Le Brésilien Adriano de Souza, 16 ans, est le surfeur de plus jeune a jamais gagné le titre du Champion du Monde Junior de l’ASP.

Photo : Robertson / ASP / Tostee.com

Clean 3ft (1m) lefthanders graced the long sandbank throughout the day, with conditions improving as the tide dropped this afternoon and swell pulsed. The summer crowd soaked up the world’s best U/21 surfers in action.

16-year-old De Souza, from Sao Paulo, was one of the youngest competitors in the in the field and still has an unbelievable four years left in this division. Regardless, the diminutive natural footer showed no nerves against his more experienced opponents, posting the highest combined total of the entire tournament in round one for 17.9-points. From there he progressed with similar form, toppling some of the biggest names in the event.

Against Cansdell in the decider he opened with a rare righthander, setting the early pace following his 7.67 score. He then focused on the lefthanders and found another gem, belting a massive backhand re-entry and collected an 8.33 for the commanding lead that never wavered.

De Souza has now added his name to an honor roll including reigning two-time world champion Andy Irons (1998), Australian Joel Parkinson (1999 & ’01) and fellow Brazilian Pedro Henrique, who claimed the title in 2000.

"I have to speak in Portuguese, cause it’s my heart," began an emotional De Souza through the aide of a translator, once his fellow Brazilian contestants carried him up the beach. "I have to thank all my friends and people who have helped me.

"Shaun was the best in the whole contest, but I just tried to place first one more time," he added. "Now I plan to study English here in Australia, get some more good waves and have fun being the world champion."

20-year-old Cansdell capped off a brilliant junior career with the runner-up placing. He was in blistering form throughout the day, and posted the second best combined tally of 17.5-points in his quarterfinal clash. Against De Souza however, he was unable to pick off the desired waves and required a near-perfect 9.27 score.

"I just couldn’t get over a six during the final," explained Cansdell. "My waves didn’t really wall up or offer much and I was a bit tired, I suppose. He’s been surfing well the whole week and deserved it. Just to be in the final was unreal though. I would have liked to win of course, but he was ripping."

Equal third today were Hawaiians Daniel Jones and Sean Moody. Jones, who hails from a great family of Hawaiian surfers, took out some of the big names in the tournament, including good friend and yesterday’s high scorer Kekoa Bacalso this morning. Against a fired up Cansdell he trailed from the start however, and ultimately needed a combination of waves totaling 16.84-points.

"I wanted to do my best and I’m happy with third," said Jones. "I just wasn’t really able to put anything together in that last heat."

20-year-old Moody was extremely unlucky in his match against De Souza. The Hawaiian posted the best single score of 8.33-points, but then waited an agonizing 9-minutes for another ride. After his opponent fell on a last good wave, priority went to Moody, but even still he was unable to find the 2.17 he was searching for. Returning from a serious leg injury however, the result is a great confidence boost.

"He fell on a good one, so I kind of had a chance, but nothing came in," explained Moody. "This is my last year in the event, so it’s nice to do alright. Third’s third though, and I didn’t want that. I came here to get first. I’m pretty bummed, but I’ll take. I was out of the water for four months after shattering my leg (at Pipeline, Haw, last year) and had to get pretty gnarly surgery. Stoked to be back, for sure."

Finishing equal fifth in the Billabong World Junior Championships was Brazilian Jihad Kohdr and Australians Leigh Sedley (Sunshine Coast, QLD), Daniel Ross (Yamba, NSW) and Luke Munro (Gold Coast, QLD).

Sedley, who finished runner-up in the Von Zipper Trials, created a huge upset by knocking out the event’s #1 seed Joel Centeio (Haw) in round three, as well as another Hawaiian TJ Barron in the fourth. Cansdell ended his campaign, but nonetheless, the 19-year-old impressed all with his overall performance.

"It was always going o be hard to try and beat Shaun in really long lefthanders," reasoned Sedley. "I gave it my best and still had fun this event and was happy to make it this far. Unfortunately it came to a halt in the quarterfinals. Still a great start to the year."

Ross - the 2003 ASP Australasian champion - suffered a surprise loss to De Souza following a fantastic season last year. The 20-year-old was eager to add the world junior crown to his ever growing lit of accomplishments, but required another ride worth 7.84-points at heat end to match his younger opponent.

"I knew all the Brazilians were surfing pretty good, so I had a fair idea what he’d be doing if he got the waves," acknowledged Ross. "I just didn’t get the right ones, so that’s what happens. I’m still stoked to have gotten through a few heats. There were so many good surfers in this event and I’m happy with a fifth."

Munro - winner of the ASP Australasian junior championship in 2000 & ’01 - became stuck on the wrong side of a wave-starved match against Moody.

17-year-old Hideyoshi Tanaka secured Japan’s best result with an equal 9th placing. Likewise, South African Damien Fahrenfort also made round four and posted his nation’s strongest finish.

An special exhibition heat was also staged between the second semifinal and grand finale, with World Championship Tour (WCT) surfers Luke Egan (Gold Coast, Aus), 1999 world champion Mark Occhilupo (Gold Coast, Aus) and Narrabeen local Nathan Hedge. Egan, the event contest director, offered the following comment afterward.

"Stoked we got it finished," began Egan. "We really broke the contest’s back yesterday, since the reports indicated an unfavorable southerly change coming through. The surfing has been incredible and I’m so stoked with the setup here. Billabong did the full-blown WCT deal for the kids, and the man-on-man experience is great for them."