Southern California's impeccable run through the 2019 remains unstoppable after crowning Jett Schilling and Samantha Sibley the RVCA Pro Junior pres. by Jack's Surfboards and Banzai Bowls victors, respectively.
Swell remained for a critical finals day with three-to-five foot conditions delivering to Newport Beach, California's, iconic 56th Street Jetty for more incredible performances. The wins note Sibley's back-to-back domination of the event, her second WSL win of 2019, and a maiden victory for Schilling who continued on to a fourth-consecutive Finals appearance this season in the Pro Juniors. Both made dramatic comebacks to ultimately claim their wins and showing their ability to thrive under pressure.
The 17-year-old's impressive run through 2019 finally made way for success at the Pro Junior level to take down the RVCA Pro Junior.
A breakthrough year for Sibley continues with a second WSL victory this season after taking her first-ever QS win at the Super Girl Pro and now adds her first Pro Junior win of 2019 by defending her RVCA Pro Junior title. The 17-year-old clawed her way back from third-place all the way to first in the final seven minutes, accruing a 14.87 (out of a possible 20) heat total in that time, to secure an incredible comeback against 2019 North America Regional Pro Junior Champ Caitlin Simmers, along with an in-form Sawyer Lindblad and Ella McCaffray.
Sibley's Semifinal scare led to the women's finals day best performance in the Final and comes away with confidence after dealing under pressure.
Sibley's committment to the end sections had her washed on shore multiple times throughout finals day. - WSL / Andrew Nichols
"I'm super stoked to come back a second year and get it a second time," Sibley said. "It's always good to win and to do it two times in a row feels awesome. In the heat before that I barely squeaked through and I was in a weird mood after that so going into the next heat I just thought I'd freesurf and it worked (laughs). I love surfing under pressure. It's my favorite thing and I think it's something that brings me back to competitions every time, and I think I thrive under pressure."
The win moves Sibley to No. 3 just behind Lindblad who now jumps to No. 2 on the rankings heading into the Live Like Zander Junior Pro In Memory of Zander Venezia.
Schilling provided a San Clemente, California, sweep at the RVCA Pro Junior in nail-biting fashion to earn his maiden WSL victory.
Fellow San Clemente native and 2019 standout Schilling emerged victorious for the first time in his WSL career from an intense Final that went down to the buzzer against 2019 North America Pro Junior Champ Kade Matson, event threat Nick Marshall and WSL Junior Championships contender Alan Cleland.
Marshall's incredible form continued into the Final with an early lead after a 7.33 (out of a possible 10) and 7.17 but Schilling kicked into high-gear in the dying seconds needing a 7.03 - blasting an excellent 8.50 to steal a victory as Matson's 8.90 fell short of the requirement but finished runner-up. The 16-year-old posted the day's top heat totals in both his Semifinal and Final performances to close out a dream run in Newport Beach.
Schilling's long-awaited WSL chair-up was realized after his fourth-consecutive Pro Junior Final. - WSL / Ted Putnam
"I'm feeling so good and so stoked on that win," Schilling said. "I've never won a Pro Junior before and made every Final this year but kept getting third and fourth. Winning one was something I was really looking to do and it's great to finally get it done and now I'm pretty excited for WSL Junior Championships hopefully. I'd love to get the opportunity to be there with Kade (Matson) and the other guys. Then it'd be really cool to get a good result there for a chance at the QS 10,000s and 6,000s."
Schilling sits comfortably at 2,610 points on the North America ranks with the Top 3 earning a spot into the WSL Junior Championships.
Lindblad's Stellar Run Ends with Runner-Up Finish
Lindblad's ability to stay busy and find scores found her great success throughout the event leading to a runner-up performance. - WSL / Andrew Nichols
Adding to the San Clemente sweep, Lindblad and Matson finished runner-up and noted Lindblad's first-ever Pro Junior Final as her breakout year yields more success. The 14-year-old looked well on her way to a victory after decimating a set wave on her dangerous forehand and earning an excellent 8.00 heading into the final minutes before Sibley's comeback pushed Lindblad to second. A stinging loss for Lindblad was evident but the young talent moved up to No. 2 on the rankings and currently has a spot to the WSL Junior Championships heading into the final event of the season.
