Surfing South Africa has announced the names of the 2010 South African Masters Team that will compete in the ISA World Masters Championships in Peru in August and September.

The SA Masters Team preparations and attendance at the 2010 ISA World Masters Championships is made possible thanks to a R150,000 grant from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF).

Included in the side are Over 50 World Champion Chris Knutsen, Over 45 Champion Marc Wright (both Durban) and Heather Clark of Port Shepstone, the over 35 Women’s World Champion. All three were members of the South African team which won its second successive World Team title in Peru in 2008.

The balance of the team is made up of former two time SA Men’s champion and new cap Wayne Monk of Gonubie and 2009 SA Masters Champion Andrew Banks of Uvongo. Monk and Banks will compete in the Over 35 age group where Gary Van Wieringen of Warner Beach is the non travelling reserve.

Andre Malherbe of East London, who will represent the SA Masters Team for the fourth year in a row, and new cap Robert Moore Boyle of Westville compete in the Over 40 age group where Gareth Sepp of East London is the non travelling reserve.

Wright will be joined by multiple SA Champion and four time Masters team member David Malherbe of Coffee Bay in the Over 50 age group and Mike Brent of Border is the non travelling reserve.

2007 and 2008 World Champion Chris Knutsen will travel to Panama with Team Manager Dave Fish of East London as the reserve in this division.

Ant Brodowicz of Margate, the 1978 World Champion and the coach who guided the 2007 and 2008 SA Masters teams to victory at the respective World Championships and also coached the team in Namibia last year, will take on the coaching duties for the fourth year in a row.
Dave Fish, the Border Surfriders Association President who competed in the 2009 SA Masters team, will be the South African Team Manager .

The 2010 ISA World Masters Championships are scheduled to get under way on August 27 in Santa Catalina in Panama.

South Africa will be joined by the hosts, Panama, and 14 other countries at this international team event.

2010 South African Masters Surfing Team

Over 35 (Masters) : Wayne Monk (Border), Andrew Banks (SKZN) : Non travelling reserve : Gary van Wieringen (SKZN)

Over 40 (Grandmasters) : Andre Malherbe (Border), Robert Moore Boyle (CKZN) : non travelling reserve : Gareth Sepp (Border)

Over 45 (Kahunas) : David Malherbe (Border), Marc Wright (CKZN) : non travelling reserve : Mike Brent (Border)

Over 50 (Grandkahuna) : Chris Knutsen ( CKZN)

Women Over 35 : Heather Clark (SKZN)

Coach : Antoni Brodowicz  (SKZN)

Manager : Dave Fish (Border)

Ends

Compiled by
Robin de Kock
General Manager
Surfing South Africa
surfingsouthafrica@gmail.com
0824541149
www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za

Distributed by:

Life’s a Beach Communications
PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel:              +27 (0) 21 783 4965
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Email:           lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

Durban’s Jordy Smith, currently ranked No. 2 on both the ASP World Title and ASP World Rankings, is the top seed for 11th edition of the Mr Price Pro Ballito which starts today and runs until Sunday 11 July on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast.

The 5-Star rated Mr Price Pro Ballito is Stop No. 20 of 38 on the ASP Men’s Star schedule for 2010 and offers US $120 000 (approx R900 000) in prize-money along with invaluable points on both the ASP World and local ASP Africa rankings.

The event has attracted a field of more than 90 international and local competitors with Smith being joined by a clutch of current ASP World Title contenders including 2000 Mr Price Pro winner and current World No. 16 Taylor Knox (USA), Chris Davidson (AUS) and Durbanite Travis Logie.

There is also a solid contingent of former ASP World Tour campaigners in David Weare (Durban), Nathan Hedge (AUS), Royden Bryson (Cape Town), Greg Emslie (East London) and Ricky Basnett (Bluff), who is the only South African to have won the Mr Price Pro title (2006).

Basnett comes into the first internationally rated event to be staged in South Africa this year in sparkling form, having finished 9th in the recent event in Sri Lanka where he was the highest placed SA surfer.

The Mr Price Pro Ballito presents the current crop of South African pros competing internationally with the ideal opportunity to register points on the ASP World Rankings in their home waters and the likes of Brandon Jackson (Durban North), Rudy Palmboom (Bluff) and rising stars Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay), Chad du Toit (Berea), Brendon Gibbens (Kommetjie) and Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga), who won the Mr Price Pro Junior event on Sunday, will be eager to take advantage.

