Billabong World Junior Championships all set to decide fate of the 2011 ASP World Junior Tour (Part 2)
The Billabong World Junior Championships Gold Coast, which is scheduled to go down at Burleigh Heads in Queensland, Australia, from January 21-29, 2012, will not only be deciding the fate of the 2011 Men’s Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World
Junior Tour, but will also be determining the 2011 Women’s ASP World Junior Champion as well.
Some of the most talented surfers from around the world will be resuming their campaign for the World Junior Title at the third and final stop of the 2011 ASP World Junior Tour at Burleigh Heads. With a handful of surfers still very much in contention for
top honours, the next few days promise a series of enthralling surfing battles. None of the female surfers is expected to go down easily after coming so close to getting their hands on the title.
The front-runner for the ASP Women’s World Junior Title Johanne Defay from France will indeed be the surfer to watch out for at the upcoming event. She made a strong impact during Oakley ASP World Junior Championships in Bali, Indonesia, by making it into
the semi-finals before getting removed from the contention for the event title. The Frenchwoman carried her momentum to Brazil to continue the exhibition of an impressive form and this time made it into the finals. Despite failing to clinch a victory, she
moved to No.1 spot on the ASP Women’s World Junior Rankings.
With the sort of form that Defay is in at the moment, it will definitely not come as a surprise to see her walk away with the title. Last year, it was a French surfer, namely Alizee Arnaud, who had prevailed in Billabong World Junior Championships and Defay
will surely be looking to keep the title at home.
“I feel pretty good, I'm already on the Gold Coast in order to train and prepare for the event,” said Defay. “It is true that French have had success in this event and I think it's an honour to be in this position and say that I might be next on the list!
But it's just a might! I just try to not think too much about it and not put pressure on myself.”
Hawaii’s Leila Hurst is also optimistic about her chances at getting hold of the ASP Women’s World Junior Title. Currently No.2 in the ASP Women’s World Junior Rankings after making a premature exit in Oakley ASP World Junior Championships and following
it with Billabong ASP World Junior Championships title, Hurst is expected to put up a strong fight during the final stop of the tour.
Australia’s Dimity Stoyle is also another strong contender for the 2011 ASP Women’s World Junior Title. She has been performing consistently over the last few months, making a runner-up finish in Bali and reaching the quarter-finals in Rio de Janeiro to
move to third spot in the rankings. With the final stop of the tour to take place in her own backyard, she is determined to put up a great show for the local crowd and keep the title home.
With the fate of the 2011 ASP Women’s World Junior Tour still pretty uncertain due to the close contest between the top few surfers, Billabong World Junior Championships Gold Coast is expected to be nothing short of a thrilling and nail-biting affair.
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