Hawaii's Kekoa Bacalso Crowned ASP World Junior Champion

Tahiti's Michel Bourez runner-up in the Billabong World Junior Championships

BILLABONG WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

(ASSOCIATION OF SURFING PROFESSIONALS)

NORTH NARRABEEN, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

JAN 1-8, 2005

Hawaii's Kekoa Bacalso won the Billabong World Junior Championships from Tahiti's Michel Bourez at North Narrabeen, Sydney, Australia. 

Bacalso waited with immense patience in the consistent 1.5m waves, only riding three waves in the 30 minute final.  Opting to ride the left-hand waves while his opponent searched for the elusive but high scoring right handers, the 20-year-old opened with a mid scoring ride before finding an epic 'Narrabeen' left and locking in the heat high 8.67.  Enduring the long paddle back into the line-up and visibly exhausted after surfing 4 times in today's competition, Bacalso picked off another long left for a second high score of 7.33, leaving Bourez requiring a two wave combination of 16.01 to catch him.

Kekoa Bacalso today ended the dominating run of Brazilian winners, joining three time world champion Andy Irons as the second Hawaiian surfer to win a Billabong ASP world junior championship.

 For Tahitian Bourez, who surfs under the European ASP banner, it was an epic end to an esteemed junior career.  The inform surfer throughout the championships, the 20-year-old suffered extreme fatigue in the final, failing to replicate the fire he had demonstrated in his semi-final victory over Jean Da Silva (Brazil).  Bourez dedicated his second position to close friend Malik Joyeaux who recently passed away while surfing Pipeline in Hawaii.

 Defending Billabong World Junior Champion Pablo Paulino was eliminated by less than one point by South Africa's Damien Fahrenfort in round four of competition.  The Brazilian led for most of the 25-minute heat but with just seconds remaining his opponent secured a lucky last, high scoring 7.33 final ride forcing the 20 year-old to settle for equal 9 th overall.

In the inaugural Girl's division ,  Sydney surfer Jessi Miley-Dyer created history by winning the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships after defeating fellow Bronte surfer Nicola Atherton (team Billabong) in a highly contested final at North Narrabeen today. The 20-year-old's emphatic victory over her close friend and rival capped off an incredible 12 months of competitive surfing in which she qualified for the elite World Championship Tour (WCT), won the ASP Australasian Junior Series and has now become the first ever ASP World Junior Girls Champion.

 The Billabong World Junior Championships at Narrabeen are supported by Panasonic, Vodafone, Coca-Cola, Clearasil, UV Triplegard, Kustom, Von Zipper, Waves, 2Day FM, Warringah Shire Council and the Association of Surfing Professionals.

 Results and Photos on www.billabong.com