The Mr Price Pro Ballito uses a mobile event format that takes the contest to the beach on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast offering the best waves on each day. Tune in to East Coast Radio for daily live updates and all the action will be LIVE on the webcast at www.mrpricepro.com.

Ends

Issued on behalf of:

ASP Africa
Contact: Colin Fitch – Operations Manager
Tel: 021 534 5738
Email: colin@aspafrica.com

Compiled & Distributed by:

Life’s a Beach Communications
PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Fax: +27 (0) 86 684 6250
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email: lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

About ASP:

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

JEFFREYS BAY, South Africa (Thursday, July 1, 2010) – The Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay, Stop No. 4 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour, is poised to be one for the ages as the best assemblage of surfing talent in history prepare to do battle on one of the world’s greatest canvases, the iconic righthanders of Jeffreys Bay.

After three events this season, the ASP World Tour journeys to South Africa amidst a red-hot ASP World Title race as well as the cutthroat, mid-year field reduction to the ASP Top 32.

Mick Fanning (AUS), 29, reigning ASP World Champion, has had an uncharacteristically slow start to the season, collecting two 9ths and a Runner Up, putting him in the ASP World No. 4 spot. A former two-time winner of the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay (2002, 2006), Fanning will look to regain some magic in South Africa in order to rein in former nine-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 1 Kelly Slater (USA), 38.

“This time last year, I was in fourth position so it’s early days,” Fanning said. “I’ll approach the remainder of the year as if the race is still wide open, which it is. Kelly’s had two solid results so hopefully I can narrow the gap with a strong finish at J-Bay.”

The big concern for all the top seeds at Jeffreys is a lethal crop of rookies intensified by the threat of a mid-year cutoff. Following the fifth event of the season, the ASP Top 45 will be reduced to the Top 32 and Jeffreys is one of the last opportunities for surfers to vault themselves inside the bubble.

“There’s definitely been a more aggressive approach from the lower seeds this year and you can’t go into any heat holding back.” Fanning said. “With the cut off approaching I’d say we’re going to see even more desperation and intensity from those outside the Top 32. It’s going to be a challenge but exciting to watch.”

While an event favorite himself, Fanning is very aware of all the threats that exist at the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay.

“Jordy Smith is going to be dangerous,” Fanning said. “He’s the only surfer on tour that has made the final series of each event in 2010. With that kind of momentum and confidence going into J-Bay, a wave he knows so well, he’ll be one to keep an eye on. Kelly (Slater) is always a standout at J-Bay. His Round 2 heat at Jeffreys last year is still in my head. He was throwing away two nine-point rides. Parko (Joel Parkinson) is the other major threat. He’s had an average start compared to last year and J-Bay was the last event he won. I’ve been surfing with him quite a bit and he’s back to his best.”

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 22, current ASP World No. 2, is having a career-best start in 2010, collecting a Runner-Up finish on the Gold Coast before Equal 5ths at Bells and in Brazil.

“I’ve definitely felt better this year than previous years,” Smith said. “I’ve kind of found my feet and it’s working out great. I think the main thing I’ve done differently is probably just the face that I’ve been more relaxed going into heats; not worrying about who I’ve got in my heat or anything like that. I’m just going out there and surfing and having fun.”

Although in an unfamiliar position, Smith is poised and ready to strike at the ASP World Title ratings’ lead, and the powerful natural-footer is calm about the remainder of the year.

“I guess sitting at second in the world is always good,” Smith said. “I always look at it (the ASP World Title Race) as a boxing match, and we’ve got 10 rounds and have only been through the first three and we’ve got plenty to go. Coming into J-Bay, that’s always cool. I’ll be up against a wildcard early on, but hopefully I can get a good result here and keep it going throughout the year.”

Clearly the danger man at Jeffreys Bay, Smith has arguably logged in more time at the icy pointbreak than any of the Top 45, making him the man to beat once competition kicks off.

“The Billabong contest at J-Bay is definitely one of my favorites,” Smith said. “To be in front of my home crowd and get to surf J-Bay with only three guys out, I couldn’t ask for much more. I definitely feel good about the wave. I’ve been going there since I was 7-years old. Every time I arrive there is a good feeling. You smell the aloe in the air; it’s just a really awesome place. It’s a really fast righthand pointbreak which I love, and it has incredible barrel sections. I hope we get waves like last year.”

