Tarryn, Nikita in World Champs Quest

Australian Nicola Atherton claimed the Womens Billabong ASP World Junior Championships on 8 January, 2007, after competing with the world’s best U20 surfers for the title of 2006 ASP World Pro Junior Champion. Picture: ASP (c) Covered Images

Top South African junior surfers Tarryn Chudleigh and Nikita Robb join the world’s foremost junior surfers aged 20 and under in having one New Year’s resolution in common come 2 January 2008; to become the 2007 ASP World Junior Champion.

The ASP World Junior Championship takes place at Sydney, Australia’s North Narrabeen Beach, from January 2- 10, 2008 and will see a select field from eight surfing regions (Africa, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, Japan, North America, South America and an ASP International emerging region) invited to compete.

Only the two Under 20 female surfers from each region plus two wildcards gain entry to contest the coveted World Junior Champion crowns, in which regional Junior Series Champion Tarryn Chudleigh will be joined by Nikita Robb (East London), who finished 2007 rated No. 19 on the Women’s Qualifying Series.

The girls division, while only in its third year, has crowned the likes of 2005 ASP Women’s World Tour Rookie of the Year Jessi Miley Dyer (AUS) and Nicola Atherton (AUS), who went on to qualify for the ASP Women’s World Tour in 2007, and continues to reveal the depth of talent in the female ranks.

Leading their respective regions into battle are regional Junior Series Champions SA’s Chudleigh, Bruna Schmitz (BRA), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Alessa Cuizon (HAW), Lee Ann Curren (FRA), Nao Omura (JPN) and Courtney Conlogue (USA), while the two event wildcards have been awarded to Paige Hareb (NZ) and Kirby Wright (Aus).

The event format mirrors elite ASP World Tour specifications, meaning junior surfers must compete in girl-on-girl heats, utilizing a priority system as if already competing on the prestigious ASP World Tour.

In addition, surfers will compete before an ASP International Judging Panel, the same panel which judges their surfing heroes on the ASP Women’s World Tours.

Former ASP World Tour campaigner Luke Egan (AUS) will be the contest director for the fifth consecutive year, presiding over surf conditions and offering valuable insight into ASP World Tour format.

The girls’ division of the World Junior Championship requires two full days of surfing to be completed, and is considered the best preparation for junior surfers hoping to one day compete on the top tier tour.