The HD World Junior Championships in Florianopolis, Brazil last were were a nice reminder at just how young Gabriel Medina is. After watching him dominate some of the most experienced surfers on the ASP World Tour for the past two seasons it was good to see him out in the water with kids his own age. Now, the 19-year-old can add a world title to his resume (probably not his last).
Medina would go on to dominate the final day of competition, posting the highest scores of each round, eventually peaking in the Final. The Brazilian goofy-footer would own the Final from start to finish, amassing the event’s highest single-wave score of a near-perfect 9.97 out of 10 for a massive backside air followed with a flurry of turns. Medina’s efforts would be combined with another excellent ride, securing a 18.26 out of 20 heat total and the coveted ASP World Junior Title. . . “This feels really good,” Medina said. “I’m so happy to win this event and I’ve never had a World Title in the juniors. That was a great Final against Ramzi (Boukhiam). He’s a good friend of mine and he was surfing good all week. I just tried to do my thing in the Final, airs, turns, and I got two good scores. I’m going to prepare for Hawaii now and hopefully I can finish the year strong.”
On the women’s side New Zealand’s Ella Williams, 18, took the title over Kauai’s Tatiana Weston-Webb.
Ella Williams, who entered the event as a last-minute alternate, quietly navigated her way to the Final, besting recent ASP Women’s WCT Qualifier Johanne Defay (FRA), 19, before topping Weston-Webb for the win. The Kiwi battled hard in the Final and would lock in to two left-handers in the back half of the match-up to secure the victory. . . “This is like a dream,” Williams said. “I’ve worked really hard to get here and for it to pay off was amazing. I was pretty lucky to get in to the competition and anything was just a bonus for me. This is really just amazing! Getting in to the top round of the QS events is such a fantastic help for myself and I hope to do well and progress next year.”
For the official word from the ASP follow the jump.
Ella Williams (NZL), 18, your 2013 Women’s ASP World Junior Champion. Credit: ASP/SMORIGOJOAQUINA BEACH, Florianopolis/BRA (Saturday, November 2, 2013) – Gabriel Medina (BRA), 19, has claimed the 2013 Men’s ASP World Junior Title by winning the HD World Junior Championships presented by Devassa over Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR), 20, in a high-scoring Final at Joaquina Beach in Florianopolis, Brazil.
The ASP World Junior Championship Title has been won by some of surfing’s most iconic talent including the likes of reigning ASP World Champion Joel Parkinson (AUS), 32, Adriano de Souza (BRA), 26, Jordy Smith (ZAF), 26, and Andy Irons (HAW). In addition to the the prestigious crown, surfers who placed Top 4 at the HD World Junior Championships have earned a position in to the Round of 96 for all ASP Prime and 6-Star rated events for 2014, potentially fast-tracking their qualification campaigns towards the elite ASP World Championship Tour. Surfers finishing fifth through eighth have earned a guaranteed seed in to Round 1 of all ASP 6-Star events.
Medina would go on to dominate the final day of competition, posting the highest scores of each round, eventually peaking in the Final. The Brazilian goofy-footer would own the Final from start to finish, amassing the event’s highest single-wave score of a near-perfect 9.97 out of 10 for a massive backside air followed with a flurry of turns. Medina’s efforts would be combined with another excellent ride, securing a 18.26 out of 20 heat total and the coveted ASP World Junior Title.
“This feels really good,” Medina said. “I’m so happy to win this event and I’ve never had a World Title in the juniors. That was a great Final against Ramzi (Boukhiam). He’s a good friend of mine and he was surfing good all week. I just tried to do my thing in the Final, airs, turns, and I got two good scores. I’m going to prepare for Hawaii now and hopefully I can finish the year strong.”
Ramzi Boukhiam, who finished third in last year’s ASP World Junior Championships, went one step further this year, advancing to the final compliments of spectacular power-surfing. The Moroccan talent would fight hard in the Final, but was unable to put a stop to Medina, finishing runner-up.
