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New Vans Pro Junior Winner Awaits Crowning
Andrew Nichols
Virginia Beach's 1st Street Jetty continued to test the Vans Pro Junior contingent's ability to showcase their surfing in small waves but a few of the top-tier competitors on hand were able to shine for a spot into the Quarterfinals. For many of these contenders at this point in the season a Quarterfinal result is still a throwaway when looking to earn a Top 3 spot toward the WSL World Junior Championships.
Wave selection and heat strategies are vital with plenty of work to be done for those competitors who were able to survive debut eliminations in Round 2 while others continued to thrive.
Spotlight Heat: San Clemente Duo Overtake Defending Event Winner
A late entry from one of North America's top QS and Pro Junior threats Crosby Colapinto set up a juggernaut match up early on featuring the 18-year-old facing current North America No. 1, and fellow San Clemente, California, native, Kade Matson, defending event winner Cole Alves and an in-form Aaron Ramirez. A see-saw battle ensued for the runner-up advancing spot with Matson earning an early lead and Alves just behind him, but Colapinto's wave in the final minutes sent him to first -- eliminating hopes for a Alves' repeat.
Colapinto finished with a Quarterfinal result here last season which ultimately decided the regional title after he claimed two wins in 2018.
"It was super fun to have that heat with Kade but also really nerve-racking surfing against Cole when we had really small waves to work with," Colapinto said. "Keeping my composure in the last seconds because I had no time to make any mistakes. I haven't done well here in the past few years but I've learned from my mistakes and I'm ready for the Quarterfinals after that heat today."
Slawson Continues To Surge
Yesterday's top performer Levi Slawsonpicked up right where he left off with an excellent 8.50 and 13.17 (out of a possible 20) heat total. The 16-year-old came in all smiles once more with 1st Street Jetty providing opportunities for him to take advantage of to eliminate Virginia Beach's own Blayr Barton and high-seed Kyle Tester. Now, Slawson just looks to keep the momentum alive heading into vital Quarterfinal match-ups.
"That was a fun heat this morning and I'm just stoked to grind it out and find a some fun waves," Slawson said. "I got really lucky again and found one of the bigger waves of the morning which just helps my confidence. I've been having a rough year in the Pro Juniors but definitely looking to have a better result here. It's just about staying present and focusing on the opportunities as they come."
Sebastian Mendes Debuts Strong
Sebastian Mendes' experience at Virginia Beach paid dividends in his Round 2 debut and helped eliminate one of the event threats Taro Watanabe. The 17-year-old's 7.33 all but solidified his first Quarterfinal appearance of 2019, second-career, and looks to crack into the Semifinals for the first time in his young career.
"It's a big confidence builder and I'm stoked to have taken the win in that round," Mendes said. "I have a lot of support here in VB and I'm still really excited about these junior events as I start to focus more on the QS to build a seed for next year. I've been in the Quarters once before and I still have another year in the Juniors so I'm giving it my all. Just have to keep my head down, build scores, and stay loose and while wave selection is key, over selection can end you in these conditions."
Also making their way in to the Quarterfinals, two more San Clemente surfers Taj Lindblad and Jett Schilling also made their way through Round 2 with victories along with Panama's Tao Rodriguez.
Top seeds awaiting their debut include Mexico's, and current North America No. 3 Alan Cleland, East Coast natives Micha Cantor and Blake Speir, and California's Max Beach.
Event organizers will reconvene at 7:00am EDT for a possible 7:30am EDT start for Round 2 Heat 7 of the Vans Pro Junior with the Vans Pro Virginia Beach, VA QS 3,000 Round 1 on standby.
Levi Slawson
2023 Event Victor Dimitri Poulos back into Finals Day Jett Schilling's Mission takes him to Quarterfinal Showing Eden Walla bests North
The 2024 Challenger Series contender Levi Slawson is back in the jersey and already posting excellence with an 8.50 and 15.67 heat total to
Featuring Mateus Herdy, Jackson Baker, Nora Liotta, Amuro Tsuzuki, Erin Brooks, Shion Crawford, Marco Mignot, Vahine Fierro, Cauã Costa,
Featuring Rafael Teixeira, Alan Cleland, Marco Mignot, Nadia Erostarbe, Riaru Ito, Alyssa Spencer, Cole Houshmand, Miguel Pupo, Mateus
The former World Junior Championships runner-up, Levi Slawson, found his explosive form once more in the Challenger Series jersey to notch
Vans Pro Junior
The San Clemente, California, native took control of the Final midway through the heat and never looked back.
The four-man Semifinal draws are in and the rankings are in for some shuffling once more following Virginia Beach.
The Flagler Beach, Florida, native debuted in immaculate form at the Vans Pro Virginia Beach, VA QS 3,000.
The Vans Pro Junior got the week's action started right away to get Round 1 in the books for a chance at maximizing swell on offer.
An array of North America's finest and international contingent have descended upon Virginia Beach in search of big wins in both the QS