Quarterfinalists Decided at ASP Grade-1 Fins Pro Junior

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Grade-1 Belmar Pro Junior completed a marathon day of competition at 16th and Ocean in Belmar, New Jersey today, narrowing the 56-man field down to 16 competitors after poor weather conditions forced event officials to call off yesterday’s competition. An inaugural Fins Pro Junior champion will be crowned tomorrow.
Zach Humphries (Margate, NJ), 20, was one local standout to donate a top performance in front of his home crowd. The New Jersey native posted one of the day’s highest heat totals, a 13.76, en route to his Quarterfinals berth.
“I was able to get off to a good start and get a few solid scores right away to take the pressure off,” Humphries said. “The solid start allowed me to get through the heat.”
Humphries is capitalizing on competing in the only East Coast event on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series calendar this year and is thrilled to compete in front of his home crowd.
“It feels nice to have a competition in my backyard,” Humphries said. “We have a nice chest-high swell right now and I’m glad we have good conditions.”
Phillip Goold (Virginia Beach, VA), 20, was another East Coaster who put on a strong showing en route to his Quarterfinals berth. The explosive talent capitalized on the improved conditions in his heat, posting a solid 13.83 heat total to advance through to the next round.
“This morning, the surf was still stormy, but conditions had really improved by the time I had to surf my heat,” Goold said. “There was some fun, juicy, chest high swell out there and I was able to find a few waves that allowed me to do more than two turns. I think that’s what made the difference for me in that heat, I was able to find waves with a good open face.”
Since Goold spends the majority of his time on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series competing in California, he is capitalizing on the Fins Pro Junior, which is relatively close to his home in Virginia Beach.
“It’s the only East Coast event of the year and it’s just nice to be able to drive to a contest,” Goold said.
Today’s top seeds will continue tomorrow and the 16 surfers remaining will battle it out for the inaugural Fins Pro Junior title.
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