“I was hoping Gabriel (Medina) wouldn’t do his big airs and I knew I’d need two 9s to beat him,” Boukhiam said. “Congrats to him and he surfed amazing. Thanks to everyone for the support and everyone back in Morocco. I want to thank my Dad, who is watching me from the sky, and my Mom and brother.”
Matt Banting (AUS), 19, was a standout throughout the entirety of the HD World Junior Championships, consistently posting high scores on his way to the Semifinals. The Australian was unable to trump Ramzi Boukhiam in the Semifinals and would finish equal 3rd overall.
“Before the heat, I was thinking it was going to be really slow and if I saw a two-turn wave to jump on it,” Banting said. “I had a couple decent ones, but just nothing like I’ve had the heats before. Ramzi (Boukhiam) got a couple with a lot more bowl and speed and I’m stoked for him. I’ve had two pretty solid results this year and sometimes when you don’t win it keeps you hungry. I’ve got one more year left in the Junior, so I hope to come back next year and try and win it.”
Hiroto Ohhara (JPN), 16, put together a historic run at Joaquina Beach, earning the highest result ever by a Japanese surfer at the ASP World Junior Championships. Ohhara was lightning-fast on both his forehand and backhand, but was unable to put a stop to a near-perfect performance by Gabriel Medina in the Semifinals.
“I’m just stoked,” Ohhara said. “It was good to get to surf with Gabriel (Medina) and I’m happy. It’s a big result and it’s been a good event for me. ”
Ohhara’s equal 3rd place finish represents a crucial result for the young natural-footer. The Japanese talent’s equal 3rd place finish will guarantee Ohhara a seed in to all ASP Prime events for 2014 and he’s hungry to launch a full international campaign.
“Getting this result is important because I’m in to the Primes now,” Ohhara said. “I’m ranked around 130 or something and I’d be close to getting in. Now I’ll be in to the Prime and 6-Star events. I’m so stoked. I plan on doing as many events as I can around the world.”
For highlights of the HD World Junior Championships pres. by Devassa log on to http://www.hd-wjc.com/
For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com.
MEN’S HD WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL RESULT:
1 – Gabriel Medina (BRA) 18.26
2 – Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 11.60
MEN’S HD WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS SEMIFINALS RESULTS:
SF 1: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 16.03 def. Matt Banting (AUS) 12.33
SF 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17.94 def. Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) 10.54
MEN’S HD WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS QUARTERFINALS RESULTS:
QF 1: Matt Banting (AUS) 15.37 def. Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 13.33
QF 2: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 14.00 def. Oney Anwar (IDN) 11.04
QF 3: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 16.64 def. Slade Prestwich (ZAF) 14.97
QF 4: Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) 10.17 def. Vehiatua Prunier (PYF) 9.24
New Zealand’s Ella Williams Claims Women’s ASP World Junior Title at HD World Junior Championships
JOAQUINA BEACH, Florianopolis/BRA (Saturday, November 2, 2013) – Ella Williams (NZL), 18, has won the 2013 Women’s ASP World Junior Title, defeating Kauai’s Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW), 17, in a hard-fought final to win the HD World Junior Championships presented by Devassa at Joaquina Beach in Florianopolis, Brazil.
Williams’ victory places her name among some of surfing’s finest female talent, with past winners including the likes of ASP Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT) standouts Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 22, Pauline Ado (FRA), 22, and Laura Enever (AUS), 22. In addition to the prestigious title, surfers finishing in the Top 4 at the HD World Junior Championships have earned a seed in to the Round of 60 for all ASP Women’s 6-Star events for 2014, potentially fast-tracking their chances towards qualification for the elite ASP Top 17.
Ella Williams, who entered the event as a last-minute alternate, quietly navigated her way to the Final, besting recent ASP Women’s WCT Qualifier Johanne Defay (FRA), 19, before topping Weston-Webb for the win. The Kiwi battled hard in the Final and would lock in to two left-handers in the back half of the match-up to secure the victory.
