The ASP Rated Australasia Red Bull Junior Surf Masters presented by Mick Fanning is a hit. The “torched” format introduced in 2008 has become popular with Australia’s top pro junior surfers.

In the torched format, only the best wave of the 20-minute heat is scored for each surfer. This leaves only one score at the end of the heat, the surfer with the single best wave gets priority the next heat while the surfer with the lowest score does not advance. After the heat, the scores are set back to zero.

The young surfers have a lot to prove at this event, especially since it is in front of Mick Fanning, the 2007 ASP Men’s World Champion. Mick Fanning and the competitors are excited about the torched format because it allows for the underdog to come from behind and take the win. Every heat is a fresh start and whoever gets the best wave wins.

The recent Red Bull Junior Surf Masters event at Cornulla offered some decent small waves, with Brett Burcher bringing home the win and $10,000 to pay off some debts.

Surfers at the Fantastic Noodles Intense Wave Invitational in South Australia got a taste of competing in really big surf. This event was designed to give young Australian surfers the chance to compete on big waves in familiar waters, better preparing them for the waves they’ll face on the ASP tour in Hawaii and Tahiti. Gold Coast’s Blake Ainsworth won this event and took home his $11,000 prize.

Giving young, talented surfers the chance to compete and win in these types of events, and for such big prizes, ensures that Australia will remain a force on the ASP tour in years to come.