17| Owen Wright
Birthday: January 16, 1990
Hometown: Culburra, Australia

Hand-picked by C.J. and Damien Hobgood for the first-ever ASP junior invitational held in the Caroline Islands this winter, Owen Wright made it clear that he's on his way by besting a handful the most talented juniors, including Dusty Payne, Clay Marzo and Dion Atkinson in perfect conditions. For further proof of his knack behind the curtain, this winter he cut his teeth in six to eight-foot Pipeline as a wildcard in the Pipe Masters-arguably the best day of Pipe all winter. While enduring the sting of an early defeat to Kelly Slater, the 2006 16 and Under ISA Junior world champ, who was born just about the same time Slater was winning his first world title, took the right attitude toward the experience. “I feel really lucky to have that opportunity.” His fluidity holds at two feet or ten, with a strong emphasis on linking his moves. A bit more meat on his bones may help, but he's coming on quick.