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Vans Pro Junior: The Turning Point
Andrew Nichols
Stop No. 4 for the North America Regional Men's Pro Junior season brings the region's best 18-and-under competitors to Virginia Beach, Virginia, for the Vans Pro Junior August 21 - 26. This marks the start of the homestretch toward World Junior Championship qualification with only three events remaining on their schedule including this one, Newport Beach, and Barbados.
Only 320 points separate No. 1 Crosby Colapinto and No. 4 Tyler Gunter, with No. 2 Eithan Osborne and No. 3 Kade Matson well in the mix, heading into the historic 1st Jetty lineup of Virginia Beach. But, only another 235 points mark the difference between Gunter and No. 5 Bo Raynor.
Aside from those Top 4, here's a few surfers looking to take advantage of a few stumbles provided by early exits at Huntington Beach just last month:
Bo Raynor
Current Rank: No. 5
Last year's Vans Pro Junior Result: 49th
Each year, Raynor has put a little more of his focus into the Pro Juniors and this year, his final as a Pro Junior, he's all in for a shot at Worlds. The North Carolina native knows Virginia Beach well, competing both in the Vans Pro Junior and ECSC for the past three years, but hasn't found the recipe to go past an equal 33rd result. However, Raynor's momentum from a Quarterfinal finish at the Vans US Open may just help reignite the spark he found to start the year when he earned his first-ever Finals appearance.
And, as one of the dozen East Coast competitors, Raynor and his fellow East Coasters have an opportunity to claim the first win for their home coast since this event's inception -- and try to crack the Finals for the first time since 2015.
Taro Watanabe
Current Rank: No. 6
Last year's Vans Pro Junior Result: 5th
When looking at the field of upcoming North America surfers, a few notable talents come to mind and the recently turned 16-year-old Watanabe is one of them. Last year, the Santa Cruz, California, resident finished just one spot shy of making the Vans Pro Junior Final in the four-man heats. Like Raynor, Watanabe is taking his time on the competitive front and easing in the waters, but continues to show his growth through each event toward being a serious threat in heats.
This will be Watanabe's third time at Virginia Beach, bettering his result each time so far, and comes in with a chance to make some headway into the Top 4.
Cole Houshmand
Current Rank: No. 7
Last year's Vans Pro Junior Result: 25th
The 17-year-old kept his focus on the QS early this year, foregoing the first Pro Junior event of the year, and now plays catch up to the field after what would've been a throwaway result in Los Cabos. But, Houshmand's stunning performance at the Vans US Open propelled him to a runner-up finish and 750 very needed points heading into the final half of 2018. The San Clemente, California, native knows what it takes to get to the World Junior Championship after a wildcard selection (finishing No. 5 on the rankings in 2017) earned him a spot.
But, he has no intention of wanting to leave his fate in someone else's hands this year and is gunning for the North America Regional Title in his last year as a Pro Junior.
Alan Cleland
Current Rank: No. 9
Last year's Vans Pro Junior Result: 17th
Cleland made his long-awaited Finals debut at the Vans US Open and put himself in a great spot to make his run toward the Top 4 heading into the back-half of 2018. The Pascaules, Mexico, native is hungry for more following that result and, at 16, still has a lot of time to improve his already well-rounded surf arsenal. However, the testy conditions of Virginia Beach can take out a surfer before he even enters the lineup and something that Cleland found himself on the wrong side of last year -- needing a 4.54 when the final horn sounded.
The next Mexican upstart is joined by a plethora of talent including one of 2018's form surfers Dimitri Poulos, Florida's Tommy Coleman and Laird Myers, many more.
Check out live scoring and updates on the Vans Pro Junior August 21 - 26 to see who takes this year's win.
Bo Raynor
Kenworthy earns breakthrough, maiden WSL victory in both QS and Pro Junior, Schilling's redemption year gives way to QS win,
Opening day action unfolded at Jennette's Pier before the wind overpowered the lineup.
Competitors rose to the occasion in tough conditions on opening day at the WRV Outer Banks Pro pres. by Pacifico.
Semifinalists are in and all those in the hunt for a Top 4 spot are still competing.
With Tyler Gunter claiming the North America Regional Title early, three more World Junior Championship spots need filling from Barbados.
Vans Pro Junior
A two-week run through North America's East Coast witnessed some clutch performances, tough conditions, and some shuffling among the
The points may not count, but the result and Alves' stunning performance garnered the Maui native his maiden WSL
Ohhara earns his first QS win since 2015 and Alves claims first-ever WSL victory in dramatic, comeback fashion.
Hiroto Ohhara and Cole Alves rose above the rest and claimed their first-ever Vans Pro titles.
After waiting for conditions to improve, a vital day of competition unfolded in Virginia Beach.