Defending ASP World Junior Champion Huscenot Leads Strong Euro Group at Narrabeen

Defending ASP World Junior Champion Maxime Huscenot (REU) will lead the European crew in the 2011 Billabong ASP World Junior Championships starting January 8, 2011 [Photo credit: Aquashot/aspeurope.com]

CAPBRETON, France (Friday, January 7, 2011) -With the much awaited Billabong ASP World Junior Championships (WJC) set to kick-off Saturday, January 8 in North Narabeen, Australia, the European contingent is getting ready to deliver its best and aim at clinching the world's most prestigious Under-21 crown.

Reigning ASP World Junior champion, Reunion Island native Maxime Huscenot (REU) will be leading one of the strongest European contingents ever in the coveted event, with both male and female athletes eyeing the crown and hoping to make history.

"We are all really good friends and we share the same room with Marc (Lacomare) and Ramzi (Boukhiam)," Huscenot said. "I think the European group is really strong this year again and the mutual support we give each other should push one of us in the finals, for both the guys and the girls. Marc (Lacomare) is a favorite here and so is Alizee (Aranud) after her superb final in Bali."

Coming from an already brilliant career that saw the young Reunion Island surfer clinch the ASP European Junior crown in 2008 leading to a convincing ASP World Junior No. 5 finish the same year for his first appearance in the event, Huscenot will be aiming at second consecutive win at North Narabeen's consistent beach breaks.

"It's great to be back here as I have lots of great memories in Narabeen," Huscenot said. "Of course I'd like to go for another crown bit I also know how tough it is to win and what it takes to make it to the end. I am here to get at least a third and the final is the main goal."

Final event on this year's ASP World Junior Tour following event No. 1 in Bali last October where Jack Freestone (AUS) finished atop, the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships will assemble the world's best 45 male and 18 female surfers under 21 to crown the 2010 ASP World Junior champion and ASP Women's World Junior champion.

With the new generation of professional surfers pushing the sport towards progressive aerial style, the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships are expected to deliver another groundbreaking show with European Junior surfing spear headers Marc Lacomare (FRA), Charles Martin (GLP) and Nicolaus Von Rupp (DEU) all ready to raise the bar against the international best.

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Completing the seven-surfer European male team for their first appearance at Narabeen will be Felipe Jervis-Perreira (PRT), Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) and Tom Cloarec (FRA) all looking to cut their teeth at this high level of surfing and cause some major upset.

In the women's division, coming to Narabeen ranked No. 2 on the ASP Junior Women's World Ranking after her brilliant runner-up finish in Bali last October, Alizee Arnaud (FRA) will be focused on giving her all at winning the event for her last participation in the Under-21 division.

A former ASP European Women's Junior champion and in her fourth consecutive appearance in the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships, Arnaud will be delivering her vertical on-the-rail assaults against fellow competitors, and has the skills to make it to the top.

Replacing former ASP Women's World Junior champion Pauline Ado who pulled-out from the event to prepare for her rookie season on the 2011 ASP Women's World Tour, Justine Dupont (FRA) will complete the nine-athlete European group in the event. At 18, the Lacanau native will be in her first attendance in the international event and feeling no pressure to maximize her chances against some of the world's most talented surfers including defending champion and local Laura Enever (AUS)

Results, news and LIVE webast will be available at http://billabongpro.com/wjc10/and via www.aspeurope.com

ASP European World Junior Championships Surfers

Maxime Huscenot (REU)
Charly Martin (GLP)
Marc Lacomare (FRA)
Nico Von Rupp (DEU)
Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR)
Felipe Jervis (PRT)
Tom Cloarec (FRA)
Alizee Arnaud (FRA)
Justine Dupont (FRA)