Billabong is extending its commitment to the development of junior surfing in the emerging powerhouse of Indonesia with the launch of a three-event pro junior series in Bali. The Billabong Pro Junior Series 07 Indonesia will provide a platform for the country’s most promising junior talent to become professional surfers by gaining international competition experience without leaving their local breaks.

The series, which is supported by Kustom footwear and Von Zipper eyewear will be run in conjunction with the Bali Surfing Association and will be staged in Bali’s peak surfing season and is open to surfers aged 20 and under.

It is to be staged at the breaks of Keramas (31 May – 3 June), Kuta Reef (29 June – 1 July) and Canggu (2-5 August) and carries a total prize pool of US$15,500. The series is open to international surfers, giving the locals the opportunity to measure their standard against the world’s leading junior talent.

Chris James, director of Billabong Indonesia, said the leading Indonesian surfer at the close of the series will gain a wildcard entry into the Von Zipper Trials – the feeder event into the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships, providing the opportunity to compete against the leading junior surfers in the world.

Past winners of the WJC’s include three-time world champion Andy Irons and Joel Parkinson, with the event seen as a stepping stone to the elite world tour. “This is a demonstration of Billabong’s commitment to develop Indonesia’s most promising junior surfers,” said James.“The standard of surfing in Indonesia is lifting rapidly and we hope to help elevate local surfers on to the World Qualifying Series and, ultimately, on to the ASP World Tour. That would be a fitting result for a country that has offered the surfing world so much in terms of wave quality.”

James said the junior series would also provide a valuable support to the existing Indonesian Surfing Championships (ISC), which is open to all ages: “Sometimes it is hard for the juniors to come out of the grommet competitions and straight into open events,” said James. “The inclusion of a junior series gives them more time to compete against their own age division and gain the experience and confidence to move on to the WQS or continue on in the ISC as more experienced surfers.”

He said he was anticipating good participation by international surfers, particularly from Australia. “The series will be held during the peak surfing season in Bali so there will already be a large contingent of foreign surfers in Bali,” he said. “This will give local Indonesians the opportunity to measure their standard in their own waves, rather than traveling offshore and possibly surfing on waves of lesser quality. “If they can perform well at home against top junior talent then that will lift their confidence and help them move on to the next level.”

Prize money will be pegged at US$4500 for each of the first two contests and US$6500 for the final event, making it the richest series of events in the country and aligning to the prize money levels international juniors are accustomed to. The final event at Canggu will be run in conjunction with the annual Billabong Occy Grom Comp.

Entry details will be available from: {encode=”[email protected]” title=”[email protected]”}

For further information see: www.billabong.com.au