Very few surfers' Tour debuts have been as hyped and proclaimed as Jordy Smith's, but at just 19-years-old, South Africa's (or perhaps the world's) next big thing has already got some competitive clout to back it up. The 6'1 Durbanite put the ASP Top 45 on notice when he made the 2006 Billabong Pro J-Bay podium (he finished 3rd) as a wildcard and he hammered it home with a 2nd place finish at the ASP WQS six star at Sunset Beach to become the 2006 Van's Triple Crown of Surfing "Rookie of the Year."

Jordy has since laid claim to the 2006 ASP Junior Championship and 2007 WQS No. 1 titles and has his sights firmly focused on that other series title ' the one you get for finishing 1st on the ASP World Tour. Dubbed the 'South African Slater,' Smith is already shouldering his homeland's hopes that he'll be their next Shaun Tomson and is clearly a competitor poised to lead the next generation of up-and-coming surfers as they take on their heroes.

weight: 187 lbs (85 kilos)

height: 6'2" (188 cm)

stance: Regular (natural) foot

sponsors: O'Neill wetsuits and clothing, DVS footwear, Vestal watches and DaKine accessories

shapers: JS, Al Merrick

quiver: three 6'2s,1x 6'4,1x 6'6".

favorite waves: J-Bay, Snapper Rocks, New Pier, D'Bah

favorite maneuver: Big backside straight air, barrel

favorite surfers: Kelly Slater, Andy Irons, Sunny Garcia and Dane Reynolds

2008 Rating: 22

2008 Points: 3665

2008 earnings: $56,000.00

Career earnings: $181,830.00

highest ASP World Tour rating: 2008 Rookie; Rated 1st on 2007 ASP WQS

years on ASP World Tour: 1

elite inception: 2008

hard yards: 2007 - qualified in 1 year

filmography: Frothing, Passion Pop, Traffic

honor roll: ASP WQS No. 1 in 2007, 2006 ASP World Junior Champion, 2006 Triple Crown Rookie of the Year and 10 National titles in South Africa

elite tour victories: (0)