Jeremy Flores, The 19-year-old French citizen from Noumea -- via Madagascar, via Reunion, via Capbreton, via Whale Beach - the youngest surfer ever to qualify for the World Tour is now officially this season’s rookie of the year.

Despite the cruddy waves on this year’s tour, Jeremy has proven himself versatile with top 10 finishes in all sorts of conditions; heaving coral pits (Chopes), funnelling right sandbars (Snapper), plumb average beachies (Bakio), and perfect cobble-stoned points (Lowers).
2008 has been seen Jeremy embark on a teenage rampage, his high-wattage air act gaining extra power at the start of the season with some gruelling strength training at his South Pacific home.
Curl Curl’s Kai Otton pushed Jeremy to the brink for the Rookie mantle all year, narrowly missing out on the prestigious gong when he bowed-out in round four of Pipe yesterday.
Next year’s rookie of the year showdown is going to be just as wild with all sorts of new cowboys saddlin’ up for the bucking bronco of the World Tour, namely, Dan Ross, Jordy Smith, Dane Reynolds, Bottle, Aritz Aramburu, Tiago Pires, and Heitor Alves.