Junior Pro Surfers Put On A Show In Cocoa Beach For Ron Jon Quiksilver Pro, Roxy Junior Pro

BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA  BEACH, FLORIDA – The final remnants of Winter Storm Riley provided another fun day of conditions for the Ron Jon Quiksilver Junior Pro and Roxy Junior Pro with two-to-three foot waves on offer.

The juniors took over Alan Shepard Park, as the men’s Qualifying Series (QS) competitors had a lay day, and put up impressive performances throughout the day.

Round Two and Three of the men’s junior and opening Round One, as well as the Quarterfinals of the women’s junior, were completed in their entirety.

Eithan Osborne (USA) struck again at Cocoa Beach, Florida, after his QS performance yesterday, but this time as a junior where his focus is geared. The Ventura, California, native blasted a critical air-reverse in the shorebreak that he was able to ride out of before running onto the sand and earning a near-perfect 9.57 (out of a possible 10). Osborne added an 8.50 to that and threatened the event’s top heat total, an 18.17 (out of a possible 20), with his own 18.10 to kick off his final Junior Tour year.

“That heat was insane with Sebastian [Williams] and Stevie [Pittman], and to be in a Round Three heat was crazy — that’s a Final at any of these events” Osborne said.

“My focus is in the juniors this year, I want to make it to Worlds so bad and take that event out, but I’d also like to be in the QS 6,000s at the end of the year as well. It’s good since it’s my last year in school and I’ll be able to fully focus on my surfing afterward. One of my main goals is to stay healthy this year, I’m always getting hurt and it’s cost me events, so I’m really looking forward to being at one hundred percent.”

But, Osborne, and the rest of the North America contingent, have a new threat on their hands in the form of Robbie McCormick (USA). The Flagler Beach, Florida, competitor made his WSL debut in yesterday’s action and continued to stun the beach during today’s affairs. McCormick is a late bloomer, beginning his career at age 17 with only one year to perform, but has proven ready for the jersey.

“This is actually my first real pro event I’ve done so I’m just learning all I can and hoping to get a couple of points to move forward,” McCormick said.

“It feels good to win a few heats and I’m just trying my best, while having fun with it. Since it’s my last year as junior I’ll just see what I can do before getting into the QS. I surf waves like this all the time and I know how to go about it so I’ll just keep having fun out there.”

Last year’s North America Junior Tour No. 4 Tyler Gunter (USA) made a phenomenal QS debut yesterday which translated into more success on the junior front in today’s action. The Newport Beach, California, representative is ready for another big year after a taste of the elite World Junior Championships.

“Worlds was the greatest experience of my life — I felt like a CT surfer there with the set up and everything,” Gunter said.

“Since I left Australia I’ve just been gearing up for this event and told myself I’m going to work harder than ever. That’s my number one goal is to be back there. I’ve been training in knee high surf around Huntington Beach and Newport to prepare for this one and to have waves here has been amazing. Last year was probably the best year I’ve ever had, making a few Finals, and I learned so much to set myself up for a big year.”

The women got their start in trickier, high tide conditions, and still managed to find a few gems for scoring opportunity.

Two-time, defending event winner Alyssa Spencer (USA) is back into the Semifinals to try for a three-peat, but Kirra Pinkerton (USA) stole the show with a 15.33 heat total.

The San Clemente, California, native spent most of her spring in Australia following the World Junior Championship and collected a few solid QS results in the process.

Pinkerton now returns to the Junior Tour to kick off her 2018 campaign in hopes of returning to the WJC stage next year.

“I’m just trying to keep my energy after being so jet-lagged, but I’ve got it pretty figured out and it’s exciting to get the first junior of the year going — and already be into the Semifinals,” Pinkerton said.

“I had a few good results in Australia and I feel strong coming back here now, especially in these type of waves. If I can get a good result here and keep that going, I definitely don’t want to be in the same position as last year where I knew I needed to do something in the Final [at Soup Bowl].”

Saturday’s 7:30 a.m. EDT call will determine an 8:00 a.m. EDT start for either Round Three of the men’s QS or Quarterfinals of the junior men’s event.

Go to www.worldsurfleague.com for more information, or download the WSL App to get updates on your mobile device.

The Ron Jon Quiksilver Pro QS 1,000, Junior Pro, and Roxy Junior Pro will run March 8 – 11 at Alan Shepard Park, Cocoa Beach, Florida.

