Marc Lacomare (FRA), 20, winner of the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.

Credit: ASP / SCHOLTZ

NORTH NARRABEEN, New South Wales/Australia (Saturday, January 15, 2011) – Marc Lacomare (FRA), 20, marched to victory at the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships over American talent Nat Young (USA), 19, in a hard-fought chess match between the two goofy-footers in two-to-three foot (1 metre) surf at North Narrabeen to solidify Jack Freestone (AUS), 18, as the 2010 ASP World Junior Champion.

The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships is the last stop of the inaugural ASP World Junior Tour, with the first event unfolding at the Oakley ASP World Pro Junior in Bali.

Lacomare surfed a patient heat in his Final bout against Young after the American launched out to an early lead, eventually battling back by tearing into two crisp lefthanders to the tune of a 14.00 out of 20 heat total to secure the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships event win.

“I feel great,” Lacomare said. “It’s been a great event for me. Congrats to Nat (Young) and Jack (Freestone). “It was a great trip to Australia and thanks to the locals too for sharing their break.”

Young launched out to an early start in the Final, notching his two highest waves on his opening attack (11.50 out of 20), but was found looking for a score in the dying minutes of the heat. The talented American locked into a clean lefthand wall with a minute remaining, but was unable to secure the score needed to surpass Lacomare and finished runner up overall.

“The day had just gone perfect all morning,” Young said. “That Final was a little slow, but I don’t think I would have gotten the score on that last ride because I messed up at the beginning. Congratulations to Jack (Freestone) and Marc (Lacomare) and I’d also like to say thanks to the Enevers for taking care of me all week.”

Young’s rise to the Final was no easy task, as he eliminated then ASP World Junior No. 2 Dale Staples (ZAF), 20, before defeating then ASP World Junior No. 3 Mitch Crews (AUS), 20, with impressive last-second heroics to dash both of their chances of a 2010 ASP World Junior Title in their Quarterfinals and Semifinals heats.

“It was the best wave that came through all event, it just had a perfect wall on it,” Young said after his Semifinals heat against Crews. “I did a big turn and another turn and a floater. It was just weird. It’s my Mom’s birthday and I feel like that wave was sent by her. I feel bad for Cruisey (Mitch Crews), he’s been ripping this whole event.”

Jack Freestone, who earned a colossal victory at the first stop on the ASP World Junior Tour, the Oakley World Pro Junior in Bali, secured the title of 2010 ASP World Junior Champion with an equal 9th place finish at the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships, with the two combined results solidifying the young Australian atop the ASP World Junior Rankings.

“It’s been a mixed roller coaster of emotions watching the heats unfold,” Freestone said. “Big congratulations to all of the guys. It’s a dream come true. I never thought it would come true after placing 9th in this event, but I’m just so happy.”

In addition to the prestigious titles that come along with their performances, the Top 4 finishers have earned seeds into the Round of 96 of all ASP PRIME events for the year while the Top 8 are given seeds into the Round before the last round of all 1-6 ASP Star Series events. The Top 8 are listed below the results.

For highlights from the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships log on to http://www.billabongpro.com.

For more ASP information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com.

Television newsfeeds and web highlights packages will be made available to TV and online media on competition days. Please contact jj@billabong.com.au.

As the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships fueled by Monster Energy was unfolding, competitors and others involved in the event were also focused on the devastating flooding that was impacting the state of Queensland.

Event sponsor Billabong committed $50,000 to the Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal and, through the Rush Surf retail banner, is planning to donate clothing to needy communities.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Queensland Government’s flood appeal can visit http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html

The Billabong ASP World junior Championships fueled by Monster Energy is made possible with the support of Sony, Volkswagon, VonZipper, Nixon, Australia’s Surfing Life Magazine, Warringah Council and NSW Sport and Recreation.

Billabong ASP World Junior Championships Final Result:
1 – Marc Lacomare (FRA) 14.00
2 – Nat Young (USA) 11.50

Billabong ASP World Junior Championships Semifinals Results:
SF 1: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 11.07 def. Caio Ibelli (BRA) 10.03
SF 2: Nat Young (USA) 13.60 def. Mitch Crews (AUS) 13.40

Billabong ASP World Junior Championships Quarterfinals Results:
QF 1: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 15.00 def. Kiron Jabour (HAW) 10.37
QF 2: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 15.27 def. Charles Martin (GLP) 11.90
QF 3: Nat Young (USA) 10.83 def. Dale Staples (ZAF) 9.60
QF 4: Mitch Crews (AUS) 13.54 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 9.84

Billabong ASP World Junior Rankings (Top 8):
1: Jack Freestone (AUS)
2: Nat Young (USA)
3: Dale Staples (ZAF)
4: Caio Ibelli (BRA)
5: Mitch Crews (AUS)
6: Kiron Jabour (HAW)
7: Marc Lacomare (FRA)
8:Charles Martin (GLP)