Nike 6.0 Blog

Kolohe and Nat Bag Wins at ECSC

Gronamo — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 22:24:19 GMT

He's won plenty in the west, now, in the eye of the storm, Kolohe Andino's taken his act back east. Scrambling to knock out the ASP 4-Star East Coast Surfing Championships before Hurricane Irene showed up in Virginia Beach, Kolohe took out the main event, finished a very respectable forth in the pro junior, and yesterday was crowned ASP North America Junior champ. This all comes after making the semifinals in England last week and the U.S. Open of Surfing the week before that. It's been a big month for the kid.

“I surfed seven heats today so I was really tired, especially in the last Final,” noted Kolohe after it was all said and done. “I couldn’t really pick one or the other to win if I had to choose, because Nat and all the guys in the Junior are such amazing surfers, they’re just as good as everyone in the men’s Final. I was stoked to win this one, but I wanted to win both events for sure.”

And speaking of the pro junior, Santa Cruz's own Nat Young went to work after a much needed summer vacation after the US Open.

"I didn’t go to Europe and I thought I’d take a break,” told Young. “I took a little time and free-surfed and went on a trip and I came back hungry to do well.”

Considering the international draw in talent at the event both Kolohe and Nat's wins were no easy feat, but with a Category 2 hurricane bearing down on them they were under a whole different kind of pressure. Both are from California and haven't spent a lot of time in hurricane preparedness mode.

"We had to beat it off the beach," laughed Kolohe. "The storm clouds were coming. It's been a great week, stoked, but now it's time to go."

MIGUEL PUPO WINS NIKE 6.0 LOWERS PRO

Gronamo — Sun, 08 May 2011 02:56:47 GMT

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., May 7, 2011 – Miguel Pupo (BRA), 19, claimed the ASP PRIME Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro over local standout Tanner Gudauskas (San Clemente, CA), 22, at Lower Trestles at San Clemente’s San Onofre State Beach in a close Final of 13.63 to 13.57 today. Also clinching a victory was Hawaiian Keanu Asing (Ewa Beach, HI), 17, who won the ASP 5-Star Oakley Pro Junior.

In addition to the $40,000 prize check and 14-carat solid gold trophy worth $30,000, Pupo earned 6,500 valuable points towards his ASP World Ranking, which helps his campaign towards qualification for the elite ASP World Tour. Gudauskas’ runner-up finish earned him $20,000 and 5,200 points.

Pupo, who was trailing Gudauskas throughout the first half of the Final, got the best of a crucial exchange by taking the heat’s highest single-wave score of an 8.33 for a steep left that offered several turns which the talented Brazilian completed with an air-reverse on the inside. Pupo found a back up score of a 5.30 on his last wave to secure the Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro victory.

“I’m just so happy to win this event and I’m sorry that I took out the town’s local guy,” Pupo said. “I knew there was going to be a Brazilian in the Final. I was just trying to be that Brazilian and I can’t believe I won. I’m just so happy. I brought my father here and it’s the first time he’s gone to a contest with me and things just went my way.”

Miguel Pupo tasting the win...and the gold

The progressive Brazilian, who was sitting in 42 on the men’s ASP World Ranking, will catapult up the standings with the win and substantially increase his chances of achieving his dream of qualifying for the elite ASP World Tour.

“I was thinking just about the points when I first got here, and this is great to win this event going into the next PRIME in Brazil,” Pupo said. “It’s my dream to make the World Tour and these points will help.”

Gudauskas, who was in need of a 6.50 to overtake Pupo for the victory, caught a last-minute wave in the Final on a lefthander and earned a 6.07, to nearly overtake Pupo for the win in front of his hometown crowd.

“Miguel ripped and it makes it exciting when it’s a close Final,” Gudauskas said. “Congratulations to him, it’s been a fun week.”

Gudauskas, who had just returned to the water after six weeks from an ankle injury, entered the event with no expectations and surprised by the result.

“This week has just been classic,” Gudauskas said. “It has been a blur. I am just coming off of an ankle injury and wasn’t expecting anything and I just started making heats and then I was in the final.”

