Australia's Cooper Chapman claims Billabong Pro Junior Asia title

The inaugural Billabong Pro Junior Asia Champion Cooper Chapman celebrates his victory with his friends right after his action packed Finals over an Indonesian surfer Oney Anwar. (Photo by Dennis Ohashi)

Cooper Chapman, a young professional surfer from Australia,  took out the inaugural Billabong Pro Junior Asia title in an action packed Finals over an Indonesian surfer Oney Anwar last September 27, 2011 at "Cloud 8",   a new spot identified by the technical team of Association of Surfing Professionals or ASP.  With a new swell coming in from a different direction, the competition at Cloud 9 was forced to move down the reef to a spot referred to as Cloud 8.

The Billabong Pro Junior Asia Second Placer Oney Anwar of Indonesia poses with (L-R) Billabong Marketing Director Peter Thew, Surigao del Norte Governor Sol Matugas, and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority General Manager Mark Lapid. (Photo by Loanne Guardo Huelma)

(L-R) The Father of Philippine Surfing, Mayor Jaime P. Rusillon proudly presents the winners of the inaugural Billabong Pro Junior Asia, namely: Cooper Chapman (Champion-Australia)  and One Anwar (First Runner-Up - Indonesia). The event was held at Cloud 9 from September 21 to 28, 2011. (Photo by Aye Navarro)

Third Placer Philmar Alipayo was the lone Filipino surfer who became one of the four finalists ofthe Billabong Pro Junior Asia. (Photo by Loanne Guardo Huelma)

Cloud 9 has finally carved its name in the world's surfing map as 64 best junior surfers from Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Philippines, United States of America and Indonesia joined in this year's Billabong's pro junior event.  

According to ASP Australia General Manager Dane Jordan, this was a landmark event for the region since this was the first time that ASP Australasia and Japan jointly sanctioned a professional surfing event in an iconic break like Cloud 9.  

The Billabong Pro Junior Asia presented by Sony Ericson, held last September 21 to 28, 2011,   was in partnership with the Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte, Local Government Unit of General Luna, Department of Tourism, Tourism Infrastruction and Enterprise Zone Authority,  Philippine Surfing Federation, and ASP Austrailasia. Other sponsors include Air Asia, Nixon, and Von Zipper, San Miguel Corporations and Smart Communications.  

Tourism Undersecretary Maria Victoria Jasmin (Fushia Pink Blouse) and Surigao del Norte Governor Sol Matugas lead the ceremonial opening of the Billabong Pro Junior Asia together with General Luna Mayor Jaime Rusillon, Surigao del Norte Congressman Francisco Matugas, Billabong Philippines President Freddie Gonzales, Provincial Tourism Officer Ivonnie Beltran-Dumadag, Philippine Surfing Federation Secretary General Zeny Pallugna and other mayors and board members of the of Surigao del Norte.

Cloud 9's judging tower.