Dion Atkinson Is Oakley Junior Pro Champion

Dion Atkinson - Oakley Pro Junior Winner 2006

In his first visit to Santa Cruz's Steamer Lane, Dion Atkinson (Seaford, Aus.) staved off opponents to win the Oakley Pro Junior final in clean six-foot surf.  This Grade 2 Association of Surfing Professionals event is the final 2006 ASP North America Pro Junior event and also served as the Pro Junior North American Championships.

Atkinson, who was a standout in the O'Neill Cold Water Classic presented by Jeep, before being eliminated in the round of 32, went absolutely mad in the Oakley Pro Junior final.  After opening with a solid wave, Atkinson waited nearly 15 minutes before striking again.  "I knew I needed a big score to get myself up there," said Atkinson.  "But I was pretty certain when I got off that last wave that I was on top."  Atkinson's instinct was correct.  The big Australian tore into an overhead set wave with a series of huge carves netting him a 9.33 out of a possible 10 to takeover the lead from Alex Gray (Palos Verdes, Calif.).

Gray surfed extremely well in the finals holding the lead for the majority before Atkinson took over.  "Congratulations go out to Dion- he's been absolutely ripping all week," Gray said.  "That's what is so cool about this event, there is a huge international contingent really pushing the rest of us out there.  It's been an amazing contest."

Eric Geiselman (New Smyrna Beach, Fla.), Nick Rozsa (Oxnard, Calif.), Dylan Graves (Isabella, PRI), Sterling Spencer (Pensacola, Fla.) and Alex Gray have secured entry into the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships taking place January 1 - 7, 2006, at North Narrabeen Beach in New South Wales, Australia.  Five surfers from each of the seven ASP Regions (Australasia, Europe, North America, Japan, Africa, Hawaii and South America) will converge at the high-performance beachbreak to compete for $60,000 worth of prize money and a chance to be crowned the ASP World Junior Champion.

Past ASP World Junior Champions include three-time ASP World Champ Andy Irons (Hanelei, Haw.), Australian phenomenon Joel Parkinson (Coolangatta, Aus.) and 2005 ASP WQS Champion Adriano de Souza (São Paulo, Bra.).  In addition to the prestige of being crowned ASP World Junior Champion and the prize money, the finalists at the ASP World Junior Championships will both be awarded wildcards into the high-rated ASP WQS events for 2007.

Source: ASP

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