The prestigious event stars the top 45 junior surfers on the planet, plus three wildcards, and carries a total US$95,000 prize purse. More importantly, it affords the finalists an unrivalled seeding in ASP Star and ASP prime events that serve as a springboard to the elite ASP World Tour.

International surfers have fared well in recent years. In fact you have to go right back to 2001 when an Australian – Joel Parkinson last won it. Recent winners of the Billabong ASP World Junior Championship include Maxime Huscenot of France (2009), Hawaiians Kai Barger (2008) and Kekoa Bacalso (2005), Brazilians Pablo Paulino (2007 & 2004) and Adriano de Souza (2003) and South African Jordy Smith (2006).

Coastalwatch’s Ben Horvath caught up with one of the pre event favourites 19 year old Hawaiian Kiron Jabour earlier this week to see how psyched he was for the event.

CW – Kiron have you surfed Northy before and if so do you rate it?

I’ve been to North Narrabeen the past two years. The first year I went there were some really fun 3 to 4 foot lefts reeling across the bank, but the second year I went it was barely surfable, I think it’s a really fun wave. I just hope we get swell for it and its on!

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