We use cookies to improve your experience on our websites and for advertising. Privacy Policy

Events
News
Watch
Riders
Spots
More »

- Brands
- Travel & Local
- Good Guys
- Filmmakers
- Bosses
- Shops
- Media
- Movies
- Apps
- Photographers
- Tips & Tricks

Scroll

> News > Samantha Sibley & Jett Schilling Victorious at RVCA Pro Junior 2019

surfing News

Samantha Sibley & Jett Schilling Victorious at RVCA Pro Junior 2019

Jett Schilling (L) and Samantha Sibley (R) claimed their respective 2019 RVCA Pro Juniors pres. by Jack's Surfboards and Banzai Bowls wins, at Newport Beach, California, USA, Sunday, September 29. Image credit: / WSL/Andrew Nichols

30 September 2019

The World Surf League (WSL) RVCA Pro Junior presented by Jack’s Surfboards crowned Jett Schilling (USA) and Samantha Sibley (USA), it’s respective 2019 victors at Newport Beach, California’s, iconic 56th Street Jetty. Friday afternoon’s surging swell continued to pulse on finals day with three-to-four foot conditions delivering a spectacle to close out competition. Schilling and Sibley made it a San Clemente, California, sweep as it marks Sibley’s back-to-back domination of this event and Schilling’s first-ever WSL win after a hard-fought year of multiple Finals appearances.

A breakthrough year for Sibley continues with a second WSL victory this season after taking her first-ever QS win at the Super Girl Pro and now adds her first Pro Junior win of 2019 by defending her RVCA Pro Junior title. The 17-year-old clawed her way back from third-place all the way to first in the final seven minutes, accruing a 14.87 (out of a possible 20) heat total in that time, to secure an incredible comeback against 2019 North America Regional Pro Junior Champ Caitlin Simmers (USA), along with an in-form Sawyer Lindblad (USA) and Ella McCaffray (USA). Sibley's Semifinal scare led to the women's finals day best performance in the Final and comes away with confidence after dealing under pressure.

“I’m super stoked to come back a second year and get it a second time,” Sibley said. “It’s always good to win and to do it two times in a row feels awesome. In the heat before that I barely squeaked through and I was in a weird mood after that so going into the next heat I just thought I'd freesurf and it worked (laughs). I love surfing under pressure. It's my favorite thing and I think it's something that brings me back to competitions every time, and I think I thrive under pressure.”

Fellow San Clemente native and 2019 standout Schilling emerged victorious for the first time in his WSL career from an intense Final that went down to the buzzer against 2019 North America Pro Junior Champ Kade Matson (USA), event threat Nick Marshall (USA) and WSL Junior Championships contender Alan Cleland (MEX). Marshall’s incredible form continued into the Final with an early lead after a 7.33 (out of a possible 10) and 7.17 but Schilling kicked into high-gear in the dying seconds needing a 7.03 – blasting an excellent 8.50 to steal a victory as Matson’s 8.90 fell short of the requirement but finished runner-up. The 16-year-old posted the day’s top heat totals in both his Semifinal and Final performances to close out a dream run in Newport Beach.

“I’m feeling so good and so stoked on that win,” Schilling said. “I’ve never won a Pro Junior before and made every Final this year but kept getting third and fourth. Winning one was something I was really looking to do and it’s great to finally get it done and now I’m pretty excited for WSL Junior Championships hopefully. I'd love to get the opportunity to be there with Kade (Matson) and the other guys. Then it'd be really cool to get a good result there for a chance at the QS 10,000s and 6,000s."

Schilling sits comfortably at 2,610 points on the North America ranks with the Top 3 earning a spot into the WSL Junior Championships.

Adding to the San Clemente sweep, Lindblad and Matson finished runner-up and noted Lindblad’s first-ever Pro Junior Final as her breakout year yields more success. The 14-year-old looked well on her way to a victory after decimating a set wave on her dangerous forehand and earning an excellent 8.00 heading into the final minutes before Sibley’s comeback pushed Lindblad to second. A stinging loss for Lindblad was evident but the young talent moved up to No. 2 on the rankings and currently has a spot to the WSL Junior Championships heading into the final event of the season.