Keanu Asing struggled to find a rhythm in the action packed Oakley Pro Junior Final against defending ASP World Junior Champion Jack Freestone (AUS), 19, current ASP North America Pro Junior Series leader Kolohe Andino (San Clemente, CA), 17, and 2009 ASP North America Pro Junior Series Champion Nat Young (Santa Cruz, CA), 19. However, he locked into a left just before the buzzer, linking a series of critical backside turns for an 8-point ride which proved enough to take the Oakley Pro Junior victory, $5,000 paycheck and 2000 ASP points. The Oakley Pro Junior’s ASP 5-Star status offered the most points on offer towards surfers’ campaigns towards qualification for the prestigious ASP World Junior Tour.

Keanu Asing taking in his victory

“I don’t really know, I was so down in that Final and was just trying to put on a good performance because there are a lot of people on the beach,” Asing said. “I got that one set and got an 8. I needed a 4 and was hoping I would get a wave and as I was paddling I asked Nat (Young) which wave he was going to go and he said he wasn’t going. I’m just glad I got that little wave at a clutch time in the heat, Mother Nature and God gave that one to me.”

Asing, who now sits at No. 2 on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series rankings, was quick to admit that the prestigious Oakley Pro Junior marked a pinnacle moment in his budding career.

“This is huge, to win this big event. It’s a 5-Star, it’s one of the biggest wins of my career for sure,” Asing said. “I’m at a loss for words right now, I’m just so excited and so happy.”

Caio Ibelli earned $1,000 for winning Most Valuable Performance for a maneuver he executed earlier in the competition. Each day, three surfers were nominated and voted on online. Ibilli secured the final win over Dane Reynolds, Kolohe Andino and Miguel Pupo.

Re-broadcasts of Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro and Oakley Pro Junior action will be televised in Hawaii on Oceanic Time Warner Cable’s Channel 250 and 1250HD, as well as, Time Warner Cable’s Los Angeles (Channel 101), San Diego (Channel 411) and Desert Cities (Channel 111) markets.

For Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro highlights, visit nike6lowerspro.com and for Oakley Pro Junior, visit oakleyprojunior.com.

The Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro and Oakley Pro Junior wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of sponsors. A special thank you goes out to presenting sponsors Nike 6.0 and Oakley, co-sponsors Red Bull and Sierra Nevada, media sponsor SURFER Magazine (Surfermag.com) and official forecaster Surfline.com.

Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro Final Results:

1 – Miguel Pupo (BRA) 13.63

2 – Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 13.57

Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro Semifinals Results:

Heat 1: Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 12.03 def. Jesse Mendes (BRA) 11.33

Heat 2: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 16.70 def. Thiago Camarao (BRA) 12.67

Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro Quarterfinals Results:

Heat 1: Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 16.37 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 11.76

Heat 2: Jesse Mendes (BRA) 11.60 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 8.33

Heat 3: Thiago Camarao (BRA) 14.50 def. Junior Faria (BRA) 11.47

Heat 4: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 15.24 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 14.93

Oakley Pro Junior Final Results:

1 – Keanu Asing (HAW) 13.70

2 – Jack Freestone (AUS) 13.43

3 – Kolohe Andino (USA) 13.30

4 – Nat Young (USA) 11.53

Oakley Pro Junior Semifinals Results:

Heat 1: Kolohe Andino (USA) 12.00, Jack Freestone (USA) 9.73, Dylan Goodale (HAW) 9.37

Heat 2: Nat Young (USA) 14.77, Keanu Asing (HAW) 11.47, Conner Coffin (USA) 10.73, Andrew Doheny (USA) 9.14

QUARTERS DECIDED FOR NIKE 6.0 LOWERS PRO, SEMIS FOR OAKLEY PRO JUNIOR

Gronamo — Sat, 07 May 2011 15:54:37 GMT

The ASP PRIME Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro saw the Quarterfinalists decided in clean one-to-three foot waves at the iconic cobblestone pointbreak of Lower Trestles at San Onofre State Beach with two San Clemente locals and six Brazilians still in contention for this year’s title, $40,000 first-place payout and 14-karate gold spike valued at $30,000.

Also running today was Round 1 and the Quarterfinals of the ASP 5-Star Oakley Pro Junior, which saw the nation’s finest up-and-coming talent battle a handful of top international surfers. Stop No. 7 of 9 on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series, the ASP 5-Star Oakley Pro Junior is the highest rated event on thisyear’s regional series, offering the most points towards surfers’ qualification campaigns for the elite ASP World Junior Tour and a $25,000 prize purse.

