Oakley Pro Junior series came to fruition four years ago and has since expanded to now include events in South Africa, Brazil, France, and Australia, among others.

Beginning round-two of competition this morning at Adder Rock (North Stradbroke Island), event organisers later relocated the contest site to Main Beach, with light winds and a 1.5m swell providing favourable conditions for competitors into the afternoon.

“Adder Rock provided a good option to run through eight heats this morning, before favourable conditions arose at one the primary event site’s at Main Beach,” said Contest Director Scott Gillies.

“The forecast suggests that the event will likely run at North Stradbroke Island’s Main Beach into the latter part of the competition waiting period over the next three days,” he said.

Meanwhile in the water, Queensland and New South Wales surfers including top seed and current ASP Australasia Junior Men’s ratings leader Mitch Crews (Currumbin, Qld), Perth Standlick (Bondi, NSW) Troy Skillin (Gorokan, NSW), Jake Sylvester (Bar Beach, NSW), Jack Freestone (Coolangatta, Qld) and Robbie France (Collaroy, NSW) were just some of the standout surfers during the early part of round-two.

Standlick was particularly impressive in his round-two heat, scoring a combined two wave total of 13.65 (out of a possible 20) and advancing through to round-three along with Brazilian Marco Fernandez after they disposed of highly touted Hawaiian Dylan Goodale and Mitchell Baker (Phillip Island, Victoria).

Running from February 9-13, the Grade – 5 AUD $30,000 Oakley Pro Junior is the first stop of Oakley’s international junior surfing series, which has grown to become one of the most notable in the world.

This week’s Australasia Oakley Pro Junior spearheads 2010’s international series which includes competitions in South Africa, USA, Brazil, Japan, and Europe – culminating in Bali with the Oakley ASP World Junior Event, which has just been confirmed as part of the brand new ASP World Junior Tour (WJT).

Top competitors from this week’s event will qualify for the October’s Oakley ASP World Junior Event (Bali), where they will compete for their share in the world’s richest junior surfing prize-pool of USD$75,000.

The Oakley Pro Junior is proudly supported by Xbox 360, ASP Australasia, Surfing Queensland, Waves Magazine, Red Bull, Stradbroke Ferries, Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel, Stradbroke Island Holidays, Redland City Council, surfermag.com, Surfing Magazine and wavewatch.com

Visit www.oakleyprojunior.com for news, photos and updates relating to the 2010 Oakley Pro Junior.

The Oakley Pro Junior will commence February 9 and conclude on February 13, 2010.

About The Oakley Pro Junior Series

The Oakley Pro Junior series has arrived as the premier forum to showcase the abilities and hone the competitive aptitude of the world’s best junior surfers. The idea for the Oakley Pro Junior series came to fruition four years ago and has since expanded to now include events in South Africa, Brazil, France, and Australia, among others.

Held in tricky 0.5-1m conditions at Adder Rock, one of North Stradbroke Island’s (Queensland, Australia) lesser known breaks, Crisanto and Fernandez today signalled their intentions as one of the favourites to take out first prize in the Grade – 5 AUD $30,000 event.

Peterson Crisanto flaring on Day One of the Oakley Pro Junior North Stradbroke Island 2010

Fernandez opened his account in one of the first heats on the day, registering a combined two-wave total of 13.35 (out of a possible 20) before Crisanto backed up his countryman with 15.60 (out of a possible 20) both easily advancing through to round-two.

Running from February 9-13, The Oakley Pro Junior is the first stop of Oakley’s international junior surfing series, which has grown to become one of the most notable in the world.

Also impressing in his first round heat was American star Nat Young, with the Californian continuing his great form throughout a string of Australian Pro Junior events this summer.

Young advanced through his heat with a combined two-wave total of 12.50 (out of a possible 20) eliminating Blake Levett (Palm Beach, Qld) and Michael Mallalieu (New Zealand) who finished third and fourth respectively.

