Hawaiian Joel Centeio Continues His Run

SAN CLEMENTE, CA -- (INTERNET WIRE) -- 10/02/00 -- Joel Centeio's life and his career aspirations in surfing have changed extensively in the past three months. Once known as one of the finest young amateur surfers in America, he is currently the hottest junior professional surfer in the world.

The 18-year-old Centeio, who lives on Oahu's South Shore, continued his remarkable streak Sunday at T Street, winning the Billabong Junior Pro over three Californians - local favorites Mike Losness and John Robertson of San Clemente, and young professional standout Timmy Reyes of Huntington Beach.

The victory adds to Centeio's summer collection, which includes triumphs in the World Surfing Games in Brazil and U.S. Amateur Championships in Hawaii. He now moves into next month's Billabong World Junior Championship in Hawaii as one of the surfers to watch. By all accounts, he is a future World Tour star.

"It feels so great. I've been feeling pretty confident this summer, and it's making me surf better," Centeio said after winning $2,500. "I'm going to work very hard to get a lot of points in the (Association of Surfing Professionals') World Qualifying Series. This gives me a lot of confidence going into the WQS; if I can do it here, then I can step up a little bit more and maybe have these kinds of results as a pro."

Centeio won a hard-fought victory in shifty 3-4 foot surf. The waves were larger during the semifinal round, then actually became more rideable as the swell started to fade. He was able to hold off Losness and Robertson, two juniors who surf T Street regularly.

Centeio qualified for the Billabong Junior Pro, the last of four prestigious U.S. events that are preludes to the Billabong World Junior Championships, by finishing second in an event at Kewalo Basin on Oahu. In the World Surfing Games, he was the only non-Brazilian to win a division when he captured the juniors. His ability to win major titles away from his home surf is catching the eyes of competitive surfing experts.

The Billabong Pro Junior was one of three major international surfing competitions sponsored by Billabong during the week. Former world champion Pauline Menczer won the Billabong Girls event Sunday, while Hawaiian Andy Irons captured the World Tour's Billabong Pro at nearby Lower Trestles on Saturday. These events comprised the centerpiece of the first Soul in the Bowl Festival, which brought surfing, professional skateboarding and live music together at San Clemente Pier to officially close out the Summer of 2000.

For more information, contact Graham Stapelberg of Billabong at 949-753-7222, or Holly Kusko of Horizon Communications at 805-773-1000.

Billabong Junior Pro • Final Results 1. Joel Centeio • Honolulu, HI 2. Mike Losness • San Clemente, CA 3. John Robertson • San Clemente, CA 4. Tim Reyes • Huntington Beach, CA 5. Hamish Campbell • Encinitas, CA 5. Kyle Knox • Carlsbad, CA 7. Sean Peterson • Santa Cruz, CA 7. Kekoa Bacalso • Mililani, HI