Julian Wilson went to skies in Round 3 of the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships. Photo: Steve Robertson/Surfing Australia

NORTH NARRABEEN, Australia (Tuesday, January 6, 2009) – The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships steamrolled through the men’s Round 3 today before deciding the women’s ASP World Junior Champion in rippable three-to-four foot (1 metre) surf on offer at Sydney’s North Narrabeen beach.
 
The deciding event in the quest for the undisputed ASP World Junior Title, the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships is paramount junior event on the planet and today’s competition saw the biggest upsets of the week go down with some major favourites eliminated from competition.

Lincoln Taylor (AUS), 20, posted the highest single-wave score of the event, a 9.60 out of a possible 10, for a vicious forehand assault, eliminating favoured South African Rudy Palmboom, 20, from Billabong ASP World Junior competition.
 
“I was really lucky that I managed to get the two best waves come to me in that heat,” Taylor said. “At this level if you don’t get excellent scores on the set waves you’re going to quickly end up behind the eight ball.”

While several of Taylor’s fellow countrymen still in contention at the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships, the young goofy-footer is keen to claim the ASP World Junior Title for Australia – a feat that has yet to be repeated since current ASP Dream Tour stalwart Joel Parkinson (AUS), 27, in 2001.

“I’m not trying to focus on anything else but doing well right now,” Taylor said. “I didn’t come in this event to finish last.”

Taylor will face Kiron Jabour (HAW), 17, in Round 4 when competition resumes.

Maxime Huscenot (REU), 16, reigning ASP European Pro Junior Champion, scored one of the biggest upsets of the day, eliminating ASP International Wildcard and event favourite Dusty Payne (HAW), 20, in Round 3 of the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships. The young natural-footer going as far as to post an impressive 9.00 out of a possible 10 in the last minute to cement the victory.
 
“Still no pressure after beating Dusty (Payne),” Huscenot said. “Dusty is such a good surfer up there with Julian (Wilson). I got a 9-point ride which was so good.”  
 
Huscenot will face Alex Ribeiro (BRA) in Round 4 when Billabong ASP World Junior competition resumes.
 
Fellow European Marc Lacomare (FRA), 18, caused another major upset in the elimination of Australian Owen Wright, 18, from Billabong ASP World Junior competition. The Frenchman took command of the heat early on, collecting an 8.00 and an 8.50 in the opening minutes, posting what would prove to be an insurmountable lead for the highly-touted Australian.
 
“I feel so good to beat Owen (Wright),” Lacomare said. “He always beats me. We have surfed against one another about five or six times and he has beaten me most. Before the heat I was not that nervous because Owen is such a favourite. I’m just here do my best and see what happens.”

Lacomare will take on Jayke Sharp (AUS), 20, in Round 4 when competition resumes.
 
Following the completion of the men’s Round 3, the Billabong ASP World Junior women’s title will be decided beginning with the Quarterfinals at 2:30pm local time
 
The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships will be webcasting LIVE scores and audio via www.billabongpro.com  with Heats on Demand available in the VIDEO section.
 
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com 
 
BILLABONG ASP WORLD JUNIORS (MEN) ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Tamaroa McComb (PYF) 15.17 def. Tonino Benson (HAW) 9.66
Heat 2: Julian Wilson (AUS) 13.17 def. Klee Strachan (ZAF) 8.73
Heat 3: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 13.00 def. Blake Jones (USA) 8.94
Heat 4: Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 14.67 def. Alex Lima (BRA) 13.00
Heat 5: Lincoln Taylor (AUS) 18.10 def. Rudy Palmboom (ZAF) 11.33
Heat 6: Kiron Jabour (HAW) 8.90 def. Medi Veminardi (REU) 8.90
Heat 7: Granger Larsen (HAW) 16.00 def. Travis Beckmann (USA) 12.14
Heat 8: Jadson Andre (BRA) 14.33 def. Dean Bowen (AUS) 6.00
Heat 9: Maxime Huscenot (REU) 16.67 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 12.00
Heat 10: Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 16.00 def. Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 13.34
Heat 11: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 16.50 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 12.50
Heat 12: Jayke Sharp (AUS) 12.33 def. Casey Brown (HAW) 9.50
Heat 13: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 13.50 def. Magno Pacheco (BRA) 10.34
Heat 14: Nat Young (USA) 9.23 def. Jatyr Berasaluce (EUK) 9.23
Heat 15: Stuart Kennedy (AUS) 16.50 def. Nicholas Godfrey (ZAF) 12.17
Heat 16: Kai Barger (HAW) 13.17 def. Charles Martin (GLP) 9.84