Joel Parkinson (AUS), 29, 2009 ASP World Runner-Up and current ASP World No. 8, hasn’t enjoyed the same juggernaut start in 2010 as he did last season, but the stylish natural-footer is positive heading into the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay.

“Eighth place right now is inconsequential,” Parkinson said. “There’s over two-thirds of the season left to run, and if I surf well and surf well consistently, then I will be moving up the ratings. That’s in my hands, not in anyone else’s. Whoever’s in front of me is irrelevant.”

A two-time winner of the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay (2009, and in 1999 as a wildcard), Parkinson’s rapport with Jeffreys Bay borders on supernatural. When the wave is on, the Gold Coast is as dangerous as any, applying a beautiful forehand approach to the running righthanders.

“I think without any doubt that J-Bay brings out the best in me and in my surfing,” Parkinson said. “It gives me reason to be motivated and excited, and, above all else it, allows me to realize how lucky we are, to be able to go back there year after year. It’s such an incredible corner of the world and I’ve had some really special days out there. The wave itself, well, you couldn’t design a righthand point much better. There are long barrel sections, big open walls, and it really tests all aspects of your surfing. The waves we had for the contest last year were some of the best I’ve ever surfed in my time on the tour.”

Another top seed heading into Jeffreys Bay, Parkinson is likely to draw a lower seed early in competition, and with the mid-year cutoff looming, is aware that things could get intense.

“Every heat is important,” Parkinson said. “My approach has always been the same; expect your opponent to come with their A game and make sure you are ready to deal with them, what they bring and what the conditions will provide and all should be good. Coming off a long break like we just had, I expect everyone to be ready to go. The guys looking at the cut off will be hungry. The guys at the top will be keen to maintain their lead. The guys a little way back will be looking to make a move. Everyone has got their own motivation. When you look at it like this J-Bay is going to be epic.”

The waiting period for the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay will begin on Friday, July 15 and run through July 25, 2010.

The Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay will be webcast LIVE via http://www.billabongpro.com/jbay10/

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
________________________________________

Visit the Press Room on www.aspworldtour.com for news, images, transcribed athlete interviews and more.

Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Media
Dave Prodan
email: dave@aspworldtour.com
USA mobile: +1 949 678 0987
AUS mobile: +61 (0) 400 455 228
EVENT MEDIA
Billabong Pro Media Manager
Johnathan “JJ” Jenkins
email: johnathan.jenkins@billabong.com.au

Digital Photographs:
High-resolution digital images for newspapers and Internet sites are available via the ASP Digital Images Department – please contact kirstin@aspworldtour.com
________________________________________

About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the ASP World Tour (consisting of the ASP World Title Race, the ASP PRIME events and the ASP Star events), the ASP Women’s World Tour, the ASP World Longboard Tour and the ASP World Junior Tour. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

NMMU and UCT successfully defend SA Universities surfing titles at Victoria Bay

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s (NMMU)  and the University of Cape Town (UCT) successfully defended the men’s and women’s team titles respectively at the 2010  SA University Surfing Championships which ran from 14-16 June.

Hosted by the NMMU George campus at Victoria Bay for the first time, the event enjoyed good waves on the right-hand point that produced great surfing performances by the competitors from NMMU, Rhodes University , the University of Stellenbosch, KZN University and the University of Cape Town, as well as the Cape Town University of Technology (CPUT).

The men’s event was won by Clinton Gravett (NMMU) who relegated defending champion Kyle Beach (UKZN) to the runner-up berth this year with NMMU teammates Gary Muller and Kyle Jacobs placing third and fourth.

Sarah Nicholson (UCT) improved on her third place finish in 2009 to clinch the ladies’ crown ahead of Lisa Auditore (US), Kerry Hodgkinson (UCT) and Jessica Genrich (Rhodes), who finished in that order.

The annual universities surfing championships is presented under the auspices of University Sport SA, which is affiliated to the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC). The tournament is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa (SSA), the national governing body for the sport.

Billabong was again the main event sponsor.

