NATE YEOMANS IS NEWPORT BEACH PRO CHAMPION!

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (Sunday, September 24, 2006) – Nate Yeomans (San Clemente, Calif.) took out the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) two-star Newport Beach Pro presented by Jeep today and secured his first ASP victory of the 2006 season.

Nathan Yeomans, Newport Beach Pro Champion.

Yeomans, who placed runner-up to Brett Simpson (Huntington Beach, Calif.) at the Vans Pro in Huntington Beach earlier this season, capped off his recent WQS run with a convincing win this afternoon at 56th St. in Newport Beach, California.

“I’m super stoked right now. I haven’t had a win in a couple of years so this feels amazing,” Yeomans said. “I feel like I’ve been building some really good momentum over the past couple of weeks – I had an OK result in Pantin (Spain), my boards feel good, and to get a win here is great. I really hope I can keep this momentum up and have a good finish to the year.”

The progressive goofy-footer tore apart the shifting lefthanders in a star-studded final that included current leader in the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series Dustin Cuizon (Ewa Beach, Haw.), defending Newport Beach Pro champion Nathaniel Curran (Oxnard, Calif.) and wunderkind Dane Reynolds (Ventura, Calif.)

“I knew that if I could find the waves, I could do really well in the final,” Yeomans said. “I got that good one about halfway through and felt that I could actually take it. You can never count any of those guys out though. Dane (Reynolds) is amazing and Nate (Curran) and Dustin (Cuizon) are both really good competitors. I’m so stoked I came away with the win.”

Reynolds, who (at 21) has been on professional surfing’s radar for several years, looked poised for the podium throughout the event but came up short in the final, finishing third

“The waves weren’t that great during the finals,” Reynolds said. “I’m happy that I at least got a result and hopefully that gets the ball rolling as far as my WQS campaign goes.”

Cuizon, whose hopes for the $33,333 Trifecta prize (awarded to the surfer who wins all three Trifecta events), is still leading the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series and should he stave off the competition at the O’Neill Cold Water Classic in October, will claim the $10,000 first place prize.

Dane Reynolds boosting for a third place finish.

Kilian Garland (Orcutt, Calif.) blitzed the finals in the ASP grade-two Oakley Pro Junior taking down Casey Brown (Kona, Haw.), Nick Rozsa (Oxnard, Calif.) and Granger Larsen (Lahaina, Haw.) in the process.

The lanky natural-footer dismantled the peaky, afternoon conditions for a long-overdo victory on this season’s ASP Pro Junior series. Rated 16th on the ASP North America Pro Junior series prior to the Oakley Pro Junior, the victory here will surely give Garland a much-needed boost heading into the season-closer at Santa Cruz in October.

“I’m really very happy with my result here,” Garland said. “I haven’t had the best season this year. I always seem to stumble before I can get the result I need. I would love to qualify for the ASP World Junior Championships, but we’ll just see how things pan out in Santa Cruz.”

The next stop on the 2006 ASP North America tour will be the No Fear Mexican Surf Fiesta presented by Sobe in San Miguel, Mexico from October 13-15, 2006.

Nathaniel Curran, Runner Up

For images, contact Larry Beard at larry@larrybeard.com.

Results Day Two:

Newport Beach Pro pres. by Jeep – ASP WQS Two-Star

Semifinals – 8 surfers remain (1st and 2nd advance) Semifinal 1: Nathan Yeomans (USA) 15.50, Dane Reynolds (USA) 14.50, Mike Todd (USA) 12.30, Raymond Reichle (HAW) 6.80 Semifinal 2: Nathaniel Curran (USA) 10.50, Dustin Cuizon (HAW) 10.40, Magnum Martinez (VEN) 9.50, Jeremy Johnston (USA) 9.40

Finals –
1: Nathan Yeomans (USA) 13.55
2: Nathaniel Curran (USA) 12.85
3: Dane Reynolds (USA) 8.75
4: Dustin Cuizon (HAW) 8.65

Oakley Pro Junior – ASP Grade-Two

Semifinals – 8 surfers remain (1st and 2nd advance)
Semifinal 1: Nick Rozsa (USA) 15.90, Casey Brown (HAW) 11.00, Adam Wickwire (USA) 9.25, Brandon Ragenovich (USA) 8.75
Semifinal 2: Kilian Garland (USA) 12.50, Granger Larsen (HAW) 11.00, Dane Ward (USA) 10.60, Brandon Roberts (ZAF) 9.75

Finals –
1: Kilian Garland (USA) 11.75
2: Casey Brown (HAW) 10.25
3: Nick Rozsa (USA) 8.50
4: Granger Larsen (HAW) 8.30

 

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