HUNTINGTON BEACH, California (Saturday, March 28, 2009) Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Pro Junior Surfers Dillon Perillo (Malibu, CA), 18, Cody Thompson (Jacksonville, FL), 19, and John John Florence (North Shore, HI), 16, were the form surfers in Round 5 of the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 2-Star Vans Pier Classic pres. by Jacks Surfboards today. The up-and-coming rippers jaw-dropping maneuvers will force reigning Vans Pier Classic Champion Shaun Ward (Huntington Beach, CA), 26, to be on point to defend his title as the event progresses into the Quarterfinals.

All surfers competing in the Vans Pier Classic are looking to improve upon their ASP WQS seed, helping them qualify for the coveted ASP World Tour. The top 15 surfers at the end of each season advance on to the prestigious tour, earning a chance to claim the ASP World Title.

Perillo continued to set the level of ASP WQS competition again today when combined his smooth style with technical, above-the-lip surfing to convincingly win another tough heat over standout competitors such as Eric Geiselman (New Smyrna Beach, FL), 21, who advanced into the Quarterfinals in second behind the Californian.

Its high tide now and it seems like the swell is dying because its a little inconsistent, Perillo said. I just sat off of the pier and made sure to get the set waves, because when somebody else gets the set waves and you dont, youre not going to make it. That first one lined up good and I got a good score, so Im psyched.

The Malibu native is motivated to compete against progressive athletes such as Geiselman and looks up to the young Floridians innovative approach to surfing.

Erics really innovative and I look up to him, hes a really good surfer, Perillo said. I want to surf like him and try airs sometimes.

Hawaiian Prodigy John John Florence issued the upset of the day when he overthrew former event champion and local standout Micah Byrne (Huntington Beach, CA), 27, en route to his Quarterfinals berth. The young regular-footer is making the tough transition from the powerful North Shore surf hes familiar with to the softer Huntington Beach peaks seem effortless.

Its tough to surf against someone like Micah (Byrne) out here, Florence said. The waves at home (Hawaii) are so much more powerful, even when its this size, it pushes you more, but I like coming here because its a challenge. Its amazing to watch the local guys that surf waves like these so well, its fun to watch.

Florence picked off two right-handers breaking off of the famed pier that offered up the impressive scoring potential needed to defeat the local champ.

There are two peaks, one by the pier and one south, and its kind of hard, Florence said. There are some good ones by the pier and the ones in the middle are kind of mushy, but there are more waves so its hard to choose between the two. Luckily I got two fun rights off of the pier.

Cody Thompson (Jacksonville, FL), 19, who was a standout in yesterdays contest, continued to crush the competition in his Round 5 heat when he blasted one of the events highest single wave scores of a near-perfect 9.50 out of 10 by unleashing several committed frontside cracks on a right-hand wall and finished the wave with a smooth air-reverse.

Im usually more nervous in the first couple rounds and once I get a few scores in the earlier rounds I start to feel a little bit better and the pressure goes out the door a little bit, Thompson said. I was still really nervous because the waves are lully and you only get one or two shots out there. I only had one that lined up and it ended up being a good one.

Defending event champion Shaun Ward jumped out to an early lead in his Round 5 heat and confidently surfed his way through to the Quarterfinals, moving one step closer to a repeat Vans Pier Classic title. The Huntington Beach local is now the only former champion remaining in the event after Byrne was eliminated earlier in the day.

I saw what happened to Micah (Byrne), it seemed like he was sitting too far out the back, Ward said. All of the guys that were surfing a little more inside were catching more waves, so that was my strategy in my heat, to catch a couple of quick waves to get on the board.

The talented regular-footer is ready to tackle the flurry of up-and-coming junior talent that have been turning heads throughout the ASP WQS events entirety. Ward knows that defending the title against the next generation will be no easy task.

I think theyre on the opposite side of the draw and hopefully we will get to surf against each other because that means were in the Final, Ward said. I still have to make it through a few more heats and those kids are ripping. Ive been watching them and I know who they are.

There was no shortage of action in the Ezekiel Pro Junior pres. by Jacks Surfboards today either. The young competitors are hungry to kick off their ASP Pro Junior campaigns on a positive note at the first event on the 2009 calendar.

ASP North America Pro Junior Series surfers all battle for one of five positions on the series to earn their chance to qualify for the coveted Billabong ASP World Junior Championships held in Narrabeen, Australia each year. Top five surfers earn the chance to take the title of ASP World Junior Champion

Spencer Regan (Santa Barbara, CA), 19, issued the upset of the Ezekiel Pro Junior when he eliminated reigning ASP North America Pro Junior Champion Cory Arrambide (Ventura, CA), 19, in Round 4 by posting an impressive 16.15 out of 20 heat total on his way to Round 5.

