Photo: Hilleman
Andrew DohenyThe Arnette All Day Antics Pro Junior presented by Jack's Surfboards will be back at 54th Street in Newport Beach, California for the third year running June 5-6, 2010 bringing with it the nation's top Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Pro Junior talent.

"Going into our third year hosting this event we couldn't be more stoked to be providing a forum for some of the best young surfers in the world to showcase their skills and advance in the sport," says Joe Freitag, Arnette Global Brand Manager. "Jack's and the ASG crew are great partners and we're really looking forward to making this one the best yet."

The 2010 ASP North America Pro Junior Series is a qualifier for the ASP World Junior Championships. As the fourth stop of the series, this grade-3 event will play a critical role in each surfer's campaign towards qualification for the championships.

Among the field of 80 juniors competing for the $15,000 prize purse and the vital ratings points on offer are local favorite Andrew Doheny (Newport Beach, CA), 17, defending champion Nat Young (Santa Cruz, CA),19, and current junior series ratings leader Evan Geiselman (New Smyrna Beach, FL), 17.

Andrew Doheny at Lower Trestles, held nothing back in his quest for victory.

Doheny will be entering the event at his home break after his inaugural ASP Pro Junior victory at Lower Trestles last month and is out to carry his momentum to Newport.

"Winning the last pro junior contest at Lowers definitely helps my confidence going into the Arnette Pro Junior, but I still have to give it everything I have," Doheny said. "I felt like I got lucky at Lowers."

Although Doheny hopes the support of the local crowd will loan him additional momentum in his quest for back-to-back ASP North America Pro Junior Series event wins, the stylish regular-footer knows he has little advantage in the lineup due to Newport's often tricky conditions.

"The local support helps, but there's not much local knowledge when it comes to Newport," Doheny said. "The wave is just a closeout most of the time."

Doheny, who is currently sitting in the No. 2 position behind Evan Geiselman knows that the a solid result at the upcoming Arnette Pro Junior will play a crucial role in his hopes of qualification for the ASP World Junior Tour.

"This event's grade-3 points mean a lot for sure," Doheny said. "I'm going to try my best and let that take me where it wants to."
Nat Young going for gold at the 2009 Arnette All Day Antics Pro Junior.
Photo: Hilleman
Nat Young
Defending Arnette Pro Junior Champion and the reigning ASP North America Pro Junior Series Champion, Nat Young, has been dialing in his equipment to suit Newport's beachbreak and hopes to capitalize on the spread out lineup at the upcoming event.

"I think Newport is a really fun wave for a contest," Young said. "There are peaks all over so you can kind of sit off on your own. At the moment I have boards that work really well in those punchy beachbreaks and hopefully there [will be] a little swell for the contest."

Although the defending champion is well aware of the event's substantial ratings points on offer, his main focus of qualifying for the ASP World Junior Tour by way of the PRIME and Star events relieves the pressure of a repeat performance at this year's Arnette Pro Junior.

"Since this contest is a grade-3 you definitely want to do well here," Young said. "I have already missed the first two events, so a win here could do a lot for me. Since I'm going try and qualify for worlds through the Star and PRIME series, I feel like I have less pressure in the pro juniors, and I can just surf and have fun and do my best."

Geiselman, who is currently holding a slight lead over Doheny on the regional ratings, will also be hungry for another standout performance to retain his current No. 1 position. The stacked field guarantees that both days of the 2010 Arnette All Day Antics Pro Junior presented by Jack's Surfboards will be packed full of progressive surfing from the best junior talent in North America.

Catch all of the live action via high-quality webcast with live video coverage and scoring during both days of competition at arnetteprojunior.com.