SA Universities Surfing Championships

Results

Men’s Competition

Teams

1. NMMU
2. UCT
3. Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)
4. University of Stellenbosch (US)
5. Rhodes University
6. University Kwazulu Natal (UKZN)

Individual

1. Clinton Gravett – NMMU
2. Kyle Beach – UKZN
3. Gary Muller – NMMU
4. Kyle Jacobs – NMMU

Ladies’ Competition

Teams

1. UCT
2. US
3. NMMU
4. CPUT
5. Rhodes University

Individual

1. Sarah Nicholson – UCT
2. Lisa Auditore – US
3. Kerry Hodgkinson – UCT
4. Jessica Genrich – Rhodes

Ends

Media Release Issued on behalf of:

NMMU – Marketing and Corporate relations Department
Hugo Loubser
Sport Manager: NMMU – George Campus
Cell       082 575 1826
Email    Hugo.Loubser@nmmu.ac.za

Compiled & Distributed by:

Life’s a Beach Communications 
PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel:              +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Fax:             +27 (0) 86 684 6250
Mobile:         +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email:           lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

 

Top Longboard surfers from all over South Africa are travelling down to Jongensfontein for the KG Classic, the first in the 5 event SALSA Longboard Tour. The Series winner will receive a Grand Prize at the last event, the SA Champs in Durban. Open Finalists at all series events receive cash prizes as well.

Contestants include KZN’s, Brad Weare, who is travelling to Peru later this year as part of the SA Team. Also surfing are WP’s Justin Bing, who competed at last years World Games in Costa Rica, Michael Grendon, who’s got a slot at the ASP Event in Makaha in November, and P.E.’s Dylan McLeod, who competed on the World Longboard Tour last year, in Japan and the Maldives.

A full field with International competitive experience.

Last years event was held in perfect 6-8 foot surf, and was won by Ludi du Toit from Jeffreys Bay, who returns to defend his title.

Current storm conditions are clearing for this weekends competition, with excellent contestable surf predicted once the cold front has moved past. There are a number of point breaks in the area, and the contest is mobile, dependent on the best surf on the day. It also forms part of the World Surf Day celebration.

Besides the Premier Open Division, there are rounds which include ladies, juniors, over 50’s and the Divas – ladies over 35. Over 80 surfers will be competing.

Of interest is the PDI contingent in the junior and Open Division. Previously they were part of development initiatives in WP Longboard surfing, but made the WP team on merit at the recent SA Champs. Alfonso Peters was the top performer at this event, and will be challenging for prize honours in the Open Division at the KG Classic.

He is being supported by SALSA to attend all the series events in the country, over the next year.

Issued on behalf of SALSA

The South African Longboard Surfing Association 

 

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s (NMMU) George Campus will make history on June 14-16 when the SA University Surfing Championships takes place at Victoria Bay for the first time.

The annual universities surfing championships is presented under the auspices of University Sport SA, which is affiliated to the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC). The tournament is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa (SSA), the national governing body for the sport.

Teams of eight men and four women  from NMMU, Rhodes University , the University of Stellenbosch, KZN University and the University of Cape Town, as well as the Cape Town University of Technology (CPUT) will compete in the event

 “NMMU George is delighted at the opportunity to welcome the competing teams, as well as visitors and spectators to our midst.   Surfing is a visually-appealing sport and this particular university challenge is sure to add to the vibrancy of the local sporting scene”, says Hugo Loubser, NMMU George Sport Manager.

Kyle Beach (UKZN) and Lisa Mace (University of Stellenbosch) will be defending their 2009 titles, as will NMMU in the team’s event.

Billabong will again be the main event sponsor.

Be sure not to miss the surfing action at Vic Bay between 14 and 16 June.

Ends

NMMU George is hosting the 2010 SA University Champs, sanctioned by Surfing SA and presented under the auspices of USSA, at Victoria Bay between 14 and 16 June

Photo courtesy NMMU

Media Release Issued by:

NMMU – Marketing and Corporate relations Department
Hugo Loubser
Sport Manager: NMMU – George Campus
Cell       082 575 1826
Email    Hugo.Loubser@nmmu.ac.za

Distributed by:

Life’s a Beach Communications
PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel:              +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Fax:             +27 (0) 86 684 6250
Mobile:         +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email:           lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

The 2010 Border surf team brought glory to East London when they wiped out the opposition on the final day of the 2010 SA Surfing Championships to take the coveted Presidents Cup as well as the other two team trophies on offer.