“It felt amazing making my first Pro Junior Final,” Lindblad said. “The experience was incredible and I can’t wait for the next event. Staying busy in my heats and not waiting for the perfect wave to come was something that comes to mind when looking back on this week. This contest has given me confidence and I know I’m capable of making Finals.”

Matson and Simmers Earn Regional Pro Junior Titles

Runner-up Matson and third-place finisher Simmers sealed up an immaculate season with their first-ever North America Regional Pro Junior titles earning their respective results. This notes Matson’s third Final of 2019, just missing out in Virginia Beach with a Semifinal result, and a brilliant finish to the mainland North America season. The 17-year-old's last powerful effort came up short of the 9.57 requirement to overtake good friend Schilling but catapulted him into runner-up after the final horn sounded.

“My goal was to win but to get second to one of my best friends made it easier (laughs),” Matson said. “I know Jett has been right there the last three events and I felt like he deserved this one. Another goal of mine coming in was to win the Regional Title here and I knew it wasn’t going to be easy but it feels really good when you accomplish your goals.”

"I really wanted to win this one but my goal of winning the region happening is really cool," Simmers said. "It was great to make another finals day and I'm excited to get to go to Worlds."

More news from their brilliant runs in 2019 will follow.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Updated Men's North America Pro Junior Rankings

1. Kade Matson (USA) 3,170 points

2. Jett Schilling (USA) 2,610 points

3. Alan Cleland (MEX) 1,760 points

4. Crosby Colapinto (USA) 1,700 points

Update Women's North America Pro Junior Rankings

1. Caitlin Simmers (USA) 2,560 points

2. Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 1,470 points

3. Samantha Sibley (USA) 1,450 points

RVCA Pro Junior Upcoming Men’s Final Results:

1 – Jett Schilling (USA) 15.90 1,000 points

2 – Kade Matson (USA) 15.23 750 points

3 – Nick Marshall (USA) 14.43 560 points

4 – Alan Cleland (MEX) 12.96 525 points

RVCA Pro Junior Upcoming Women’s Final Results:

1 – Samantha Sibley (USA) 14.87 1,000 points

2 – Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 14.00 750 points

3 – Caitlin Simmers (USA) 13.03 560 points

4 – Ella McCaffray (USA) 7.20 525 points

RVCA Pro Junior Upcoming Men’s Semifinals Results:

SF 1: Alan Cleland (MEX) 14.33, Kade Matson (USA) 13.84, Blake Speir (USA) 11.90, Taro Watanabe (USA) 9.03

SF 2: Jett Schilling (USA) 15.53, Nick Marshall (USA) 12.67, Taj Lindblad (USA) 12.43, Jabe Swierkocki (USA) 10.90

RVCA Pro Junior Upcoming Women’s Semifinal Results:

SF 1: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 12.16, Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 11.43, Serena Nava (USA) 6.94, Lilie Kulber (USA) 1.73

SF 2: Ella McCaffray (USA) 11.44, Samantha Sibley (USA) 10.00, Makena Burke (USA), 7.32, Bree Smith (USA) 4.73

About the WSL

The World Surf League (WSL) is dedicated to celebrating the world's best surfing on the world's best waves through a variety of best-in-class audience platforms. The organization, headquartered in Santa Monica, is a global sport with regional offices in Australasia, Africa, North America, South America, Hawaii, Japan and Europe.

The WSL has been championing the world's best surfing since 1976, annually running more than 230 global events across the Men's and Women's Championship Tours, the Big Wave Tour, Redbull Airborne, Qualifying Series, Junior and Longboard Championships, as well as the WSL Big Wave Awards. The League possesses a deep appreciation for the sport's rich heritage while promoting progression, innovation and performance at the highest levels, and in doing so crowns the undisputed Men's and Women's World Champions across all tours.

Showcasing the world's best surfing on its digital platform at WorldSurfLeague.com, the WSL has a passionate global fan base with millions tuning in to see world-class athletes like Kelly Slater, Stephanie Gilmore, Tyler Wright, John Florence, Lakey Peterson, Grant Baker, Keala Kennelly, Paige Alms, Kai Lenny, Steven Sawyer, Soleil Errico, Mateus Herdy, Kirra Pinkerton, Carissa Moore, Gabriel Medina, Courtney Conlogue and more battle on the most dynamic field of play of any global sport.

For more information, please visit worldsurfleague.com.

To find out more about WSL, please head this way.