BILLABONG ASP WORLD JUNIORS (MEN) ROUND 4 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Tamaroa McComb (PYF) vs. Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 2: Alejo Muniz (BRA) vs. Tanner Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 3: Lincoln Taylor (AUS) vs. Kiron Jabour (HAW)
Heat 4: Granger Larsen (HAW) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 5: Maxime Huscenot (REU) vs. Alex Ribeiro (BRA)
Heat 6: Marc Lacomare (FRA) vs. Jayke Sharp (AUS)
Heat 7: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Nat Young (USA)
Heat 8: Stuart Kennedy (AUS) vs. Kai Barger (HAW)

BILLABONG ASP WORLD JUNIORS (WOMEN) QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
QF 1: Arini Mason (NZL) vs. Pauline Ado (FRA)
QF 2: Courtney Conlogue (USA) vs. Paige Hareb (NZL)
QF 3: Leila Hurst (HAW) vs. Diana Cristina (BRA)
QF 4: Laura Enever (AUS) vs. Bethany Hamilton (HAW)

It

It’s windy out there now but was quite nice earlier! Can all the longboarders stop surfing out Mona main, your dangerous and annoying haha

Surf forecast issued Tuesday 6 January 2008: Quick seven day outlook for Sydney:  This one’s for Nanas…:).. variable winds!

Hey who would have picked the light southerly change about an hour ago this morning???  Don did - from the other side of the Pacific!  Eased back now and already truning SE - Bureau still forecasting strong NE late… It’s now getting warmer, the sky is more blue than grey now, cicadas have started up… so they could be right.

Swell looks like continuing small to medium NE which is fine for Summer holidays.  Just need to be in the right place at the right time to get some fun waves.

Tuesday, Wednesday: in the 1-2 metre range (lower end mostly) from the North East.

Thursday:  early Southerly change so coming up with strong wind.

Friday: short lived increase -about 1 metre south

Saturday: about 1 SE

Sunday: about 1 metre maybe a little more East South East

Monday: 1-2 range East

Weather from the Bureau

Forecast for Tuesday
Fine and sunny. Very hot in the west. Light winds and moderate to fresh afternoon northeast seabreezes.

Precis: Fine. Very hot in the west.

City:          Max:   31  Parramatta:  Max:   38
Terrey Hills:  Max:   33  Penrith:     Max:   41
Liverpool     Max:   39  Richmond:    Max:   39

UV Alert: 8:50 am to 5:10 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 12 [Extreme]

Wednesday
Mostly fine.

City:  Min:   22  Max:   31
West:  Min:   19  Max:   37

Thursday
Cloudy. Shower or two.

City:  Min:   21  Max:   24
West:  Min:   19  Max:   25

Friday
Cloudy. Chance shower.

City:  Min:   17  Max:   22
West:  Min:   13  Max:   23

Saturday
Fine.

City:  Min:   16  Max:   24
West:  Min:   13  Max:   27

Sunday
Chance shower or thunderstorm

City:  Min:   16  Max:   27
West:  Min:   13  Max:   34

Monday
Shower or two.

City:  Min:   19  Max:   25
West:  Min:   14  Max:   28

2-4ft ENE swell brushed by a lite WSW breeze early heading NE later. Looks pretty decent. Water temp still warm. Worth a splash. Rosco.