Central KZN, the 2009 President’s Cup winners, were second overall some 1,500 points behind Border. Hosts Southern KZN came third ahead of Eastern Province, Western Province, Zululand, Boland and Southern Cape.

In the SA Cup, Central KZN finished as runners up with Southern KZN third. Then came Western Province, Eastern Province, Boland, Zululand and Southern Cape.

Southern KZN pipped Central KZN by one point to end as runners up in the Masters Cup while Eastern Province came fourth followed by Zululand, Western Province, Southern Cape and Boland.

The 45^th championships were completed in fine weather and good surf at St Mikes on the Kwazulu-Natal South Coast (Sunday May 30).

In addition to Border’s team success, former World Tour surfer Greg Emslie added a second SA Open Men’s title to his trophy cabinet and was awarded his national team blazer as the first member of the SA Team that will compete in the ISA World Surfing Games in Peru later this year.

This year’s premier Surfing South Africa tournament was a major triumph for the team from Border. Not only did they win the coveted Presidents Cup, which is awarded to the team with the highest total scores, but they successfully defended the Masters Cup which they won in Mossel Bay last year and added  the inaugural Surfing SA Cup  to their tally.

This is only the third time in 45 years that Border have won the Presidents Cup but it is the fourth year in a row that they have won the SA Masters Cup. The Masters Cup is awarded to the team with the highest scores in the Over 30 to Over 55 age groups while the SA Cup goes to the team with the highest scores in the Open Men and Open Women’s divisions.

Emslie was not the only Border surfer to claim gold for the East London surfing team. Brothers Andre and David Malherbe won the Over 40 and Over 45 Divisions respectively while plucky Alice McGregor was awarded the Surfer of the Contest Trophy.

Mc Gregor competed in the final with a broken thumb and finished second behind defending champion Heather Clark of Southern KZN. Other Border surfers who made a fine showing were former SA Champions Devyn Mattheys and Gareth Sepp who were second to Emslie and Andre Malherbe respectively.

Clark, the 2008 and 2009 SA Champion and current ISA World Champion in the Women’s Masters division, achieved her win despite suffering serious injury in a horrific car accident in October last year. She was one of two Southern KZN champions in 2009 when Gavin Roberts won the Men’s title. Ironically this year she and Ben Roberts, the Over 30 Division winner, won gold for the host province.

Emslie’s win gave him an automatic spot in the SA Team while the Men’s and Women’s finalists will all be automatically included in the SA Team selection process.

The SA Masters selectors will use the results in the Over 35, Over 40, Over 45 and Over 50 age groups to select trialists for the SA Masters Team that will compete in the ISA World Masters Championships in Panama in early September. South Africa are the defending two time World Masters Champions.

Others to win titles at St Mikes this year were legendary five time SA Men’s champion, ISA World Over 50 champion and multiple national champion in other divisions, Chris Knutsen of Central KZN, Victoria Bay icon Leonard Giles (S/Cape) who took gold in the Over 55 age group and 2001 SA Champion Shane Thorne of Central KZN, who won the Over 35 division. 

Worthy of a special mention are two surfers who represented South Africa in the World Junior Championships in January. SA Junior Team captain Beyrick de Vries, a finalist in New Zealand, came third behind Emslie and Mattheys in his first SA Championships in the Open Division while fellow SA Junior team member Tanika Hoffman posted a third in the Women’s final.

Over 150 surfers competed in eight divisions represented eight provincial teams at the 2010 SA Surfing Championships.

The 45^th edition of the SA Surfing Championships was hosted by Southern KZN Surfing Association and run by Surfing South Africa. Surfing South Africa is the recognized as the governing body for surfing in South Africa by the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and is a member of the International Surfing Association (ISA).

GREG EMSLIE, 2010 SA MENS CHAMPION, AND FELLOW FINALISTS

Complete Heat Sheets with results and individual finalists points as well as team scores are available on www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za

Surfing South Africa projects are supported by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF).

RESULTS OF THE 2010 SOUTH AFRICAN SURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS.

