12 October 2012, Kuta-Bali: Indonesian wildcard and rising star Hairil “Oney” Anwar was narrowly defeated today in Round 3 by Connor Coffin from the USA, ending his run for a world championship win at the Oakley ASP World Pro Junior Championships being held in Gianyar at Keramas Beach.
Anwar was the first surfer to catch a wave in the 30 minute heat, but failed to complete his air-reverse attempt, and Coffin took advantage of it by tearing apart a perfect set wave and posting the highest score of the heat, 7.83 points out of a possible 10.
Coffin and Anwar have very different styles, with Anwar the aerial surfer and Conner the power surfer, so Anwar fought back completing his next air-reverse and capping it with a deep gouging turn, earning him a score of 7.67.
Both surfers put on a great show for the fans on the beach, but Coffin seemed to have knack for choosing the best waves that fit his surfing style while Oney kept searching for the perfect wave that would allow him to rip off a massive score and get the lead.
Coffin posted another wave for 7.70 points and Anwar answered back with a 6.27, which still left him needing a score of 7.86 to take the lead, but time ran out and thus ended Anwar’s chance to advance into the 4th round and beyond. Final score was Coffin with 15.53 points (out of a possible 20) and Anwar with 13.94.
Conner Coffin.
“Against Conner I knew I had to go big,” said Anwar after the heat. “I was looking for a wave to do some turns as well as airs, but I didn’t find it. I was feeling confident because I knew the conditions favored doing airs, and Conner doesn’t do them really. So I knew I had a good chance to win the heat, but in the end I couldn’t find the right waves and Conner did.”
When asked what his biggest take away was from the experience he replied, “I just need to be more patient and wait for the right wave. I kept looking for a turn wave but only saw air section waves (laughing).”
Anwar goes home with $1,200 USD and the valuable experience of competing in his first ASP World Championship event, and with this young man’s potential it certainly not going to be his last.
Oney Anwar.
James Hendy (from his sponsor Rip Curl) was on hand to watch the heat and to cheer Oney on, and said afterwards, “I think Oney was a little bit unlucky because the very low tide played a bit of a factor in him not being able to complete that one air on the inside section, due to the reef being exposed there. With a higher tide he probably could have ridden out of those last two airs and scored the points he needed and won the heat. But in the end it’s good for his confidence, being up against one of the best pro juniors in the world and giving it such a good effort. Quite an achievement for anyone, never mind a kid from Lakey Peak, Sumbawa. I’m really proud of him, for sure.”
Anwar was the only Indonesian to receive an ASP wildcard, due to his being ranked 9th on the ASP Australian Pro Junior tour, whereas his compatriots brother Gazali Hamzah and Nyoman “Blacky” Satria had to compete against a field of fellow Indonesian surfers in a trial event on October 5th to gain entry into this prestigious event.
Both Hamzah and Satria were defeated in Round 2, but received $900 USD prize money for their two rounds of surfing in the 2012 Oakley ASP World Pro Junior Championships Bali.
The Oakley ASP World Junior Championships Bali will run from October 6 – 17. For LIVE web cast, event videos and more check www.oakleyprojunior.com.
The Oakley ASP World Pro Junior Championships Bali is sponsored by surfermag.com, the Commune Resort and Beach Club Bali, the Pullman Bali Legion Nirvana, New Era, BIMC Hospital, the Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championships, and the Odysseys Surf School with media support by indosurflife.com, Surf time Magazine, and Lines Magazine.
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