HUNTINGTON BEACH, California (Thursday, June 24, 2010) – 2009 ASP North America Pro Junior Series Champion Nat Young (Santa Cruz, CA), 19, clinched an impressive runner-up result at this week’s ASP 6-Star Sri Lankan Airlines Pro by finishing behind Australian standout Julian Wilson (Coolum, AUS), 22, in a hard-fought Final at Sri Lanka’s idyllic righthand pointbreak of Arugam Bay.

Young’s second-place finish amongst some of the globe’s finest up-and-coming competitive talent not only catapults the lethal goofy-footer to No. 69 on the men’s ASP World Ranking, but also establishes the American as the frontrunner for qualification for the ASP World Junior Championships due to his performance on the men’s Star Ratings as the top rated American surfer of ASP Pro Junior age.

The talented Californian relied on his polished backhand attack on the firing Sri Lankan right-handers to earn the impressive Final berth while marching past a solid list of international competitors including Australian Jayke Sharp (Coffs Harbour, AUS), 22, Basque talent Hodei Collazo (EUK), ASP Pro Junior talent Chris Friend (Sunshine Coast, AUS), 19, and former ASP Dream Tour campaigners Nic Muscroft (Victoria, AUS), 27, and David Weare (Durban, ZAF), 29, before falling to Wilson in their battle for the Sri Lankan Airlines Pro title.

“I’ve had an amazing week here and I’m really grateful to have made the final” Young said. “I knew the only way to beat Julian (Wilson) would be to score two excellent waves in that Final. He has been the standout all week. I went for the win but came unstuck on a few critical moves but I’m really pleased with this result.”

Also marching to a notable result was San Diego native Austin Ware (Solana Beach, CA), 29, who finished fifth overall in the ASP 6-Star event. The solid finish for the explosive talent moves him to No. 55 on the Men’s World Ranking.

Ware also had a hand in ousting a stacked list of professional surfing talent including former ASP Dream Tour surfers Royden Bryson (East London, ZAF), 27, and Ricky Basnett (Durban, ZAF), 24, before falling to Sharp in the Quarterfinals.

The next event on the ASP North America calendar will be the ASP 4-Star Quiksilver Pro Puerto Escondido, which runs from July 16 through 23, 2010.

Best airbrush ever. Painted by Rosie Young for her son, Nat Young. Enjoy.

Photo: Nate Lawrence

Nat Young stormed into round one of Innersection with his electro-driven part that’s got people talking bout two things: his surfing and his music choice. We caught up with him to find out how he went about building the two-minute section.

By Matt Skenazy

SURFING Magazine: How did you hear about innersection.tv?

Nat Young: Just from people taking about it saying, “are you gonna put a part together for that new Taylor Steele video?”

How did you approach making your clip?

When I got home from Australia about a month ago me and Ryan [Moss] decided to put something together, we pretty much started from scratch, but we realized it would be a good opportunity for both of us.

Keep reading on surfingmagazine.com

Check out Nat’s section and vote on innersection.tv

Vans Triple Crown Leader Centeio Ousted, Garcia Pushes On Youngster Young Racks up the Scores

Sunset Beach, HI – (Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009) – World title campaigner Mick Fanning (Australia) clocked in at the O’Neill World Cup of Surfing today, hitting the water at Sunset Beach for his debut heat of the 2009 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing presented by Rockstar Energy Drink. He looked sharp, highly motivated and ready to get to work as he advanced behind Sunset Beach’s favorite son, Pancho Sullivan. Even though this event has no bearing on his world title campaign, it’s a critical warm-up to next week’s ultimate, season-ending battle at Pipeline.

Fanning’s entrance came during the last heat of an intense day that was full of action, upsets, and super clean waves in the six-foot range. Those spectators who stuck it out were rewarded – not only by Fanning’s highly anticipated flair, but by Pancho’s radical, full-body, on-rail attack that was fueled by his determination to lay claim to his home break.
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Check out the Video Nat Young and Friends on Surfline.com

The pride of the west side, Nat Young, has once again walked away with a title from the competition at his home break of Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz. With his win in the Oakley Pro Junior on Sunday, Nat bagged a 3-peat in front of a massive crowd that had gathered to root on the local boy. Nat won the same event in 2007, and then in 2008, did the unthinkable by becoming the youngest-ever winner of the Cold Water Classic.

Check out Nike 6.0s video and story here.

Check out the Nat Young Video Interview here.

Women had the day off and the four USA Men surfed their heats; Three of them advance and one is sent to the Repercharge Round-all are still in the event

Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica – August 4, 2009 – The PacSun USA Surf Team continued its advancement through day three of competition at the 2009 Billabong ISA World Surfing Games.  Only the men competed yesterday while the women took a well deserved day off.

Clouds shielded the sun’s piercing rays yesterday-a welcome respite from the Sahara-like conditions during the first two days of competition.   The swell dropped a bit and crowds were lighter too as the weekend warriors from San Jose returned to work and school.
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PACSUN USA SURF TEAM CONTINUES ITS MOMENTUM AT THE 2009 BILLABONG ISA WORLD SURFING GAMES

Team USA wins five more heats in Day 2 and becomes only nation in the contest to keep all athletes in the Qualifying Round

Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica – August 2, 2009 – The PacSun USA Surf Team continued its dominance through day two of competition at the 2009 Billabong ISA World Surfing Games.  Five of the six USA athletes won their heats again, while Sage Erickson advanced in the Qualifying Round with a second place finish in her heat.
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Video: SK