"It felt amazing making my first Pro Junior Final," Lindblad said. "The experience was incredible and I can't wait for the next event. Staying busy in my heats and not waiting for the perfect wave to come was something that comes to mind when looking back on this week. This contest has given me confidence and I know I'm capable of making Finals."
Matson and Simmers Earn Regional Pro Junior Titles
Caitlin Simmers (L) and Kade Matson (R) dominated the rankings this year and finished mainland America events solidified at No. 1. - WSL / Andrew Nichols
Men's runner-up Matson and womens third-place finisher Simmers sealed up an immaculate season with their first-ever North America Regional Pro Junior titles earning their respective results. This notes Matson's third Final of 2019, just missing out in Virginia Beach with a Semifinal result, and a brilliant finish to the mainland North America season. The 17-year-old's last powerful effort came up short of the 9.57 requirement to overtake good friend Schilling but catapulted him into runner-up after the final horn sounded and solidified his spot atop the rankings.
"My goal was to win but to get second to one of my best friends made it easier (laughs)," Matson said. "I know Jett has been right there the last three events and I felt like he deserved this one. Another goal of mine coming in was to win the Regional Title here and I knew it wasn't going to be easy but it feels really good when you accomplish your goals."
"I really wanted to win this one but my goal of winning the region happening is really cool," Simmers said. "It was great to make another finals day and I'm excited to get to go to Worlds."
More news from their brilliant runs in 2019 will follow
The final event of the season, the Live Like Zander Junior Pro In Memory of Zander Venezia, will run November 7 - 10 at Soup Bowl, Bathsheba, Barbados.
Updated Men's North America Pro Junior Rankings
- Kade Matson (USA) 3,170 points
- Jett Schilling (USA) 2,610 points
- Alan Cleland (MEX) 1,760 points
- Crosby Colapinto (USA) 1,700 points
Update Women's North America Pro Junior Rankings
- Caitlin Simmers (USA) 2,560 points
- Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 1,470 points
- Samantha Sibley (USA) 1,450 points
Samantha Sibley and Jett Schilling Win RVCA Pro Junior
Andrew Nichols
Southern California's impeccable run through the 2019 remains unstoppable after crowning Jett Schilling and Samantha Sibley the RVCA Pro Junior pres. by Jack's Surfboards and Banzai Bowls victors, respectively.
Swell remained for a critical finals day with three-to-five foot conditions delivering to Newport Beach, California's, iconic 56th Street Jetty for more incredible performances. The wins note Sibley's back-to-back domination of the event, her second WSL win of 2019, and a maiden victory for Schilling who continued on to a fourth-consecutive Finals appearance this season in the Pro Juniors. Both made dramatic comebacks to ultimately claim their wins and showing their ability to thrive under pressure.
A breakthrough year for Sibley continues with a second WSL victory this season after taking her first-ever QS win at the Super Girl Pro and now adds her first Pro Junior win of 2019 by defending her RVCA Pro Junior title. The 17-year-old clawed her way back from third-place all the way to first in the final seven minutes, accruing a 14.87 (out of a possible 20) heat total in that time, to secure an incredible comeback against 2019 North America Regional Pro Junior Champ Caitlin Simmers, along with an in-form Sawyer Lindblad and Ella McCaffray.
Sibley's Semifinal scare led to the women's finals day best performance in the Final and comes away with confidence after dealing under pressure.
"I'm super stoked to come back a second year and get it a second time," Sibley said. "It's always good to win and to do it two times in a row feels awesome. In the heat before that I barely squeaked through and I was in a weird mood after that so going into the next heat I just thought I'd freesurf and it worked (laughs). I love surfing under pressure. It's my favorite thing and I think it's something that brings me back to competitions every time, and I think I thrive under pressure."
