The Gerroa 17-year-old returned home with the Quicksilver World Championship trophy yesterday after his remarkable victory on Sunday.

Bowen fought back from the repechage rounds to take the title but had a secret weapon in his boards.

"Laurie changed my boards without me knowing and they were unbelievable," Bowen said.

"They are a little smaller and wider but it made such a big difference."

Watch Bowen and other junior surfers in action in Ecuador

Bowen and Tyler Wright, who learnt her surfing at Culburra, enhanced the South Coast's reputation as a surfing nursery by taking the junior world titles in Ecuador.

He was still coming to grips with the tag "world champion" yesterday but was looking forward to making the most of the title.

Although Bowen has already made a name for himself as a big-wave rider, his ambition lies on the World Tour.

"It's been overwhelming all the messages I have got," Bowen said.

"My friends are just so stoked for me.

"But I see this as the start of a long career and I would really like to get on to the WCT world tour.

"I don't want to be considered just a big wave rider and winning a (junior) world title is a good start."

Part of the prize from the junior worlds is entry into the Quicksilver Pro trials at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast next year but Bowen will have opportunities before that to crack the world tour.

He heads to Tahiti next week with a team of surfers to prepare for the trials for Billabong Pro at Teahupoo at the end of the month.

The big hollow barrels at Teahupoo should suit Bowen's fearless style.

"It would be good to make it into the draw there and I'm lucky enough to have a place in the trials," Bowen said.

"I just have to make the most of it but I'm looking forward to surfing there," he added.