Ibelli Claims ASP World Junior Title At The Billabong World Junior Championships

Caio Ibelli (BRA) 2011 ASP World Junior Champion. Photo: ASP/Kirstin

BURLEIGH HEADS, Queensland/Australia (Saturday, 28 January, 2012) – Caio Ibelli (BRA) has claimed the Men’s ASP World Junior Title at the Billabong World Junior Championships today.

The Men’s ASP World Junior Title race saw all the front runners bow out early with Jack Freestone (AUS) being eliminated by Medi Veminardi (REU) in the Quarterfinals. Ian Gouveia (BRA) was taken out by Wade Carmichael (AUS) who had a dream run in this contest, from winning the Von Zipper trials all the way to taking out the final of the Billabong World Junior Championships! In Quarterfinal 3 Garrett Parkes (AUS), who needed the win the heat to claim the ASP World Junior Title was taken out by Filipe Toledo (BRA), who also lost in the next round. All the contenders had been eliminated, with the top 2 – Garret Parkes (AUS) and Caio Ibelli (BRA) tied at number one on the ratings. For the first time in ASP history, a surf-off was required to decide the ASP World 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. Parkes had a last minute chance to claim the prestigious ASP World Junior title, needing a 7.58 (out of a possible 10), but fell less than half a point short after he too landed a nice air-reverse.

“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 thanks 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.”

Wade Carmichael (AUS) and Nathan Carvalho (HAW) were perfectly matched and put on an exciting Final at the Billabong World Junior Championships that won’t soon be forgotten. As the clock was counting down the final seconds, Carmichael was left needing a mid-range score, he took off on a smaller wave a blasted one of the biggest fins-free turns of the event. The siren went and both surfers were floating in the lineup waiting for the scores to be announced. Carmichael only caught 2 waves in the 30 minute final, but that’s all it took for him to claim an epic come-from-behind victory.

“I’m over the moon right now, this is the best day of my life!” Carmichael said. “I’ve been training for this for the last few months, I wanted to have a big year and this is unbelievable. I wasn’t nervous that whole heat, even though I was sitting waiting for that second wave for a long time. But I was really nervous and freaking out after the heat while I was waiting for the score to be announced. Then they said I won and it was the best feeling.”

The top four surfers on the ASP World Junior Ratings gets 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)

Check the Billabong World Junior Championships Gold Coast highlights via www.billabongpro.com

2011 ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPION SURF-OFF RESULT:
Caio Ibelli (BRA) 14.74 def. Garrett Parkes (AUS) 14.00

BILLABONG WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS GOLD COAST MEN’S FINAL RESULT:
Wade Carmichael (AUS) 11.17 def. Nathan Carvalho (HAW) 10.63

BILLABONG WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS GOLD COAST MEN’S SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Wade Carmichael (AUS) 11.84 def Medi Veminardi (REU) 8.66
SF 2: Nathan Carvalho (HAW) 16.50 def. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 15.26

BILLABONG WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS GOLD COAST MEN’S QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Medi Veminardi (REU) 12.00 def. Jack Freestone (AUS) 11.50
QF 2: Wade Carmichael (AUS) 14.27 def. Ian Gouveia (BRA) 7.00
QF 3: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 15.74 def. Garrett Parkes (AUS) 14.4
QF 4: Nathan Carvalho (HAW) 12.13 def. Dean Bowen (AUS) 9.60

More info on the Women’s 2011 ASP World Junior Title Race coming soon.