This week’s Australasia Oakley Pro Junior will spearhead 2010’s international series which includes competitions in South Africa, USA, Brazil, Japan, and Europe – culminating in Bali with the Oakley ASP World Junior Event, which has just been confirmed as part of the brand new ASP World Junior Tour (WJT).

The Australasian Oakley Pro Junior is one of the richest and most prestigious professional junior surfing events in the world and the event’s lineup reflects that.

Likely to enter competition tomorrow are the event’s top seeds which will be headlined by local star and current ASP Australasia Junior Men’s ratings leader Mitch Crews (Currumbin, Qld), as well as fellow Queenslander Chris Friend (Alex Headland, Qld), Davey Cathels (Narrabeen, NSW), Dean Bowen (Gerroa, NSW) and a host of internationals including Chad Du-Toit (South Africa) and Nat Young (USA) to name just a few.

>Top competitors from this week’s event will qualify for the October’s Oakley ASP World Junior Event (Bali), where they will compete for their share in the world’s richest junior surfing prize-pool of USD$75,000.

The Oakley Pro Junior is proudly supported by Xbox 360, ASP Australasia, Surfing Queensland, Waves Magazine, Red Bull, Stradbroke Ferries, Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel, Stradbroke Island Holidays, Redland City Council, surfermag.com, Surfing Magazine and wavewatch.com

Visit www.oakleyprojunior.com for news, photos and updates relating to the 2010 Oakley Pro Junior.

The Oakley Pro Junior will commence February 9 and conclude on February 13, 2010.

About The Oakley Pro Junior Series
The Oakley Pro Junior series has arrived as the premier forum to showcase the abilities and hone the competitive aptitude of the world’s best junior surfers. The idea for the Oakley Pro Junior series came to fruition four years ago and has since expanded to now include events in South Africa, Brazil, France, and Australia, among others.

This week’s Australasia event will spearhead 2010’s Oakley Pro junior series, which includes competitions in South Africa, USA, Brazil, Japan, and Europe – culminating in Bali with the Oakley ASP World Junior Event, which has just been confirmed as part of the brand new ASP World Junior Tour (WJT).

Now in its fourth year, the Australasian Oakley Pro Junior is one of the richest and most prestigious professional junior surfing events in the world and the event’s lineup reflects that.

Headlining the competition will be local star and current ASP Australasia Junior Men’s ratings leader Mitch Crews (Currumbin, Qld), as well as fellow Queenslander Chris Friend (Alex Headland, Qld), Davey Cathels (Narrabeen, NSW), Dean Bowen (Gerroa, NSW) and a host of internationals including Chad Du-Toit (South Africa) and Nat Young (USA) to name just a few.

Top competitors from this week’s event will qualify for the October’s Oakley ASP World Junior Event (Bali), where they will compete for their share in the world’s richest junior surfing prize-pool of $75,000.

The Oakley Pro Junior is proudly supported by Xbox 360, ASP Australasia, Surfing Queensland, Waves Magazine, Red Bull, Stradbroke Ferries, Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel, Stradbroke Island Holidays, Redland City Council, surfermag.com, Surfing Magazine and wavewatch.com

Visit www.oakleyprojunior.com <http://www.oakleyprojunior.com/> for news, photos and updates relating to the 2010 Oakley Pro Junior.

The Oakley Pro Junior will commence February 9 and conclude on February 13, 2010.
2010 ASP Australasian Junior Men’s Series Ratings

1. Mitch Crews (Currumbin, QLD) – 6490 points

2. Chris Friend (Alexandra Headland, QLD) – 5930 points

3. Davey Cathels (Narrabeen, NSW) – 5420 points

4. Dean Bowen (Gerroa, NSW) – 5000 points

5. Chris Salisbury (Newport, NSW) – 4400 points

About The Oakley Pro Junior Series

The Oakley Pro Junior series has arrived as the premier forum to showcase the abilities and hone the competitive aptitude of the world’s best junior surfers. The idea for the Oakley Pro Junior series came to fruition four years ago and has since expanded to now include events in South Africa, Brazil, France, and Australia, among others.