Thiago Camarao (BRA), 22, launched back to form after a sluggish three-man Round of 12 heat to ignite the day’s top scores with a deadly forehand attack on several Lowers right-handers. The progressive Brazilian wasted little time in his campaign against fellow countryman Willian Cardoso (BRA), 25, by dropping a 7.60 and a 9.33 on his first two rides to secure his position in the Quarterfinals.

“I just did the same thing I’ve been doing and just not over-think the heats,” Camarao said. “I went out there for a surf and the water was so cold. I made the mistake of wearing the wrong suit in my last heat, so I had to change it for this one.”

Camarao will face fellow Brazilian Junior Faria (BRA), 24, in the Quarterfinals.

Tanner Gudauskas (San Clemente, CA), 22, returned to the three-man Round of 12 in strong form by taking a heat victory over ASP Dream Tour campaigner C.J. Hobgood (Melbourne, FL), 31, and dangerous up-and-comer Gabriel Medina (BRA), 17, with powerful backhand surfing on the right-handers on offer at Lowers.

“There was so much going on and nothing was being said at the end of the heat,” Gudauskas said. “For the last five minutes I was in panic mode because I knew Gabriel had that good wave with two airs on it and C.J. got a good right. I was just praying that the momentum wasn’t going to shift out there. I got lucky. I swear I don’t know what I’m doing and these rights come to me.”

The San Clemente powerhouse was happy to avoid surfing in the man-on-man elimination Round of 12 to advance into the Quarterfinals and took a serious approach to the three-man non-elimination round.

“These ones are a great opportunity,” Gudauskas said. “It’s not like it’s life or death, but it’s a great opportunity to bypass that fifth round and go into the Quarters where there are a lot more points. I took it super seriously because I know Gabriel and C.J. are super gnarly and we’re all goofy-foot.”

Gudauskas will face off against Heitor Alves (BRA), 29, in the Quarterfinals.

Miguel Pupo (BRA), 19, took a last-minute victory over fellow Brazilian Thiago Camarao (BRA), and American charger Timmy Reyes (Huntington Beach, CA), 28, in the three-man, non-elimination Round of 12. With only minutes remaining in the heat, the innovative Brazilian launched two airs on a steep Lowers lefthander to notch a 9.10 to overtake Reyes for the lead and secure his position in the Quarterfinals.

“I didn’t really think about it, I was just trying to go big,” Pupo said. “I did that first air and then another good section came so I went for another one and I made it, so I’m happy. I love Lowers. When anyone asks me what the best wave in the world is, I say Trestles. The wave is perfect and I enjoy my time here with the good surf and fun on the beach.”

Pupo will battle fellow Brazilian Jadson Andre (BRA), 21, in their Quarterfinalsmatch up.

Heitor Alves, current No. 22 on the men’s ASP World Ranking, was dominant in the men’s ASP PRIME and Star series events last year and the fit Brazilian moved one step closer to the Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro Final by defeating C.J. Hobgood (Melbourne, FL), 31, in the Round of 12 to advance into the Quarterfinals.

“I was on the World Tour for two years before this year and I learned a lot,” Alves said. “Right now, I have a result and I’m on the World Tour again. I learned a lot last year and I gained a lot of experience in the PRIMES and 6-Stars last year and I feel good.”

Kolohe Andino (San Clemente, CA), 17, who is the youngest Quarterfinalist in the Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro, was equally impressive in his Oakley Pro Junior Quarterfinals heat today. The innovative regular-footer took top honors over an impressive list of names including defending ASP World Junior Champion Jack Freestone (AUS), 19, and defending regional champion Evan Geiselman (New Smyrna Beach, FL), 17.

“Evan is one of my best friends, so I wish he got through and Jack (Freestone) has been ripping so it was a fun heat,” Andino said. “It was the first time the three of us have surfed against each other. Jack beat me in Bali. He was getting barreled and I was sitting out on the shoulder, so it’s good to get one back on him here.”

The young local talent is the only surfer still in contention for both the Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro and Oakley Pro Junior titles, but remained humble in his intentions to win both events.

“I’m not thinking about that at all right now,” Andino said. “I’m just taking it one heat at a time and I’m happy that I’ve made it this far.”

Camarao, Guduaskas and Pupo all executed maneuvers worthy of Most Valuable Performance (MVP) status during the day. A video clip of each will be available to view online at nike6lowerspro.com/mvp-bracket/mvp-most-valuable-performance/ <http://www.nike6lowerspro.com/mvp-bracket/mvp-most-valuable-performance/> . Tomorrow, the surfer with the most Facebook “likes” will earn MVP status and the gold MVP jersey for the day. An MVP will be awarded each day; Dane Reynolds earned the title on day one, Caio Ibilli for day two and Kolohe Andino for day three. Each daily winner will go into a finalvote for a chance at $1,000 for the overall win.

