Kolohe Andino, current No. 1 on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series. Photo: HILLEMAN

SEASIDE, California / USA (Thursday, April 14 ,2011) – The inaugural ASP 4-Star Rob Machado Seaside Pro Junior presented by Hurley, Reef and Whole Foods Market is slated to host America’s top male and female under-21 surfing talent at San Diego county’s Seaside Reef on April 22 and 23, 2011 and will play a vital role in surfers’ qualification campaigns for the 2011 ASP World Junior Tour.

Male surfers competing in the Rob Machado Seaside Pro Junior are looking to finish within the top four on the regional rankings while women are looking to win the series to qualify for the 2011 ASP World Junior Tour.

Kolohe Andino (San Clemente, CA), 17, current leader on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series, enters the upcoming Rob Machado Seaside Pro Junior fresh off of a major victory at the ASP 4-Star Vans Pro Junior last month and is looking to further his lead on the field with another solid result at the upcoming San Diego based event.

“I am really stoked to have won the event in Huntington, but I understand that the event at Seaside is a different venue with different challenges, but I do have more confidence,” Andino said. “This event is very important to me and I am really excited that the Junior Series has so many high rated events this year. It’s a long year with stiff competition and all the events are important to me.”

Luke Davis (Capistrano Beach, CA), 18, current No. 3 on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series, has been a consistent finalist in several major events over the last two years and will be hunting down his first career ASP victory at the upcoming Rob Machado Seaside Pro Junior.

“It’s definitely a goal of mine to win a Junior,” Davis said. “Every final I’ve been in has been exciting and really competitive and I just haven’t put together a good enough 30 minute heat to come out on top. Hopefully that will change.”

Davis, who is a two-time qualifier for the elite ASP World Junior Tour, knows that earning a top result at the upcoming ASP 4-Star event will play a vital role in achieving his goal of requalifying for a position among the world’s top under-21 talent once again for 2011.

“Getting a good result at the 4-Stars is definitely key,” Davis said. “If you’re trying to qualify for worlds (ASP World Junior Tour), you’re going to need big results in every one. Being that seaside is a 4 Star, it will most likely play a huge part in who makes it to worlds. My goals would just be stay consistent through the rest of the year and qualify for worlds.”

Lakey Peterson (Santa Barbara, CA), 16, defending Women’s ASP North America Pro Junior Series Champion, put in an amazing season in 2010 to take top honors in her first year competing in ASP events and with a year of experience under her belt, the progressive regular-footer feels she’s carrying a newfound confidence entering the 2011 season.

“I definitely feel more confident this year,” Peterson said. “Last year I had no idea what to expect but this year I feel like I know what I need to do to win. I have been practicing like crazy so I hope it pays off.”

Peterson, who has begun to assert herself as a force on the ASP Women’s World Rankings, has yet to announce her intentions to qualify for the ASP Women’s World Tour, and is still maintaining her focus on the ASP Pro Junior level.

“I’m not trying to qualify for the Women’s World Tour this year,” Peterson said. “I just want to build my points and get experience at most of the spots so when I do try and qualify I’m really confident. Of course I want to win every contest I enter, but I would say my main focus is the Pro Juniors. I really want to do well in the Pro Juniors and I’m feeling good and confident right now.”