The Oakley ASP World Junior Tour event, formerly the Championship event of the Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge, has become the first stop on the 2010 ASP World Junior Tour, running at the high-performance wave of Keramas in Bali from October 2-13, 2010.

The event will continue to boast a massive $75,000 prize purse for the men’s division and expand from an18-man to a 48-man field made up of six representatives each from ASP Australasia, ASP South America, ASP North America and ASP Europe, five representatives each from ASP Africa, ASP Hawaii and ASP Japan, as well as, additional wildcards. The event will also include an 18-woman field and provide $20,000 prize purse.

The addition of the Oakley World Junior Tour event will help crown the undisputed ASP World Junior Champions who will be the male and female surfer ranked No. 1 after the completion of the ASP World Junior Tour.
“Oakley is excited to be part of such a major change to junior surfing around the world,” Ronny Nelson, Oakley Sports Marketing Manager, said. “This revolution, that the Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge helped spur, is long overdue. Surfers will now have more than one chance to prove who is the top junior, which will help determine a true champion. We have high expectations for our event in Bali this year. The world’s best juniors will compete during optimal conditions at Bali’s best high performance right-hand reef break of Keramas.”

Over the past several years, Oakley has hosted a series of ASP-sanctioned regional Pro Junior events around the world that have also served as qualifiers for the Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge in Bali.  Oakley is maintaining its commitment to the global regional events, which will continue to provide crucial ASP regional points to qualify for the World Junior Tour events.

This year’s Oakley Pro Junior series kicks off next Tuesday, Feb. 9-13 at North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia with a $25,000 ASP Grade-5 men’s event.

Additional Oakley Pro Junior dates on the 2010 schedule include:

To learn more about the Oakley Pro Junior series and the Oakley World Junior Tour event, visit: oakleyprojunior.com.

About Oakley, Inc.
The global leader in performance sunglasses, goggles and prescription eyewear, Oakley also offers technical and lifestyle apparel, footwear, watches and accessories. The company was created for athletes who see impossibility as just another challenge, and their dedication inspires Oakley to seek out problems, solve with innovation and wrap invention in art. Exceeding the limits of possibility for more than thirty years, Oakley serves the demands of world-class athletes with unbeatable technologies including High Definition Optics® (HDO®). Additional information is available at oakley.com

Media Contacts:
Dawn Hamilton
KHPR for ASG
310-295-1189
dhamilton@khpublicrelations.com
Elishia Matta

ASG PR Manager

949-661-5149

elishia.matta@sorc.com

Tess Weaver
Oakley Sports Marketing Media
541-206-3083
tweaver@oakley.com

Jadson Andre (BRA), 19, 2009 ASP World Junior Runner-Up and 2010 ASP Dream Tour rookie, vaults junior professional surfing to the next level

“The WJT is a natural development for the ASP and serves as recognition for Billabong’s vision and long-standing support for world junior surfing and for the sheer and immense surfing talent we now have coming through the ranks,” Brodie Carr, ASP International CEO, said. “The WJT provides additional opportunity for junior surfers to establish a career as a professional surfer and to really make a name for themselves as ASP World Junior Champion.”

The Oakley ASP World Junior event will be the first stop on the 2010 ASP World Junior Tour, running at the high-performance wave of Keramas in Bali from October 2 – 13, 2010.

“As junior surfing expands globally, surfers are qualifying for the ASP Dream Tour while still competing in junior events,” Ronny Nelson, Oakley Sports Marketing Manager said. “Pro junior surfing is bridging the gap for American surfers who have grown up competing in six-man and four-man heats. This new format creates an even playing field for the world’s juniors as they start their careers at a young age. It all keeps the sport youthful and dynamic and everyone is excited to watch the action.”

The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships has run for more than a decade and remains unchallenged as the benchmark for high-performance junior surfing and an accurate gauge on the future stars of the sport. The transition to a three-event ASP World Junior only heightens the importance of the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships, with momentum building throughout the season for the crowning of the undisputed ASP World Junior Champion.