OPEN MEN

1. GREG EMSLIE (BORDER)
2. DEVYN MATTHEYS (BORDER)
3. BEYRICK DE VRIES (CKZN)
4. CHAD DU TOIT (CKZN)

OPEN WOMEN

1. HEATHER CLARK (SKZN)
2. ALICE MCGREGOR (BORDER)
3. KERRI HODKINSON (WP)
4. TANIKA HOFFMAN (WP) 

SENIORS (OVER 30)

1. BEN ROBERTS (SKZN)
2. ETIENNE POTGIETER (EP)
3. PAUL PROCTOR (BORDER)
4. DANIE DU PLESSIS (BOLAND)

MASTERS (OVER 35)

1. SHANE THORNE (CKZN)
2. ANDREW BANKS (SKZN)
3. SHANE PITTARD (EP)
4. CARL ROUX (SKZN)

GRANDMASTERS (OVER 40)

1. ANDRE MALHERBE (BORDER)
2. GARETH SEPP (BORDER)
3. ROBERT PEREIRA (SKZN)
4. GARY MAISCH (SKZN)

KAHUNAS (OVER 45)

1. DAVID MALHERBE (BORDER)
2. MARC WRIGHT (CKZN)
3. MURRAY NIVEN (CKZN)
4. MIKE BRENT (BORDER

GRANDKAHUNAS (OVER 50)

1. CHRIS KNUTSEN (CKZN)
2. GRANTLEY READ (ZUL)
3. KURT BUCHNER (EP)
4. GORDON HARMER (BORDER)

VETERANS (OVER 55)

1. LEONARD GILES (SCAPE )
2. GLEN BOWLES (EP)
3. LOUIS WOLMARANS (SKZN)
4. DUNCAN DUFFETT (WP)

SURFER OF THE CONTEST

ALICE MC GREGOR (BORDER)

SA CUP (OPEN DIVISIONS)

1. BORDER : 13390
2. CENTRAL KZN : 12456
3. SOUTHERN KZN : 10360
4. WESTERN PROVINCE : 10192
5. EASTERN PROVINCE : 9122
6. BOLAND : 8716
7. ZULULAND : 7168
8. SOUTHERN CAPE : 4690

MASTERS CUP (O30 -055)

1. BORDER : 13106
2. SOUTHERN KZN : 12506
3. CENTRAL KZN : 12505
4. EASTERN PROVINCE : 10668
5. ZULULAND : 9506
6. WESTERN PROVINCE : 8944
7. SOUTHERN CAPE : 8251
8. BOLAND : 6766

 PRESIDENTS CUP

1. BORDER : 26496
2. CENTRAL KZN : 24961
3. SOUTHERN KZN : 22866
4. EASTERN PROVINCE : 19790
5. WESTERN PROVINCE : 19136
6. ZULULAND : 16764
7. BOLAND : 15482
8. SOUTHERN CAPE : 12941

Ends

Compiled by:

Robin de Kock
General Manager Surfing South Africa
surfingsouthafrica@gmail.com
0824541149

Distributed by:

Life’s a Beach Communications
PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel:              +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Fax:             +27 (0) 86 684 6250
Mobile:         +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email:           lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

 

South Africa’s premier interprovincial tournament, the annual South African Surfing Championships, will get under way in the powerful point break waves of St Mikes on the Southern KZN coast on Thursday and teams from eight provinces will be in action.

 The 45^th South African Surfing Championships runs from tomorrow (May 27) until Sunday (May 30) when the individual finals will be held and the champions crowned.

Close on 150 handpicked surfers will wear their provincial colours over the four days of competition and these surfers will compete in eight age divisions.

Heading the charge on the 41 year old Presidents cup are defending champions Central KZN who have won the Presidents Cup more times than any other province. Their arch rivals Western Province are traditionally the biggest threat while 2008 champions Eastern Province, former two-time Presidents Cup winners Border, hosts Southern KZN, Boland, Southern Cape and Zululand are the other provincial teams in the event.

All the participating surfers have been selected for their provincial teams after competing in regional trials and will not only be focused on achieving individual glory in one of the eight divisions but will also be surfing for team honours.

This year all the surfers in the Open Men and Women’s divisions will be awarded 3A Pro Surf Tour points and the finalists in these two divisions will be included in selection trials for the upcoming SA Team that will attend the World Games in Peru. In a first for South African surfing, the winner of the Open Men’s Division will be automatically included in the 2010 SA Team for Peru.

