Over the course of the past year, Mitch Coleborn, a multifaceted, creative goofyfooter from the freethinking, wave-rich Sunshine Coast, has solidified his rightful place among the world’s most talented up-and-comers. Mitch recently edged out Julian Wilson in Australia Surfing Life’s Top 100 Grommet Poll, in essence becoming the country’s most popular young surfer in a land booming with talent. And while it’s always good to be popular, Mitch’s competitive success more than validates his position. The 2007 Australasia Junior champ went on a complete tear last year. After starting the season out with a third-place finish and a first-round stinker, Mitch got it in gear, winning the next two events and making the semis of a couple more, and then winning another contest at the end of the year just to ensure his name would be etched alongside previous Australasia junior champs such as Taj Burrow and Joel Parkinson. And his resume indicates it would be easy to assume he’s simply a contest machine. Don’t be fooled, Mitch can punt with the best of them and has developed quite a penchant for power. Need proof? Well, you’re going to have to wait until Taylor Steele’s Campaign 3 hits your local surf shot. As of late he’s been hard at work gathering footage with Taylor in Bali and has every intention of maintaining his rightful position in surfing’s spotlight.