“Billabong is excited that the ASP is expanding the World Junior Championship to three events,” Andrew Flitton, from Billabong, said. “The opportunity for young aspiring male and female surfers to gain experience at different locations and extend their repertoire in varying conditions is critical to their development and future careers in professional surfing. We welcome the commitment of other brands in supporting the long term vision of the sport and look forward to a strong investment and promotion around junior surfing and the part it plays in the ongoing success of the sport.”

Similar to years past, athletes will compete on their respective regional ASP Pro Junior Series throughout the season to qualify for the ASP World Junior Tour. Qualification for the ASP WJT will be based off of regional results from January 1 through August 31, 2010.

The inaugural ASP World Junior Tour will see six representatives from ASP Australasia, ASP South America, ASP North America and ASP Europe, five representatives from ASP Africa, ASP Hawaii and ASP Japan, and additional wildcards to make up the 48-man field (based off the recently completed Billabong ASP World Junior Championship finishes). The ASP World Junior Tour events will also feature an 18-woman field, which will crown the undisputed ASP Women’s World Junior Champion.

The undisputed ASP World Junior Champions will be the No. 1 ranked male and female surfer after the completion of the ASP World Junior Tour.

Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, former ASP World Junior Champion (2001) and 2009 ASP World Runner-Up, knows all to well the benefits of the ASP Pro Junior Series.

“The ASP Pro Junior Series and Billabong ASP World Juniors have been the indicator for future stars since their inception,” Parkinson said. “It’s the stepping stone onto the ‘QS and gives surfers the experience they need to make it in this sport.”

While the ASP World Junior Tour is presently at two events, organizers are looking to add one event in 2010 for a three-event tour.

“Having a multi-event tour for our junior surfers has been a long-standing goal for the ASP and we are pleased to broaden and support our existing tours for men, women and longboards, by adding this tour for our junior surfers,” Carr said. “ ASP will continue to explore every avenue to develop all our tours in the crowning of undisputed World Champions.”

A full schedule and more information can be found on www.aspworldtour.com

ASP WORLD JUNIOR TOUR SCHEDULE
Oakley ASP World Junior Event, Bali/Indonesia – October 2 – 13, 2010 Billabong ASP World Junior Championships, Australia – January 8 – 16, 2011

PAST ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONS:
2009: Maxime Huscenot (REU), Laura Enever (AUS)
2008: Kai Barger (HAW), Pauline Ado (FRA
2007: Pablo Paulino (BRA), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
2006: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Nicola Atherton (AUS)
2005: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
2004: Pablo Paulino (BRA)
2003: Adriano de Souza (BRA)
2002: N/A
2001: Joel Parkinson (AUS)
2000: Pedro Henrique (BRA)
1999: Joel Parkinson (AUS)
1998: Andy Irons (HAW)

Wrench, who earned his ticket into the event as a last minute substitution, clinched the win and the $20,000 first-place check — a poignant outcome as he had recently lost his sponsorship. En route to the victory, Wrench ousted current World Junior Champion Kai Barger (HAW) in a Semifinal matchup and Marc Lacomare (FRA) in the Final. Alejo Muniz (BRA) was another big contender and finished equal third after being defeated by Lacomare in their Semifinal heat.

World of Adventure Sports is an action-adventure sports series airing on the NBC Sports network, hosted by Pat Parnell. The show features an array of adrenaline-inspired feats and adventurous sporting events from around the world. Anchor events are complemented by behind-the-scenes features on athletes, expeditions and the world of action-adventure sports.

The Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge is a unique specialty series launched by Oakley in 2008 to give young surfers the opportunity to compete at some of the best surfing locales around the world. After a hugely successful inaugural year, the 2009 series acquired international momentum and qualifying became a main priority for many of the world’s top juniors. For more information log onto oakleyprojunior.com.

About Oakley, Inc.
The global leader in performance sunglasses, goggles and prescription eyewear, Oakley also offers technical and lifestyle apparel, footwear, watches and accessories. The company was created for athletes who see impossibility as just another challenge, and their dedication inspires Oakley to seek out problems, solve with innovation and wrap invention in art. Exceeding the limits of possibility for more than thirty years, Oakley serves the demands of world-class athletes with unbeatable technologies including High Definition Optics® (HDO®). Additional information is available at oakley.com.

