Fri Aug 22 2008 14:30:00

Photo: Pauline Ado (FRA), reigning ASP European Women's Junior champion and current ratings' leader, was an example of the great surfing displayed on Day 2

ERICEIRA, Portugal (Friday, August 22, 2008) – The ASP Grade-2 Billabong Pro Junior went straight into business with most of the top seeds all getting their start in the crucial event, second to last of the 2008 ASP European Men's Pro Junior Tour. The two to three foot (0.5 to 1 meter) clean waves on offer at Ribeira d'Ilhas gave all competitors enough scoring potential to post solid performances and keep the close ratings' race.

Both Men and Women division were held today to take advantage of the good conditions and the show smove into serious business with top performers setting the pace before the finals.

Charles Martin (GLP), ASP European Junior No. 4 in 2007, was the man of the day posting a solid 15.84 point heat result (out of a possible 20) for his first encounter in the Billabong Pro Junior, defeating yesterday's top scorer Thiago Camarao (BRA).

"I am stoked to be here because I really like this place," Martin said. "The waves are usually good and I made that first heat with a win which is pretty big for me as it has been three years since I last made a heat here."

Martin, who missed all main events on the ASP European Pro Junior tour this year due to school obligations, just clinched a promissing equal 17th in the ASP WQS 6-Star event in Lacanau and is in excellent form.

"To have Pro Junior events before the big WQS ones is great because you get to practice a lot," Martin said. "It was the same in Lacanau and it paid off really well with two good results in both divisions. I want to make it as far as I can this weekend and start the QS event confidently."

Other top ratings' surfers Medi Veminardi (REU) and Maxime Huscenot (REU) surfed as well today and all got the pressure off avoiding the dramatic Round 1 elimination that could have changed the whole ratings' face.

Huscenot, who won the ASP Grade-4 event last June, has been leading the men's division since then and will be looking to confirm his supremacy at Ericeira knwing his closest followers Marc Lacomare (FRA) and Veminardi will be focused to the end, not talking about the tight points' battle taking place for the end-of-the-year Top 5.

"It is an exciting year and there has been several great contests," Huscenot said. "We are getting closer to the end but this event is my focus and I am only 16, with plenty of time to think of any title."

The women's division saw the domination of French representatives for another event and all current ASP European Women's Junior Top 5 surfers will have their go in tomorrow's Quarterfinals.

Pauline Ado, current regional leader, who got back-to-back excellent results in France – a win at Lacanau and a runner-up finish at Hourtin – came up with some good surfing showing her intentions for this crucial ASP Grade-2 event.

The international contingent led by ASP WQS 5-Star winner Wiggoly Dantas, will be a serious resistance to any of the top Europeans surfing tomorrow. Dantas, who went through three rounds already in the event, brought up another great show wining his battle.

Seven heats remain in the women's division before the champion is crowned, and the Men's event will resume at 8 AM tomorrow at Ribeira d'Ilhas (PRT)

All results, news and photos available at www.aspeurope.com. The Billabong Pro Junior is webcast LIVE.  

The BILLABONG PRO JÚNIOR is an event for Billabong. Along, Turismo de Portugal and Câmara Municipal de Mafra provide huge support.

This contest is organized by Alfarroba,with support from Von Zipper, Ericeira Surf Shop, Kustom, Nixon, Buondi, Nokia, B!, Tmn, Jeep, Sapo.pt, Pólen Surfboards, Fonte Viva, LG Computers, Konica Minolta, Ericeira Surf Club, Junta de Freguesia da Ericeira, Red Bull, Ribeira d'Ilhas Surf Camp, Vitaminas, and ASP Europe – Association of Surfing Professionals.

To help on the event's diffusion, we count on MegaFm radio, newspaper Destak, tv channel Sport Tv, websites http://Surf.Sapo.Pt , www.Conquilha.com , and magazines FreeSurf, SurfPortugal and Bit.