There is also plenty at stake in the Over 35, Over 40, Over 45 and Over 50 Divisions. The South African selectors will be using the results of the SA Championships as an indicator as to who should be invited to trials which will be used to pick an SA Masters Team for the upcoming World Championships in Panama.

This will be the eighth time that the Southern KZN Surfing Association will be hosting the premier championship on the Surfing South Africa calendar and the seventh time that St Mikes will play host to the event.

Southern Natal has produced a couple of Men’s and Women’s champions in Mark Brodowicz, who won the National title in 1978 in East London, the year his brother Ant won the World Championship title at the same venue. Brian Jacobs, another born and bred Southern KZN surfer, took honours in 1983 and last year Gavin Roberts took honours wearing the colours of Southern KZN.

The only surfer to win the Men’s division two years in a row is Chris Knutsen of Central KZN, who went on to achieve a hat trick of titles in 1979, 1980 and 1981. In 1987 Knutsen won a fourth title and remains the only surfer in history to be the South African Open Men’s champion four times. He is competing again this year, in the Over 50, Grand Kahuna’s division.

In 1996 local hero Gary van Wieringen, who again turns out for Southern KZN, was runner up in the SA Championships while 2002 SA Champion Antonio Bortoletto will represent Central KZN in the Over 30 age group this year.

Surfers  who are certain to make an impression in the Open Men’s group this year are 18 year old Beyrick de Vries of Central KZN, team mate Chad du Toit, Southern Cape’s Llewellyn Whittaker, EP’s Ryan Payne and Bertie Stuurman, Matt Bromley of WP and Border’s Devyn Mattheys.

 However, the two names which really stand out are former ASP World Tour and former SA Champion Greg Emslie, who surfs for his beloved Border, and former World Junior Champion and ASP WQS surfer Warwick Wright, a former Central KZN surfer who will represent WP for the first time.

Southern KZN home grown products, Heather Clark, Kay Holt and Sarah Maritz have won a bunch of Women’s titles between them but of the three only Clark, the defending champion, will be competing this year.  Clark is still working her way back to full fitness after surviving a horrific car accident in October last year but her local knowledge, experience and determination must make her the favourite to successfully defend her crown.

Heather Clark’s main rivals are 2009 SA Under 18 Champion Alice Mc Gregor of Border, 2010 SA Junior team member Tanika Hoffman of Western Province and Stacey Guy of Southern Cape.

Teams will gather at the contest marquee at St Mikes at 7pm tonight for the Opening Function and the heats will run from Thursday May 27 to Sunday May 30. The heats and daily contest schedule is posted on www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za and updated heats and each day’s results will be posted on the same website after 8pm from May 27 onwards.

Surfing South Africa is recognised by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and the International Surfing Association as the governing body for the sport in South Africa.

SSA is made up of eight provinces: Boland, Border, Eastern Province, Central  KwaZulu-Natal, Southern Cape, Southern KZN, Western Province and Zululand.

The South African Bodyboarding Association, the South African Longboarding Association and the South African Students Surfing Union are also affiliated to Surfing South Africa.

SSA sanctions the annual Pro Surf Tour, coordinates and runs National Surfing Championships, selects National teams and is responsible for the administration of the sport.

Surfing South Africa projects are supported by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF).

Compiled by:

Robin de Kock
General Manager, Surfing South Africa
All media enquiries to 0824541149 or surfingsouthafrica@gmail.com

Distributed by:

Life’s a Beach Communications
PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel:              +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Fax:             +27 (0) 86 684 6250
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Email:           lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

Billabong team rider Shaun Joubert won the Oakley Pro Junior title for the third time in as many years on Saturday to write his name into the ASP Africa record books as the first surfer to win the same event three times in succession since the local tour was inaugurated in 1988.

“That’s pretty cool and an honour when you consider how many other great surfers have competed in Pro Junior and Open events over the years,” Joubert commented when informed of his historic achievement.

The superstar from Mossel Bay, who turns 19 today, posted a stellar performance to defeat reigning ASP Africa Pro Junior Champion Chad du Toit in the final of the ASP Grade-2 rated event at Port Alfred.

