Australia, Hawaii, South Africa, Peru and USA will compete tomorrow for the world’s greatest honor in junior surfing. The ninth edition of the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship will come to an end crowning the number one nation in the event as well as the world champions in the Under 18 Boys, Under 16 Boys, and Under 18 Girls divisions.

Surfing what is expected to be the biggest waves in the history of the event, the remaining 32 junior surfers from 11 countries will write their names in surfing history tomorrow. This group has been narrowed down from the initial record-breaking total of 276 participants from 27 nations.

After today’s action, the partial team standings are:
1- Australia
2- Hawaii
3- South Africa
4- Peru
5- USA

Two different scenarios were seen at the two different waves, Señoritas and Caballeros. A nerve-wracking set of repechage rounds took place at the perfect rights of Caballeros, while at Señoritas the main event finalists were determined to win in the powerful 6-8 foot lefts.

The following surfers will compete tomorrow to secure for themselves a place on the podium: Under 16 Boys World Champion in the 2009 ISA World Juniors, Keanu Asing (HAW), ASP Euro Pro Juniors’ ratings leader, Vasco Ribeiro (POR), Under 16 Boys Bronze Medalist in 2009, Davey Brand (RSA) and local standout, Miguel Tudela (PER)

Portuguese Vasco Ribeiro gave the best performance of the division, posting 14.50 (7.83 + 6.67) to beat Miguel Tudela (PER), Mike February (RSA) and David Van Zyl (RSA).

“Since this is a really tough event, winning that heat and getting so close to the big final makes me really happy,” said Ribeiro. “I didn’t want to go to the repechage and so far I’m achieving my goal. I like the fact that the waves are getting bigger for tomorrow. Lets see what happens then.”

Kain Daily (HAW), Ariihoe Tefaafana (TAH), Filipe Toledo (BRA) and Juninho Urcia (PER) made it through to the Under 16 main event final and are now one step away from winning medals.

“I have no words to describe the feeling of advancing up to the main event,” said Toledo, who posted the highest combined score of the round. “This is big! I’ve trained a lot and I’m happy about the way I’m surfing. I can feel I’m going to make it to the final and, God willing, I will win the contest.”

Things are also looking good for local hero, Juninho Urcia who won the ISA Scholarship in 2007, and won it again every year since then. His performance in this World Championship confirms that the ISA Individual Scholarship Programs works.

After placing second in his heat, Urcia is now one step away of winning an ISA medal. “I’m happier than ever,” said the Peruvian. “I tried to stay as calm as possible even at the beginning when I couldn’t catch a wave. I want to thank everybody on the Peruvian Team and all the people that came here to support us. I really appreciate that.”

On the women’s side, Hawaiians Brianna Cope and Tatiana Weston-Webb will face Australians Codie Klein and Nikki Van Dijk in the Under 18 Girls main event final.

Weston-Webb was the standout of the round, posting 12.43 (6.50 + 5.93). She made it to the next round along with her compatriot Briana Cope, who placed second in the round 5 match-up. Weston-Webb commented, “I’m really happy, it was hard but we did it. I feel like this year we are a dream team. When waves get big like this I’m so stoked.”

At the Caballeros repechage rounds, the day’s shocker was Team USA, which was in the lead yesterday but later fell to the fifth spot after losing six surfers. On the other side, Australians, South Africans, Peruvians and Hawaiians knew how to handle the pressure and kept a good amount of surfers alive in the repechage.

The fight for the title will have the defending champion, Australia, and the Hawaiians trying hard to win their second World Title. Anything can happen tomorrow, stay tuned to www.isawjsc.com.