Im super psyched because it was really slow out there and I was able to get two really good rights in the first eight minutes, Regan said. Ive been training really hard because this is my last year in the juniors so I really wanted to get a good start.

Vans Pier Classic pres. by Jacks Surfboards Round of 32 Results:
Heat 1: Dillon Perillo (USA) 16.75, Eric Geiselman (USA) 13.25, Tommy OBrien (USA) 9.60, Ryan Briggs (USA) 6.65
Heat 2: Michael Dunphy (USA) 12.00, Noi Kaulukukui (USA) 11.75, Dane Johnson (USA) 7.75, Matt Johnson (USA) 7.60
Heat 3: Matt Keenan (USA) 12.00, Matt King (USA) 11.75, Nick Rupp (USA) 8.00, Bruno Rodrigues (USA) 7.25
Heat 4: Andrew Doheny (USA) 10.75, Jason Shibata (HAW) 10.60, Luke Davis (USA) 10.15, Liam McNamara (HAW) 0.00
Heat 5: John John Florence (HAW) 15.50, Dege OConnell (HAW) 11.10, Sean Marceron (USA) 10.20, Micah Byrne (USA) 9.50
Heat 6: Cody Thompson (USA) 14.10, Nathan Carroll (HAW) 13.75, Dane Ward (USA) 13.50, Tom Rezvan (USA) 9.10
Heat 7: Shaun Ward (USA) 14.50, Hank Gaskell (USA) 7.60, Peter Mel (USA) 7.50, Bud Freitas (USA) 4.60
Heat 8: Mike Losness (USA) 14.75, Travis Beckmann (USA) 11.65, Justin McBride (USA) 9.60, Keli Everett (HAW) 6.10

Ezekiel Pro Junior pres. by Jacks Surfboards Round of 32 Results:
Heat 1: Doug Van Mierlo (USA) 13.80, Hunter Heverly (USA) 12.65, Oliver Kurtz (USA) 12.20, Cody Thompson (USA) 6.55
Heat 2: Brent Reilly (USA) 15.65, Phillip Goold (USA) 15.15, Alex Smith (HAW) 8.30, Taylor Brothers (USA) 7.75
Heat 3: Christian Saenz (USA) 14.50, Luke Davis (USA) 10.75, Tyler Newton (HAW) 9.90, Quinn McCrystal (USA) 8.75
Heat 4: Spencer Regan (USA) 16.15, Dane Zaun (USA) 11.75, Kyle Kennelly (USA) 2.50, Cory Arrambide (USA) 1.40

Ezekiel Pro Junior pres. by Jacks Surfboards Round of 48 Results:
Heat 1: Oliver Kurtz (USA) 12.60, Alex Smith (HAW) 11.00, Victor Done (USA) 10.35, Taylor Thorne (USA) 7.00
Heat 2: Taylor Brothers (USA) 9.75, Doug Van Mierlo (USA) 9.15, Nick Suhadolnik (USA) 7.95, Ford Archbold (USA) 6.10
Heat 3: Tyler Newton (HAW) 15.85, Dane Zaun (USA) 10.50, Sean Poynter (USA) 6.00, Shaw Kobayashi (USA) 2.65
Heat 4: Spencer Regan (USA) 14.90, Christian Saenz (USA) 12.90, Eli Viszolay (USA) 12.10, Nathan Florence (HAW) 5.15
Heat 5: Rob Kelly (USA) 12.00, Conrad Carr (USA) 10.90, Makai McNamara (HAW) 10.25, Colton Larsen (USA) 8.50
Heat 6: Gabe Garcia (USA) 13.05, Jared Thorne (USA) 10.55, Derek Peters (USA) 9.85, Brett Barley (USA) 9.75
Heat 7: Dege OConnell (HAW) 16.05, Matt Meola (HAW) 14.75, Colin Dwyer (USA) 14.60, Mike McCabe (USA) 12.75
Heat 8: Chase Brady (USA) 13.00, Riley Metcalf (USA) 8.75, Tanner Deprin (USA) 8.00, John John Florence (HAW) 5.90

Ezekiel Pro Junior pres. by Jacks Surfboards Round of 64 Results:
Heat 5: Colton Larson (USA) 13.75, Derek Peters (USA) 10.15, Keto Burns (USA) 7.00, Icaro Ronchi (BRA) 4.00
Heat 6: Jared Thorne (USA) 15.60, Conrad Carr (USA) 11.50, Adam Lambert (USA) 10.00, Tyler Stanaland (USA) 5.50
Heat 7: Matt Meola (HAW) 9.25, Tanner Deprin (USA) 8.25, Brad Hagglund (USA) 7.90, Jeffrey Lukasik (USA) 7.00
Heat 8: Chase Brady (USA) 10.40, Colin Dwyer (USA) 8.15, Billy Olsen (USA) 5.75, Zack Humphreys (USA) 4.30