Media Contacts:

Dawn Hamilton
KHPR for ASG
P: 310-295-1189
dhamilton@khpublicrelations.com

Elishia Matta
ASG PR Manager
P: 949-661-5149
elishia.matta@sorc.com

Tess Weaver
Oakley Sports Marketing Media
P: 541-206-3083
tweaver@oakley.com

The action packed day culminated with Nathan Yeomans (San Clemente, CA), 28, claiming the main event over Heath Joske (AUS), 20, and Nat Young (Santa Cruz, CA), 19, winning the Oakley Pro Junior ASP North America Championships and the ASP North America Pro Junior Series Title.

In addition, as the fifth and final stop on the first ever O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series (after completing events in Tasmania, Scotland, South Africa and Canada), the Series winner was awarded. Australian Blake Thornton claimed the staggering $50,000 prize money despite being knocked out in the Round of 96 after both Jarrad Howse (AUS) and Adam Melling (ZAF) failed to reach the points they needed to beat Thornton.

Howse was knocked out in the Round of 48 in a heat, which saw Adam Melling take victory. However needing to reach the Finals to claim the prize, Melling was ousted by his fellow ‘Lord’ from the Finals of the Cold Water Classic Scotland, Lord Luke Munro.

The O’Neill Cold Water Classic California’s ASP 6-Star PRIME status attracted some of the world’s top surfing prospects out to qualify for the 2010 ASP World Tour, who were all hungry to capitalize on the mass of points available at the premier event.

Yeomans wasted no time in the bombing surf at Steamer Lane, jumping on the scoreboard early and leading the heat throughout the entire bout against Joske. The San Clemente native capitalized on the solid surf at middle peak, dropping a 15.33 heat total, to earn the convincing win. Yeomans dominated on both his forehand and backhand to take the biggest victory of his career.

“I can’t believe it,” Yeomans said. “This is the biggest result of my career and I’m speechless. I’ve been winning 2-Stars for too long and it was time for a big 6-Star win. To have my name up there with all of the great surfers who have won this event over the years is amazing.”

Yeomans, who was sitting in the No. 27 position on the ASP WQS entering the O’Neill Cold Water Classic California, catapulted up the ratings and is currently sitting within the top 15 after his impressive performance. The win helps his cause towards qualification for the 2010 ASP Dream Tour and with two ASP 6-Star PRIME events remaining in the season, the goofy-footer will look to Hawaii to solidify his position amongst the top 45 in the world for next year.

“I’m just floating right now,” Yeomans said. “This just gets me so pumped to try and get another result in Hawaii.”

Joske, who was in devastating form throughout the event, plowed through several of the world’s top talents including former ASP World Tour surfer and current top ASP WQS competitor Luke Munro (AUS), 26, to earn the runner up finish behind Yeomans, but was unable to find a rhythm in the Final.

“I’m over the moon with the second place,” Joske said. “Nate (Yeomans) just smoked it out there, and I couldn’t even buy a wave. I was just getting flogged by eight-foot sets. I’m stoked for him and pretty happy.”

Joske, who groomed his competitive skills as a standout on the ASP Pro Junior Series, will log 3063 points on to his current rating on The Grind, helping his seed for next year’s quest for a spot on the coveted ASP Dream Tour.

“This is such a great result for me and it’s really going to help my seed for next year,” Joske said. “Hopefully I can do well in Hawaii also and give it a good shot for the World Tour next year.”

Munro earned a third place finish in the main event. The explosive Australian talent who was sitting in the No. 15 position on the ASP WQS needed the valuable ratings points on offer at the contest. The Semifinals finish will significantly help his cause towards qualification for the 2010 ASP World Tour.

“This result is really important for my year and my career,” Munro said. “I was right on the bubble for qualifying and this will bump me up a few spots. So I’m really happy to have made the Semifinals.”

