Balinese surfer I Made aka “Garut” Widiarta is recognized as one of the world’s most promising junior surfers, and has received more high profile attention in the Indonesian and international media than any other Indonesian since Rizal Tanjung. Garut was recently voted into Surfer magazine’s ” Hot 100″ further distinguishing his position among the world’s rising stars. Garut’s performance at the Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge saw him eliminate Nick Godfrey (ZAF), and Sebastian Zeits (HI) before falling to runner up Marc Lacomare (FRA) in the quarters.

Kai was given a wildcard to the Global Challenge for good reason. The underground powerhouse from Maui is quickly developing into a force to be reckoned with. While fellow Garden Isle stars like Dusty Payne and Clay Marzo steal the spotlight, Kai’s quietly been going about his business…which as of late has consisted of massive forehand gaffs and long, no-hands, backside pits. The capable goofy-footer—who has shades of both Freddy Patacchia and Sunny Garcia in his surfing—has refined his act, thriving in anything from perfect six-foot Honolua, to the kegging Brazilian beach breaks of Fernando De Noronha, to your everyday, run-of-the-mill beach break junk. Feasting on a steady diet of pro junior events and travel, it’s safe to say 2008 was Kai’s big breakout season… getting the cover of Surfer magazine’s October issue, heaps of editorial, blowing it up in Bali, and if that doesn’t wasn’t enough, he wins the WORLD JUNIOR TITLE.

A distinguished member of the next-generation Euros who are turning surfing on its head. A solid surfer in anything from one-foot mush to kegging pits, Romain grew up along France’s seldom seen Brittany coast, where the water and weather’s cold and the waves pump. A ninth-place finisher at the 2008 Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge Finals, Romain only continues to improve. He’s won pro junior events throughout Europe, and is eager to step up onto the world’s stage and knock some fools out.

Last year Yuki Seedwell busted up his knee right before the Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge, conveniently held at his home break of Keramas. And while you would assume all hope was lost, Yuki kept his eyes on the prize. And while his knee was so screwed up he couldn’t do a turn, he did figure out a way to ride the tube. So, simply by pulling in to pit after pit the Balaniese regular-footer was able to finish equal 17. Now, a year on the mend, Yuki’s fit and fired up to give it another go.

New Zealand may just be the perfect breeding ground for surfers: plenty of top-shelf surf spots and hardly a soul to get in your way. With only the sheep watching on, surfers like Billy Stairmand are free to practice and experiment at their own pace, developing their own styles and approaches along the way. The formula’s worked out well for Billy. The powerful regular-footer is arguably the hottest thing coming out of Kiwi country, and has the results to back it up. Not only that, the kid came out of nowhere last year to finish equal ninth at the Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge. He’ll be back at it again in 2009 and may not be able to utilize the element of surprise like he once did, but ask him and he’ll probably tell you that’s all right.

After a knee injury from a simple warm-up session at beginning of his ’08 season Dusty battled back to have an amazing year. And now, as evident by his recent surge at both the Junior and WQS level, he’s shed the knee-brace, regained his momentum, and most importantly, discovered a new appreciation for simply being able to go out and perform the way he wants to. Nowhere was this more apparent than the Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge! Dusty barreled, aired, and blasted his way to victory to claim the world’s biggest ever payday for a pro junior. “It’s the best contest I’ve ever surfed in,” said Payne, who won a wildcard to the event after placing third at the USA Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge Qualifier at the 6.0 Lowers Pro. Not bad considering this was more the first contest he’s won in 8 years. Dusty then followed this up with a remarkable showing at the Triple Crown of Surfing in Hawaii, making the final at Sunset and demonstrating to the world that he’s no slouch during the Pipe Masters.

Going into the Oakley Pro Junior France 18-year-old Marc Lacomare sat a very comfortable second in the ASP European Junior ratings, and true to form, he blasted through any and all comers to grab the second qualifying spot for the Oakley Global Challenge. “I am very happy because I aimed at qualifying for Bali and it is done”, Lacomare said. “This competition was very tough. The surfing conditions changed a lot and I tried to adapt every day so I am stoked to get back home with this runner-up finish.” It’s no secret that the European talent level has skyrocketed through the roof in recent years, and with figureheads like Jeremy Flores and Tim Boal to look up to, Marc, and surfers like him, are definitely going to be taking things to the next level in the coming years. Don’t believe me? Just tune into the Oakley Global Challenge and watch him go toe to toe with the best of his generation. Marc clinched the European Junior title at the Eurojuniors in Morocco in November, won the French national junior title and came second at the Oakley Global Challenge, and finished his 2008 competitive year with a third place result and the World Junior Championships.