The 2012 Oakley World Pro Junior Championships Bali got under way in style on Friday with a press conference at the Pullman hotel in Kuta. This event has been running for five years, but 2012 will see the Oakley World Pro Junior Championships soar to new heights with this year’s edition being the first event in Indonesia to crown an ASP World Champion. The international field has been locked in, the draw has been finalized, and it’s very likely that Saturday the event will start at Echo Beach, Canggu.

Photo courtesy Oakley World Pro Junior Championships, Curley

Beau Emerton, Oakley World Pro Junior Championships and former elite ASP World Championship Tour competitor, is thrilled to be at the helm of an event that not only will crown the men’s and women’s 2012 ASP World Junior Champions, but also puts future surfing stars on the world stage.

“Everyone really looks forward to this event,” Emerton said. “The forecast looks amazing once again. We’re looking at starting tomorrow morning at Canggu and then moving to Keramas later in the waiting period. We will have the best young surfers in the world in some amazing waves. This event is going to be one to watch.”

Glen Elliot, Oakley World Pro Junior Championships head judge, has seen the level of surfing increase exponentially at this event over the last few years and he’s expecting this year to be one of the most exciting junior events of all time with a coveted ASP World Junior Title on the line.

“I feel very privileged to head judge an event of this caliber,” Elliot said. “To crown an ASP World Champion in Bali’s high performance waves is an exciting prospect. I think with the amount of swell we’re anticipating it’s going to be a fantastic event. Thanks to Oakley for supporting junior surfing and this event.”

Caio Ibelli (BRA), reigning ASP World Junior Champion posted an impressive result at this event last year finishing equal fifth. Ibelli is well aware he’ll need to be on the winners podium to claim back-to-back ASP World Junior Titles.

“I’m really happy to come back to Bali,” Ibelli said. “Winning the ASP World Junior Title was really good last year. Last year we had three events so it was really hard. I’m not felling any pressure. I’m trying to focus on this event. This is my favorite event so it would be nice to score in Bali. Last year I lost in the quarterfinals so I hope this year to do better.

The Oakley World Pro Junior Championships Bali will run from Oct. 6 to Oct. 17. For a LIVE webcast, click here.

For more information, log on to www.aspworldtour.com.

Oakley World Pro Junior Championships MEN’S ROUND 1:

HEAT 1: Beyrick De Vries (ZAF), Ryan Callinan (AUS), Wade Carmichael (AUS)
HEAT 2: Maxime Huscenot (FRA), Soli Bailey (AUS), Jocelyn Poulou (PYF)
HEAT 3: Caio Ibelli (BRA), Vicente Romero (ESP), Slade Prestwich (ZAF)
HEAT 4: Luke Davis (USA), Evan Thompson (USA), Kanoa Igarashi (USA)
HEAT 5: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR), Kaito Ohashi (JPN), Luan Carvalho (BRA)
HEAT 6: Ezekiel Lau (HAW), Arashi Kato (JPN), Italo Ferreira (BRA)
HEAT 7: Peterson Crisanto (BRA), Andrew Doheny (USA), Geovane Ferreira (BRA)
HEAT 8: Keanu Asing (HAW), Michael February (ZAF), Gazali Hamzah (IND)
HEAT 9: Jack Freestone (AUS), Koa Smith (HAW), Nyoman Satria (IND)
HEAT 10: Matt Banting (AUS), Makai McNamara (HAW), Jack Robinson (AUS)
HEAT 11: Vasco Ribeiro (PRT), Hairil Anwar (IND), Dylan Lightfoot (ZAF)
HEAT 12: Conner Coffin (USA), Taylor Clark (USA), Deivid Silva (BRA)
HEAT 13: Thomas Woods (AUS), Kaimana Jaquias (HAW), Hiroto Arai (JPN)
HEAT 14: Carlos Munoz (CRI), Cooper Chapman (AUS), Reo Kanao (JPN)
HEAT 15: Tanner Hendrickson (HAW), Caue Wood (BRA), Takumi Nakamura (JPN)
HEAT 16: Frederico Morais (PRT), Kalani David (HAW), Davey Brand (ZAF)

Oakley World Pro Junior Championships WOMEN’S ROUND 1:

HEAT 1: Joanne Defay (FRA), Leila Hurst (HAW), Mahina Maeda (HAW)
HEAT 2: Sarah Baum (ZAF), Canelle Bulard (REU), Rosanny Alvarez (VEN)
HEAT 3: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), Frankie Harrer (USA), Minato Takahashi (JPN)
HEAT 4: Philippa Anderson (AUS), Ellie-Jean Coffey (AUS), Juliana Meneghel (BRA)
HEAT 5: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS), Nao Omura (JPN), Brianna Cope (HAW)
HEAT 6: Alessa Quizon (HAW), Maud Le Car (FRA), Quincy Davis(USA)