Without a cloud in the sky, and the wind blowing offshore since sunrise, the first heat of the DAKINE ISA World Junior Surfing Championship Presented by Billabong took to the water, putting months of anticipation to rest.<br /><br />The size of the ISA World Juniors requires two contest areas until the final days of competition, allowing for concurrent heats -- resulting in non-stop action up and down the beach. Today's schedule was devoted entirely to the boys, with 48 Qualifying Round 1 heats running in both the Under-18s and Under-16s.<br /><br />With a new swell just beginning to show and the tide filling in throughout the day, conditions were tricky for the beginning of the event. Patience was essential, and when a corner could be found or a set arrived, taking advantage of those opportunities was critical. One bogged rail or failing to land an air to complete a ride was the difference between advancing or dropping into the Repechage.<br /><br />In ISA competition, events run with four-person heats and a double-elimination format, which the organization has used for the past 20 years. If a surfer finishes in the top two positions of a Qualifying Round, they stay in the Qualifying Round. If the surfer finishes in the bottom two of the round, he or she drops into the Repechage. A third or fourth position finish in the Repechage, results in elimination from the competition.
