Keanu Asing Wins The Arnette Pro Junior

Keanu Asing won the  Arnette All Day Antics Pro Junior while securing the highest heat total of the entire event, a 16.67 out of 20, over fellow finalists Evan Geiselman, Hawaiian Albee Layer, and Kolohe Andino.

The Arnette Pro Junior’s ASP Grade-3 status offers heightened points towards qualification for the inaugural ASP World Junior Tour. Once qualified each surfer earns the right to combat the highest field of competitive global talent for the title of ASP World Junior Champion.

Asing, who was the runner-up at the 2009 Arnette Pro Junior, flew under the radar throughout the early rounds, quietly advancing through his early round heats at this year’s event only to ignite in the Final with calculated backhand power-surfing to improve upon last year’s performance and clinch his first event win of 2010.

“I’m just so psyched,” Asing said. “I kind of had not such a good run at the last two Grade-2 events, so coming here, getting this one, especially after the runner up finish here last year, I felt like I had a bit of a confidence booster. I’m just happy to have a win and to make a Final again is just epic.”

Asing, who finished the 2009 season as the highest rated Hawaiian on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series, reclaimed his position as the top Hawaiian on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series ratings by jumped from No. 5 to No. 2, substantially helping his cause towards a repeat appearance at this year’s ASP World Junior Tour.

“This is just such a relief for my rating to qualify for Worlds,” Asing said. “Last year I went to Narranbeen and that was my biggest goal. This year, just solidifying my position to go to worlds, it’s just amazing. I’m excited to go, I can’t wait.”

Geiselman, who finished runner-up to Asing at this year’s Arnette Pro Junior, managed to retain his title of current ratings leader on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series and is now the frontrunner for a position at this year’s inaugural ASP World Junior Tour.

“I’m so psyched right now,” Geiselman said. “That was my main goal this whole contest, just to make the Final and get another good result because it’s the last Grade-3 before the cutoff. Me and Keanu just kind of switched off. I got him in Florida and he just got me here. He was ripping in that Final and I’m stoked for him.”

Layer, who was in top form throughout the event’s entirety, unleashed a fury of patented backside reverses throughout the entire event, but was unable to overtake Asing and Geiselman, finishing a solid 3rd place overall.

“I’m definitely psyched on the Grade-3 points at the event,” Layer said. “I just really want to get to the Bali event. I think I’ll try and get back for Huntington now to try and qualify.”

Andino, who is now rated No. 3 on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series, was also happy to walk away with the valuable ratings points on offer at the last ASP Grade-3 event before the qualification cutoff for this year’s ASP World Junior Tour.

“I was stoked to be in the Final again,” Andino said. “I kind of had a shocker this entire event. I felt like I was really trying to grind through my heats and I just wanted to get a result to get in for Worlds.”