The ASP World Champion’s Crowning banquet took place at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition center in Australia last night with all of the world’s top rated surfers in attendance.

It was a special night for European surfing with each of the four surfers competing on the 2008 ASP World Tour attending. Nineteen year-old French star Jeremy Flores (FRA), returning ASP World Tour campaigner Miky Picon (FRA), and new qualifiers Aritz Aranburu (EUK) and Tiago Pires (PRT) represent the largest number of European surfers on ASP World Tour ever.

Flores was officially crowned 2007 ASP World Tour Rookie Of The Year in front of a cheering 600-person crowd. He finished 8th of the Top 45 surfers on ASP World Tour last year. The Reunion Island born surfer’s best result was a 3rd place finish at the Boost Mobile Pro at Trestles, Calif. USA.

“It has been a great year and I can’t thank my family enough for all the sacrifices they have made to get me where I am now,” Flores said. “This trophy means a lot to me. It represents a great achievement for European surfing in general as we are still a young region among the best surfing nations.”

Reigning ASP World Champions Mick Fanning (AUS) and Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) were also officially honoured for their achievements in 2007.