Left to right: Jared Gogue, Shinpei Horiguchi, Christopher Perry. (courtesy photo)

PRESS RELEASE – Guam junior surf athletes, Jared Brandon Gogue and Christopher Perry, were treated to warm Japanese surfing hospitality during their recent competition trip to Wakayama, Japan.

They were introduced by their host, Osaka-based board shaper, Hironori Ishihara, to Japanese pro surfer Shinpei Horiguchi, prior to the 10th Isonoura Kids Surfing Surfing competition on June 16. Horiguchi is a Billabong-sponsored pro surfer who is featured regularly in Surfer magazines and other online media about surfing.

He hails from Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama. Gogue and Perry surfed with Horiguchi at a secret surf spot near Wakayama before the contest and were given tips by the pro surfer on free surfing and competitive surfing. Gogue made it to the semi-finals while Perry was eliminated in the early heats at the Isonoura event.

The junior surfers’ trip to Wakayama was sponsored by Guahan Napu Inc. and supported in part by Lotus Surf Shop, Primo Surf and Tumon Bay Lobster and Grill.