Competing in outstanding 1.5 metre waves at Eastern Beach, Joubert fell behind early in the final as du Toit surged into the lead. Needing a substantial 8.25 points for the lead at the halfway point, Joubert scored exactly that on an inside wave that he worked all the way through to the inside. But du Toit regained the lead with a 7.50 before the champion clinched the title on a set wave where he used his full repertoire of high performance manoeuvres to record a near-perfect 9.5 out of 10.

“Whenever we get to surf a contest in good waves I’m sure not too many guys complain,” Joubert said of the excellent conditions, adding “I’m just happy to be back and get a good result. It was pretty obvious that Chad was the man to beat and he put me under pressure with his first seven (point ride). I blew my first two waves, so I was lucky more waves came to me.”

Having set winning the ASP Africa Pro Junior title as his main goal for 2010, Joubert’s haul of 1 500 points from the event has consolidated his lead at the top of rankings after three of the four events have been completed.

“It’s not always possible to achieve your goals, and I haven’t done the maths, but it looks like I’m well placed to achieve that goal this year, which will be great!”

He also earned an early birthday present of US $2 500 (approx. R18 750), taking his 2010 Pro Junior winnings to R37 000 after his victory in the first event of the year in Durban at Easter.

The ultra-talented teenager from the Southern Cape also placed highly in several ASP Pro Junior events in Australia earlier in the year and attended a Billabong high-performance training camp in Hawaii. On the ASP World Tour he has recorded results of 37^th and 17^th in 6-Star rated events in Tasmania and Scotland to be ranked No. 146 on the combined ASP World Rankings list with further earnings of R24 000.

“I’d like to really thank Greg Emslie (former ASP World Title contender) for looking after me in the lead-up to this event. And also Billabong and all my other sponsors for supporting me over the years, even when I wasn’t doing as well,” Joubert said.

Joubert leaves next week for Brazil where he will compete in several ASP 5 and 6-Star events during May before competing in the 6-Star event in Sri Lanka in June and the Mr Price Pro Ballito in July in an effort to boost his ASP World Ranking and make the cut-off for the ASP Prime rated events, which are held in premium venues with a restricted field, in the second half of the year.

Joubert’s Billabong team mates also fared well at Port Alfred where Australian Ryan Callinan placed third after losing to the champion in the semifinals while Dale Staples (St Francis Bay), the winner of the Billabong Pro Junior Dolphin coast on Tuesday, placed 5^th overall.

Ends

Distributed on behalf of:

Billabong South Africa
Contact:            Ryan Payne
Tel:                   042 200 2600
Email:               ryan.payne@billabong.co.za

Compiled & Distributed by:

Life’s a Beach Communications 
PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel:              +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Fax:             +27 (0) 86 684 6250
Mobile:         +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email:           lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

The final day of the Billabong Junior Series event on the Dolphin Coast of KwaZulu-Natal will be staged at Westbrook where clean 1 – 1.5 metre hollow waves are on offer and clear skies and windless conditions are expected throughout the day.

The event gets underway at 8am and will conclude with the event champions crowned in the ASP Grade-1 rated Pro Junior men’s event, the U16, U14 and U12 boys divisions and the spectacular Von Zipper Air Show.

Bianca Buitendag (George) won the Billabong Pro Junior women’s event on Monday, defeating Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbosstrand) in the final.

Images, results and news can be viewed at www.billabong.com and a TV documentary, produced by Silver Bullet Productions, will be broadcast post event on Vuzu – DSTV Channel 123.

The Pro Surf Tour (PST) events in the Billabong Junior Series are sanctioned by Surfing South Africa (SSA), the national controlling body for the sport, while the internationally rated Pro Junior men’s event is sanctioned by ASP Africa, the regional office for ASP International.

The series is proudly supported by Von Zipper, Kustom and Nixon and fueled by Monster Energy.

The 2010 Billabong Junior Series starts on the Dolphin Coast of KwaZulu-Natal from 25-27 April and concludes at Victoria Bay (1-4 September) where the series champions will be crowned for the 14th time.

\ends

Issued on behalf of:

Billabong South Africa
Tel: 042 200 2600
Fax: 042 293 2478
Email: laureen.payne@billabong.co.za

Compiled & Issued by:

Life’s a Beach Communications
PO Box 48272, Kommetjie, 7976 South Africa
Tel / Fax: +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email: lifesabeach@mweb.co.za