Conner Coffin (Santa Barbara, CA), 20, and Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), 19, have won the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 4-Star Vans US Open of Surfing Pro Junior in peaky two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at Huntington Beach Pier today.

The Vans US Open Pro Junior plays a crucial role in surfer’s qualification campaigns for the ASP World Junior Championships and has also drawn several of the globe’s top under-21 talent competing in both the men’s and women’s main events.

Conner Coffin secured back-to-back US Open victories, dominating the international field of Carlos Munoz (CRI), 20, Jake Halstead (La Jolla, CA), 19, and Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR), 19, from start to finish with selective wave strategy. Coffin would ride only three waves in his heat, securing an 8.17 and 7.60 to secure the win.

“I almost didn’t go on that first little left,” Coffin said. “I thought there were going to be more waves, but that first one kept walling up on the inside and it felt good to start with an 8. It was a gnarly final and I knew an 8 wasn’t going to cut it. I felt a little relieved when I got the 7, but knew the guys were capable of big scores. I knew Carlos (Munoz) could throw some crazy Hail Mary and pull it. I was shaking during the last two minutes. I was so nervous, but this is the best feeling ever, winning and having my family chair me up the beach. Last year was awesome and I’m just so happy to win again.”

VANS US OPEN OF SURFING MEN’S PRO JUNIOR FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Conner Coffin (USA) 15.77
2 – Carlos Munoz (CRI) 12.50
3 – Jake Halstead (USA) 8.60
4 – Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 7.80