At 18 years of age Jack Freestone became the first Australian surfer in 10 years to claim the ASP World Junior Title following the culmination of the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships 2011 at North Narrabeen, Sydney, Australia

Freestone's name joins an impressive roster of world beating talent that includes South African Jordy Smith (2006), Adriano de Souza (2003) fellow Aussie Joel Parkinson (2001) and three time Hawaiian World Champion Andy Irons (1998).

Jack, aged just 18 and the winner of the Oakley World Junior Championship event in Bali in October 2010, has signed with Billabong, joining a team that includes World Championship Tour surfers Joel Parkinson and Taj Burrow and fellow World Junior Championship competitors including Australians Dean Bowen (33rd) and Ryan Callinan (17th), Hawaiians Granger Larsen (9th), Kaimana Jaquias (17th) and Keanu Asing (17th) and South Africans Sean Joubert (9th) and Dale Staples (2nd).

“The future is certainly looking bright in our junior ranks,” said team manager Sasha Stocker.

“We already had a very strong team in place but the addition of surfers such as Jack, Soli and Ian has taken it to another level.

It has been 10 years since the ASP World Junior crown has been won by an Australian, with three-time Triple Crown champion Joel Parkinson (winner in 1999 and 2001) the last of his countrymen to hold the trophy aloft.

The event stars the top 45 junior surfers on the planet, plus three wildcards, and carries a total US$95,000 prize purse. More importantly, it affords the finalists an unrivalled seeding in ASP Star and ASP PRIME events that serves as a springboard to the elite ASP World Tour.

“I feel like I am in a really good spot, I would have been happy with the quarters in Bali, but I got the win,” said 18-year-old Jack.

The 2010 ASP World Junior Title went to highest rated surfer Jack Freestone (AUS). While Freestone was eliminated in equal 9th position, the Australian surfer had enough points lead to clinch the prestigious ASP World Junior Title for 2011 Congratulations Jack and welcome to the team!!!