The Papara Pro Surf Festival started with the opening ceremony, followed by Rounds 1 and 2 of the Vahine Pro Junior in clean two-to-three foot (1 meter) surf. The Tahiti Nui Pro Junior and the open ASP 1-Star Qualifying Series event for the men were called off for the day. The surf is expected to rise all week and all three ASP divisions are expected to finish on the weekend in excellent conditions.
Keely Andrew (Sunshine Coast, QLD/AUS), current No. 2 on the ASP Australasia Junior Qualifying Series won her first heat at the Vahine Pro Junior, earning the right to skip Round 2 and advance directly into the Quarterfinals. Andrew's smooth and powerful carving turns saw her earn one of the day's highest single wave scores - 8.50 out of a possible 10.
"It was so good to be able to surf this wave in a heat with just one other girl," Andrew said. "I love Tahiti, the weather is great, the people is nice and it has some of the best waves in the world. I'm really trying to enjoy it as much as possible because it will be winter soon at home. I'd love to keep making heats at this event and climb up the ranking's, Bronte (Macaulay) is above me and she's a great surfer, but I'd love to move back to No. 1."
Holly-Sue Coffey tearing through Round 1 of the Vahine Pro Junior today - WSL / Will Hayden-Smith
Holly-Sue Coffey (Gold Coast, QLD/AUS) won through to the Quarterfinals of the Vahine Pro Junior with a series of powerful wrapping turns. Currently ranked No. 4 on the ASP Australasia JQS, Holly-Sue will be looking to keep the event title in the family after seeing her sister Ellie-Jean take out this event last year.
"Tahiti is my favourite place in the world!" Coffey said. "Winning that first heat and skipping a round of competition takes some nerves away and some pressure off. It's a long way to travel for an event so I didn't want to go out early, so I'm really happy that I started well and hopefully I can keep it going to the end. There aren't a lot of girls in this event, but the standard and quality of their surfing is high, so this would be a great event to win."
Tahitian surfers Karelle Poppke (PYF) and Vahine Fierro (PYF) were also event standouts today, posting big scores and surfing with flair and flow to advance into the Quarterfinals.
The Papara Surf Festival will run from April 8 – 13. For more information log on to papara.prosurfinglive.com
UPCOMING VAHINE PRO JUNIOR QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
QF 1: Karelle Poppke (PYF) vs. Lucy Callister (AUS)
QF 2: Keely Andrew (AUS) vs. Shelby Detmers (AUS)
QF 3: Holly-Sue Coffey (AUS) vs. Vahine Fierro (PYF)
QF 4: Sophia Bernard (AUS) vs. Ellie Brooks (AUS)
-
Keely Andrew with a local dancer at the Opening Ceremony
- WSL / Will Hayden-Smith
-
Local dancers at the Opening Ceremony
- WSL / Will Hayden-Smith
-
Cooper Chapman getting involved
- WSL / Will Hayden-Smith
Papara Pro Surf Festival Opens With Style in Tahiti
WSL
The Papara Pro Surf Festival started with the opening ceremony, followed by Rounds 1 and 2 of the Vahine Pro Junior in clean two-to-three foot (1 meter) surf. The Tahiti Nui Pro Junior and the open ASP 1-Star Qualifying Series event for the men were called off for the day. The surf is expected to rise all week and all three ASP divisions are expected to finish on the weekend in excellent conditions.
Keely Andrew (Sunshine Coast, QLD/AUS), current No. 2 on the ASP Australasia Junior Qualifying Series won her first heat at the Vahine Pro Junior, earning the right to skip Round 2 and advance directly into the Quarterfinals. Andrew's smooth and powerful carving turns saw her earn one of the day's highest single wave scores - 8.50 out of a possible 10.
"It was so good to be able to surf this wave in a heat with just one other girl," Andrew said. "I love Tahiti, the weather is great, the people is nice and it has some of the best waves in the world. I'm really trying to enjoy it as much as possible because it will be winter soon at home. I'd love to keep making heats at this event and climb up the ranking's, Bronte (Macaulay) is above me and she's a great surfer, but I'd love to move back to No. 1."
Holly-Sue Coffey (Gold Coast, QLD/AUS) won through to the Quarterfinals of the Vahine Pro Junior with a series of powerful wrapping turns. Currently ranked No. 4 on the ASP Australasia JQS, Holly-Sue will be looking to keep the event title in the family after seeing her sister Ellie-Jean take out this event last year.
"Tahiti is my favourite place in the world!" Coffey said. "Winning that first heat and skipping a round of competition takes some nerves away and some pressure off. It's a long way to travel for an event so I didn't want to go out early, so I'm really happy that I started well and hopefully I can keep it going to the end. There aren't a lot of girls in this event, but the standard and quality of their surfing is high, so this would be a great event to win."
Tahitian surfers Karelle Poppke (PYF) and Vahine Fierro (PYF) were also event standouts today, posting big scores and surfing with flair and flow to advance into the Quarterfinals.
The Papara Surf Festival will run from April 8 – 13. For more information log on to papara.prosurfinglive.com
UPCOMING VAHINE PRO JUNIOR QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS: QF 1: Karelle Poppke (PYF) vs. Lucy Callister (AUS) QF 2: Keely Andrew (AUS) vs. Shelby Detmers (AUS) QF 3: Holly-Sue Coffey (AUS) vs. Vahine Fierro (PYF) QF 4: Sophia Bernard (AUS) vs. Ellie Brooks (AUS)
Vahine Pro Junior
Final Highlights from the 2014 Papara Surf Festival
Mateia Hiquily (Tahiti) took out both the 1-Star ASP Qualifying Series, and the Tahiti Nui Pro Junior and Sophia Bernard (Manly, NSW/AUS)
The Papara Pro Surf Festival ran through the four Quarterfinals of the Vahine Pro Junior.
Today the Papara Pro Surf Festival started with the opening ceremony, followed by Round's 1 and 2 of the Vahine Pro Junior in clean
News
Finals Day is set at La Zicatela after a showcase from defending event victor John Mel posting a 9.00, cover time for Will Deane and Rey
In the final heat of the Round of 16, John Mel secured his place back into Finals Day at La Zicatela with a lofty full rotation to earn a
More aerial antics from John Mel and Hayden Rodgers tipped the scale alongside breakthroughs for Dylan Hord, Sam Reidy, and more with
A dominant showing from Sebastian Williams headlined Day 2 action alongside Hayden Rodgers, Kei Kobayashi, and Jake Davis with excellence
Day 2 witnessed fireworks and Sebastian Williams led the charge with a 9.75 utilizing his aerial antics.