FRESH?FROM?a top-ten finish on her Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Junior Pro debut, Barbados’ top female surfer Chelsea Tuach is heading “Down Under” this week to compete against the world’s best.
The 17-year-old reigning Caribbean women’s champion finished ninth at the ASP?Junior Pro event which was held last weekend on the North Shore of Hawaii.
Surfing against top juniors from Hawaii and the United States, Tuach came out blazing to win her first round heat despite the small, inconsistent surf conditions at Turtle Bay.
After advancing to the quarter-final, Tuach came third in her heat, narrowly missing a semi-final berth.
“It was really tough to find waves out there. I was hoping to get some good surf in Hawaii, but it didn’t happen. Still, every contest is a learning experience and I am extremely grateful to have been granted the opportunity to surf my first ASP Junior Pro event,” Tuach said in an email to SUNSPORT.
The California-based Tuach is leaving for Australia on Saturday to compete in an ASP One Star Junior Women’s event to be held at Merewether Beach, Newcastle in New South Wales from February 14 to 17.
She will be making the trip compliments the energy drink, Red Bull, which has been sponsoring the surfing sensation for the past three years.
Additionally, Tuach is among 16 surfers who have been invited to the trials for the four remaining slots in the prestigious ASP Six Star Hunter Ports Women’s Classic to be held immediately after the junior event from February 18 to 24 at the same break.
Tuach’s selection was secured through her outstanding performance at her first ASP Six Star event in Oceanside last August where she placed a creditable 13th out of 80 of the world’s top professional women.
The Classic promises to be a very exciting event as it has attracted all of the top female professional surfers.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for me and I cannot thank Red Bull enough for believing in me and making this trip possible. It is a dream come true,” Tuach noted. The event can be viewed live at www.surfest.com. (EZS/PR)