The win moves Sibley to No. 3 just behind Lindblad who now jumps to No. 2 on the rankings heading into the Live Like Zander Junior Pro In Memory of Zander Venezia.
Fellow San Clemente native and 2019 standout Schilling emerged victorious for the first time in his WSL career from an intense Final that went down to the buzzer against 2019 North America Pro Junior Champ Kade Matson, event threat Nick Marshall and WSL Junior Championships contender Alan Cleland.
Marshall's incredible form continued into the Final with an early lead after a 7.33 (out of a possible 10) and 7.17 but Schilling kicked into high-gear in the dying seconds needing a 7.03 - blasting an excellent 8.50 to steal a victory as Matson's 8.90 fell short of the requirement but finished runner-up. The 16-year-old posted the day's top heat totals in both his Semifinal and Final performances to close out a dream run in Newport Beach.
"I'm feeling so good and so stoked on that win," Schilling said. "I've never won a Pro Junior before and made every Final this year but kept getting third and fourth. Winning one was something I was really looking to do and it's great to finally get it done and now I'm pretty excited for WSL Junior Championships hopefully. I'd love to get the opportunity to be there with Kade (Matson) and the other guys. Then it'd be really cool to get a good result there for a chance at the QS 10,000s and 6,000s."
Schilling sits comfortably at 2,610 points on the North America ranks with the Top 3 earning a spot into the WSL Junior Championships.
Lindblad's Stellar Run Ends with Runner-Up Finish
Adding to the San Clemente sweep, Lindblad and Matson finished runner-up and noted Lindblad's first-ever Pro Junior Final as her breakout year yields more success. The 14-year-old looked well on her way to a victory after decimating a set wave on her dangerous forehand and earning an excellent 8.00 heading into the final minutes before Sibley's comeback pushed Lindblad to second. A stinging loss for Lindblad was evident but the young talent moved up to No. 2 on the rankings and currently has a spot to the WSL Junior Championships heading into the final event of the season.
"It felt amazing making my first Pro Junior Final," Lindblad said. "The experience was incredible and I can't wait for the next event. Staying busy in my heats and not waiting for the perfect wave to come was something that comes to mind when looking back on this week. This contest has given me confidence and I know I'm capable of making Finals."
Matson and Simmers Earn Regional Pro Junior Titles
Men's runner-up Matson and womens third-place finisher Simmers sealed up an immaculate season with their first-ever North America Regional Pro Junior titles earning their respective results. This notes Matson's third Final of 2019, just missing out in Virginia Beach with a Semifinal result, and a brilliant finish to the mainland North America season. The 17-year-old's last powerful effort came up short of the 9.57 requirement to overtake good friend Schilling but catapulted him into runner-up after the final horn sounded and solidified his spot atop the rankings.
"My goal was to win but to get second to one of my best friends made it easier (laughs)," Matson said. "I know Jett has been right there the last three events and I felt like he deserved this one. Another goal of mine coming in was to win the Regional Title here and I knew it wasn't going to be easy but it feels really good when you accomplish your goals."
"I really wanted to win this one but my goal of winning the region happening is really cool," Simmers said. "It was great to make another finals day and I'm excited to get to go to Worlds."
More news from their brilliant runs in 2019 will follow
The final event of the season, the Live Like Zander Junior Pro In Memory of Zander Venezia, will run November 7 - 10 at Soup Bowl, Bathsheba, Barbados.
Updated Men's North America Pro Junior Rankings
Update Women's North America Pro Junior Rankings
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RVCA Pro Junior
Schilling provided a San Clemente, California, sweep at the RVCA Pro Junior in nail-biting fashion to earn his maiden WSL victory.
Contenders for a rankings shuffle emerged in both the men and women's RVCA Pro Junior pres. by Jack's Surfboards and Banzai Bowls.
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The upcoming RVCA Pro Junior will be the final mainland North America before Barbados and spots towards WSL Junior Championships are wide