“This is like a dream,” Williams said. “I’ve worked really hard to get here and for it to pay off was amazing. I was pretty lucky to get in to the competition and anything was just a bonus for me. This is really just amazing! Getting in to the top round of the QS events is such a fantastic help for myself and I hope to do well and progress next year.”
Weston-Webb, who was born in Brazil but moved to Hawaii as a child, was deadly on both the Joaquina lefts and rights throughout the entirety of Women’s HD World Junior Championships competition, consistently posting top scores throughout the rounds. The Hawaiian was unable to find a rhythm in the Final bout against Williams, and would finish runner up.
“I’m really happy for Ella (Williams),” Weston-Webb said. “I love to watch my friends win and having my family here for this competition is amazing and I’m sad to let them down. Their endless love and support is what my keeps my head held high, so I’m really happy to have them here and supporting me. This is a good result, I’m looking forward to next year and hopefully I can qualify (for the Women’s WCT).
Johanne Defay (FRA), 19, looked deadly on the final day of competition, dominating her Quarterfinals heat en route to the Semifinals. The French talent was unable to find a rhythm in her Semifinals clash against Ella Williams, however, and would finish equal 3rd.
“It was hard to find any waves, but the one I found, I didn’t surf it well,” Defay said. “I’m disappointed, I wanted to win this title. I’m happy with my season, but it would have been nice to win here in Brazil.”
Defay’s Semifinals result caps off an incredible 2013 campaign that saw the natural-footer secure both the ASP European Pro Junior Series title and a berth among the 2014 ASP Women’s WCT. Defay is now out to regroup in preparation for her rookie year among the ASP Top 17.
“The WCT is going going to be amazing,” Defay said. “I’m really excited and looking forward to next year, but it would have been nice to finish this year by winning the Junior title.”
Chelsea Tuach (BRB), 17, Women’s ASP North America Pro Junior Series Champion, put in a standout performance at the HD World Junior Championships presented by Devassa, finishing equal 3rd overall. The Bejan surfer would issue a massive upset on the final day of competition, eliminating ASP Women’s WCT surfer Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), 19, in their Quarterfinals match, but was unable to surpass a rampaging Tatiana Weston-Webb in the Semifinals.
“I really wasn’t expecting anything going in to that Quarterfinal with Bianca (Buitendag) and I knew knew I had to surf as well as I could,” Tuach said. “The waves kind of just came to me. Going up against Tati (Tatiana Weston-Webb), she’s such a great competitor and always seems to find the best waves, so I’ll be rooting for her.”
Tuach’s 3rd place finish solidifies her position in the Round of 60 for ASP 6-Star Women’s Qualifying events for 2014 and the natural-footer is ready to up her training program for a global assault next season.
“This year I was focusing on the Pro Juniors and my goal was just to make it here,” Tuach said. “To make it this far is really great. I’m going to train hard and do as many QS events and possible and see how I do.”
For highlights of the Women’s HD World Junior Championships presented by Devassa log on to http://www.hd-wjc.com/.
For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com.
WOMEN’S HD WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL RESULT:
1 – Ella Williams (NZL) 11.97
2 – Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 9.23
WOMEN’S HD WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS SEMIFINALS RESULTS:
SF 1: Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 15.34 def. Chelsea Tuach (BRB) 8.33
SF 2: Ella Williams (NZL) 10.34 def. Johanne Defay (FRA) 10.06
WOMEN’S HD WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS QUARTERFINALS RESULTS:
QF 1: Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 14.66 def. Frankie Harrer (USA) 10.44
QF 2: Chelsea Tuach (BRB) 12.30 def. Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 12.17
QF 3: Ella Williams (NZL) 9.67 def. Mahina Maeda (HAW) 8.83
QF 4: Johanne Defay (FRA) 15.87 def. Stephanie Single (AUS) 6.30