Both the Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro and Oakley Pro Junior champions will be crowned tomorrow and the day’s action will be webcast LIVE with live video coverage and scoring.

The Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro is being televised live in Hawaii on Oceanic Time Warner Cable’s Channel 250 and 1250HD, and in Time Warner Cable’s Los Angeles (Channel 101), San Diego (Channel 411) and Desert Cities (Channel 111) markets. Additionally, FUEL TV will broadcast live throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

For more information about the Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro, visit nike6lowerspro.com <http://nike6lowerspro.com> . For more about the Oakley Pro Junior, visit oakleyprojunior.com. <http://www.oakleyprojunior.com>

Brother Bags Unsound Jr. Title

nsw_rga — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:10:20 GMT

Kolohe Andino won the ASP Grade-4 Nike 6.0 Unsound Junior Pro over Nat Young in Long Beach, New York after a marathon day of competition in peaky one-to-three foot surf to take an early season lead on the new ASP North America Pro Junior Series ratings.

Kolohe remained focused on his wave selection throughout the event’s entirety despite the tricky conditions and his patients paid off, putting Nat in a combination situation in the Final to take out the Nike 6.0 Unsound Junior Pro victory.

“Everyone was surfing so well and I’m just stoked to have ended up in the Final,” Kolohe said. “There are lots of waves out there, but wave selection is such a huge part of surfing heats. I just tried to focus on myself and focus on my wave selection.”

Kolohe hopes to carry the momentum from his ASP Grade-4 win to the first stop on the ASP World Junior Tour, the Oakley Pro Junior in Bali.

“I’m really excited about heading to Bali and I’ve been working with my shaper Matt Biolis on getting my boards ready,” Kolohe said. “I’ll be traveling with Luke Davis and my Dad and it should be fun; I can’t wait.”

Nat, who posted the highest heat total of the day, a 16.40 out of 20 in his Quarterfinals heat, was in top form throughout the event’s entirety, defeating fellow Californian Conner Coffin, hungry Hawaiian Tanner Hendrickson and ASP Pro Junior standout Keanu Asing, but was unable to find a rhythm against Kolohe in the Final.

Congrats to both Nike 6.0 athletes for putting on such an amazing display in front of the New York surf crowd.

6.0 Lowers Pro Slams Trestles Next Week

nsw_rga — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 23:00:14 GMT

All eyes will be pealed to the infamous Trestles break in Southern California next week, May 4 to 8, for the second annual 6.0 Lowers Pro. This high-stakes ASP contest is one of only a few events designated PRIME status and therefore ultra-lucrative points-wise. With that said, 36 elite World Tour surfers are heading out to vie for the esteemed Lowers title and maintain their rankings. And you can bet that 6.0 will be there.

Kai's comin' up.

Keep an eye out for our World Tour standouts Michel Bourez and Dusty Payne repping Tahiti and Hawaii, respectively. Also, Kolohe Andino and Gabriel Medina secured coveted wildcard spots in the pro division, and Nat Young and Kai Barger will be there throwing down, too, vying for high enough rankings to clinch spots on next year’s World Tour.

Michel, looking to upset some World Tour vets.

It’s gonna be an exciting weekend, and we’ll be there at ground zero with daily coverage. See you next week!!

Dusty and Nat—ones to watch!

All photos: Jason Kenworthy

Vote for Nat

Gronamo — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:54:10 GMT

OK good people, Nat Young needs your help. The pride of the westside is trying to become the pride of the website Innersection.TV. Nat may be battling for valuable 'QS points at Margret River right now, but he's also involved in another very important points race. Nat and his talented filmer, Ryan Moss, have submitted a segment of Nat into a surf video contest held by the esteemed Taylor Steele. The project is called Innersection, and the top 20 videos will win a section in a video of the same name directed by Taylor himself. And the #1 rated section will pocket $100,000.

So here's what Nat needs you to do:

1. Go to Innersection.TV
2. Login or create an account
3. Go to "Sections" tab - all 10 sections will appear, so slide Nat's to #1
4. Then pick the rest of your Top Five
5. Hit confirm (red bar at the top)
6. Send out an email to all your surf turkey friends to do the same.