Alejo Muniz (BRA), 20, who recently earned an equal third finish at the Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge in Bali, also claimed an equal third place finish by upsetting current ASP World No. 3 Adriano de Souza (Guaruja Sao Paulo, BRA), 22 in the Quarterfinals, but was unable to surpass Yeomans in the Semifinals.

“The Quarterfinals was a great heat win,” Muniz said. “Adriano (de Souza) is one of my heroes and to win a heat against him was amazing.”

Local favorite Nat Young, who was the 2008 O’Neill Cold Water Classic California champion and the 2007 Oakley Pro Junior champion, won the event with amazing wave selection at his home break of Steamer Lane. Young dominated his heat to top fellow finalists Tonino Benson (HAW), 19, Dylan Goodale (HAW), 17, and Cody Thompson (Jacksonville, FL), 20.

“I’m so psyched,” Young said. “I wanted to win; I wanted to do well in this contest. I had a shocker in the WQS and it got me fired up and made me want to win.”

The victory also saw the talented goofy-footer pass Dillon Perillo (Malibu, CA), 19, to take the title of 2009 ASP North America Pro Junior Series Champion.

“It was in the back of my head going into this event,” Young said. “It’s great to have won the regional title at home.”

Although Young won the ASP North America Pro Junior title, he has officially qualified for the prestigious ASP World Junior Championships via the ASP WQS as the top mainland American surfer of junior age on The Grind.

“I was the only kid from Santa Cruz in the junior, so I’m stoked,” Young said. “It’s great to build momentum up for Worlds, even though it’s far away. It’s good to win this event at home with so many good guys in the draw.”

Also representing ASP North America in the ASP World Junior Championships will be stylish regular footer Dillon Perillo (Malibu, CA), 19, Luke Davis (Capistrano Beach, CA), 2008 ASP North America Pro Junior Series Champion Cory Arrambide (Ventura, CA), 20, and Brent Reilly (Carlsbad, CA), 19.

For more information, photos, videos and more, log on to www.oneill.com/cwc/california and www.oakleyprojunior.com.

Special thanks to all of the sponsors of the 2009 O’Neill Cold Water Classic and Oakley Pro Junior North American Championships: O’Neill, Oakley, Red Bull, Corralejo Tequila, SURFER and SURFING, as well as, the official hotel partner, The Dream Inn and Aquarius Restaurant, and food partner, Whole Foods Market.

O’Neill Cold Water Classic California Final:

1 – Nathan Yeomans (USA) 15.33

2 – Heath Joske (AUS) 8.60

O’Neill Cold Water Classic California Semifinals Results:

Heat 1: Nathan Yeomans (USA) 12.50 def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 8.00

Heat 2: Heath Joske (AUS) 11.43 def. Luke Munro (AUS) 8.86

O’Neill Cold Water Classic California Quarterfinals Results:

Heat 1: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 12.50 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 8.00

Heat 2: Nathan Yeomans (USA) 15.00 def. Cory Lopez (USA) 12.53

Heat 3: Heath Joske (AUS) 13.17 def. Damien Fahrenfort (ZAF) 9.10

Heat 4: Luke Munro (AUS) 9.67 def. Kieran Horn (USA) 8.46

Oakley Pro Junior ASP North America Championships Final Results:

1 – Nat Young (USA) 15.07

2 – Tonino Benson (HAW) 7.76

3 – Cody Thompson (USA) 7.73

4 – Dylan Goodale (HAW) 7.10

Oakley Pro Junior ASP North America Championships Semifinals Results:

Heat 1: Tonino Benson (HAW) 16.26, Cody Thompson (USA) 16.00, Conner Coffin (USA) 15.84, Luke Davis (USA) 14.40

Heat 2: Nat Young (USA) 14.00, Dylan Goodale (HAW) 10.67, Dillon Perillo (USA) 10.26, Michale Dunphy (USA) 7.83

O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series Champion:

Blake Thornton: 6,688 points

Jarred Howse:   6,625 points

Adam Melling:   6,125 points

Corralejo Tequila Highest Wave Score:

Sebastian Zietz (for the only perfect 10 of the event)