In the end the men’s ASP World Junior Title race saw all the frontrunners bow out early with Jack Freestone eliminated by Medi Veminardi and Ian Gouveia taken out by Wade Carmichael in the Quarterfinals.

Another frontrunner, Garrett Parkes (AUS), needed to advance out of the quarter finals to clinch the 2011 ASP World Junior Title, but was halted by South American sensation Filipe Toledo (BRA). Parkes’s ousting in the quarter finals resulted in a tie with Caio Ibelli (BRA) for the top spot on the ASP World Junior Title rankings, requiring a “Surf-Off” to determine the champion.

Caio Ibelli (BRA) started the Surf-Off with a couple of minor scores, it was clear that he was going for something big. Garret Parkes (AUS) on the other hand started chipping away at the lead, posting some scores in the good range to give him an early lead. Ibelli found a wave that linked up and unleashed some solid carves and a massive air-reverse to score an 8.67 (out of a possible 10), to swing momentum his way and take the lead.

“I’m so stoked to bring the ASP World Junior Title back to Brazil!” Ibelli said. “I feel so amazing now! I didn’t know I had another opportunity to win, I just found out this morning. I want to thank my family, my friends and Oakley for their support. Garrett (Parkes) is a good surfer and he’s at home in Australia so I knew I had to do my best.”

Leila Hurst (HAW) was one of three surfers in the running for the ASP Women’s World Junior Title this morning, but was the last one standing after front-runner Joanne Defay (FRA) lost her Quarterfinal clash.

Then Philippa Anderson (AUS) bowed out of the race when she finished runner-up in the event, as she needed to win the final to claim the crown.

“I never want to be in that position again,” Hurst said. “Watching a final and having no control over if I won the ASP World Title or if I lost. I was feeling so much pressure. I’m losing my mind right now, I never thought I had a chance to win this. I’ve only just started to do well in contests again after a run of bad results, so I had low self-esteem coming into this event. It’s feel great to see what winning feels like again.”

The top four surfers on the ASP World Junior Ratings get priority seeding into all ASP Prime and Star event in 2012.

1. Caio Ibelli (BRA)
2. Garrett Parkes (AUS)
3. Davey Cathels (AUS)
4. Jack Freestone (AUS)