Ron Jon Quiksilver Junior Pro Round Three Results:
Heat 1: Tyler Gunter (USA) 14.34, Kai McPhillips (USA) 10.90, Blake Spier (USA) 10.50, Robbie Goodwin (USA) 7.83
Heat 2: Liam Murray (USA) 11.36, Dimitri Poulos (USA) 10.50, Dylan Hord (USA) 10.06, Jacob Burke (BRB) 7.60
Heat 3: Laird Myers (USA) 12.33, Lucas Vicente (BRA) 12.27, Micah Crozier (USA) 10.70, Chase Modelski (USA) 10.70
Heat 4: Eithan Osborne (USA) 18.14, Sebastian Williams (ZAF) 14.73, Stevie Pittman (USA) 8.56, Caleb Crozier (USA) 6.13
Heat 5: William Hedleston (USA) 11.73, Bo Raynor (USA) 11.34, Tommy Coleman (USA) 11.00, Ryan Huckabee (USA) 7.47
Heat 6: Robbie McCormick (USA) 13.66, Crosby Colapinto (USA) 9.56, Nick Marshall (USA) 8.80, Jackson Butler (USA) 7.26
Heat 7: Kade Matson (USA) 14.83, Eno James (GBR) 8.93, Alan Cleland (MEX) 8.77, Sebastian Mendes (USA) 6.40
Heat 8: Seamus Carey (USA) 8.10, Taro Watanabe (USA) 7.80, Kyle Tester (USA) 7.66, Sam Reidy (USA) 4.20

Ron Jon Quiksilver Junior Pro Round Two Results:
Heat 1: Robbie Goodwin (USA) 12.40, Dylan Hord (USA) 10.54, Tommy McKeown (USA) 9.87, Dane Matson (USA) 7.87
Heat 2: Dimitri Poulous (USA) 11.16, Kai McPhillips (USA) 10.04, Max Beach (USA) 8.37, Ben Wingate (USA) 4.93
Heat 3: Lucas Vicente (BRA) 14.83, Stevie Pittman (USA) 14.83, Stevie Pittman (USA) 14.10, Beck Adler (USA) 9.70, Manny Valentin (PRI) 8.20
Heat 4: Sebastian Williams (ZAF) 15.33, Laird Myers (USA) 9.73, Shane Frontino (USA) 7.77, Aaron Ramierz (CRI) 6.83
Heat 5: Bo Raynor (USA) 14.10, Nick Marshall (USA) 12.10, Alex Fry (USA) 7.90, Riley Morgan (USA) 6.53
Heat 6: Robbie McCormick (USA) 14.74, Ryan Huckabee (USA) 10.13, Dwight Pastrana (PRI) 9.53, Kyle Caracciolo (USA) 4.57
Heat 7: Alan Cleland (MEX) 11.90, Sam Reidy (CRI) 11.80, Micha Cantor (USA) 11.00, Levi Slawson (USA) 11.00
Heat 8: Seamus Carey (USA) 12.33, Eno James (GBR) 10.10, Italo Mesinas (USA) 5.90, Will Grossarth (USA) 5.23

Ron Jon Roxy Junior Pro Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Alyssa Spencer (USA) 14.17, Zoe Benedetto (USA) 13.10, Maddie Garlough (USA) 8.30, Molly Kirk (USA) 1.83
QF 2: Eva Woodland (CRI) 12.20, Ava McGowan (USA) 9.84, Bethany Zelasko (CAN) 6.93, Bree Smith (USA) 5.23
QF 3: Kirra Pinkerton (USA) 15.33, Samantha Sibley (USA) 9.50, Paulina Summers (USA 6.67, Rubina Brownell (CRI) 6.26
QF 4: Valentina Resano (NIC) 11.50, Tiare Thompson (USA) 11.16, Serena Nava (USA) 11.03, Charlotte Lange (USA) 9.90

Ron Jon Roxy Junior Pro Round One Results:
Heat 1: Alyssa Spencer (USA) 9.53, Ava McGowan (USA) 8.37, Audrey Presti (USA) 7.00, Maddy Malizia (RUS) 4.40
Heat 2: Molly Kirk (USA) 7.57, Bree Smith (USA) 4.43, Nicole Fulford (USA) 4.10, Camila Summers (CRI) 3.20
Heat 3: Bethany Zelasko (CAN) 13.66, Maddie Garlough (USA) 12.03, Makena Burke (USA) 9.67, Hannah Blevins (USA) 6.64
Heat 4: Eva Woodland (CRI) 8.87, Zoe Benedetto (USA) 7.83, Ella McCaffray (USA) 6.47, Rachel Presti (USA) 6.30
Heat 5: Kirra Pinkerton (USA) 14.43, Valentina Resano (NIC) 14.33, Mathea Dempfle-Olin (CAN) 11.50, Coral Schuster (USA) 7.33
Heat 6: Rubiana Brownell (CRI) 7.74, Charlotte Lange (USA) 7.03, Avery Aydelotte (USA) 2.23, Coral Wiggins (CRI) 1.00
Heat 7: Tiare Thompson (USA) 13.50, Paulina Summers (CRI) 8.83, Kayla Coscino (USA) 8.67, Sarah Stotz (USA) 2.50
Heat 8: Serena Nava (USA) 13.90, Samantha Sibley (USA) 10.66, Jasmine Gailey (USA) 4.30, Alexa Muss (USA) 3.10

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