The Billabong Girls Get Out There will conclude their 3 week- long summer tour with two highly anticipated back-to-back events in Cape Town.

Muizenberg will host the first of two action packed events on Tuesday 21 December, immediately followed up with one final activation at Cape Town’s famed Camps Bay on Wednesday 22nd December.

The three week long summer tour kicked off in fine style on Ballito’s Willard Beach last Saturday 11th December and was followed up the next day (Sunday 12th December) at Durban’s Suncoast Beach.  It was then the turn of the South Coast holiday town of Margate to deliver a hugely successful conclusion to the KZN leg with the third activation on a sun-soaked, jam-packed Margate main beach.

After heavy rain unfortunately enforced the cancellation of the Port Elizabeth’s activation, the Billabong Girls Get Out There Summer tour redeemed the garden route crowds with two sun-soaked events in the bustling holiday towns of Plettenberg Bay and Mossel Bay respectively.

All eyes are now on Cape Town as the Billabong Girls Get Out There prepares to wrap up the summer roadshow after almost three weeks touring the country’s coastline.

Starting at 10am and wrapping up at 3pm, each event promises a fun-filled day for the entire family, with a primary ploy to get girls onto the beaches and experience the healthy, energizing Billabong lifestyle.

Whether it’s free surfing lessons, art workshops, beach games, or give-aways; the Billabong Girls will spice up those long sunny beach days this Summer.

At every activation, Billabong, in collaboration with 8.ta, will be holding FREE Learn to surf classes throughout the day with professional surfer, Tarryn Chudleigh. These classes will happen every hour on the hour and numbers are limited so be sure to get there early. Every girl who partakes in the surf school will receive a goodie bag containing Billabong and 8.ta give-aways

Bevcan will be fronting the fun on their giant inflatable slide and chill out area, they’re also hosting a competition where anyone can win a uniquely designed surfboard at each event!

Seventeen Magazine is focusing on all the things girls just love such as Hula hoop games; Twista; Celebrity Quiz, Bingo; UrbanScout sign ups; Pamper Corners as well as the Ava A-List girl search.

A free creative corner is also available throughout the day, where girls can express their creative side with paints on canvas, beading and sand art.

As if that’s not enough, Billabong, Seventeen, Sony, and Nixon will be giving away awesome prizes at each event so make sure you fill out as many entry forms as possible at the beach to stand the chance of winning.

The day is all about fun with the Billabong beach DJ keeping the happy summer sounds coming your way while MC, Marius Roberts, will get you involved in games and activities with heaps of prizes to give away.

So be sure to join the Billabong Girls Get Out There Summer tour at one of their remaining  four FREE beach day activations as they travel the country’s coastline through the Garden Route and on to Cape Town.

Remaining Billabong Girls Get Out There Itinerary:

Muizenberg, Cape Town
Tuesday 21st December 2010

Camps Bay, Cape Town
Wednesday 22nd December 2010

Using Sony Bloggie’s, daily photographs will be uploaded onto www.billabong.com.
You can follow the tour and check daily uploads on facebook – /Billabong Girls-sa and twitter – /BbgGirlsSA

Thanks to Bevcan, 8.ta, Seventeen, Sony, Von Zipper and Nixon, who have all contributed to making this the coolest beach activation this summer.

/ENDS

Issued on behalf of:

Billabong South Africa
Contact: Brendon Kegel
Telephone: +27 (0) 42 200 2747
Email: brendon.kegel@billabong.co.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

Be sure to join the Billabong Girls Get Out There Summer tour at one of their eight FREE beach day activations as they travel the country’s coastline from KZN right through the Garden Route and on to Cape Town.

Each event promises a fun-filled day for the entire family, with a primary ploy to get girls onto the beaches and experience the healthy, energizing Billabong lifestyle.

Whether it’s free surfing lessons, art workshops, beach games, or give-aways; the Billabong Girls will spice up those long sunny beach days this Summer.

At every activation, Billabong, in collaboration with 8.ta, will be holding FREE Learn to surf classes throughout the day with professional surfer, Tarryn Chudleigh. These classes will happen every hour on the hour and numbers are limited so be sure to get there early Every girl who partakes in the surf school will receive a goodie bag containing Billabong and 8.ta give-aways

Bevcan will be fronting the fun on their giant inflatable slide and chill out area, They’re also hosting a competition where anyone can win a uniquely designed surfboard at each event!

Seventeen Magazine is focusing on all the things girls just love such as Hula hoop games; Twista; Celebrity Quiz, Bingo; UrbanScout sign ups; Pamper Corners as well as the Ava A-List girl search.

A free creative is also available throughout the day, where girls can express their creative side with paints on canvas, beading and sand art.

As if that’s not enough, Sony, Von Zipper and Nixon will be giving away awesome prizes at each event so make sure you fill out as many entry forms as possible at the beach to stand the chance of winning.

The day is all about fun with the Billabong beach DJ keeping the happy summer sounds coming your way while MC, Marius Roberts, will get you involved in games and activities with heaps of prizes to give away.

Starting at 10am and wrapping up at 3pm, join the Billabong Crew for plenty of free fun in sun with the Billabong Girls Get Out There Summer Tour 2010.

Billabong Girls Get Out There Itinerary:

Ballito, KZN
Saturday 11th December 2010

Sun Coast, KZN
Sunday 12th December 2010

Margate, KZN
Monday 13th December 2010

Hobie Beach, PE
Thursday 16th December 2010

Main Beach, Plettenberg Bay
Friday 17th December 2010

Dias Beach, Mossel Bay
Saturday 18th December 2010

Muizenberg, Cape Town
Tuesday 21st December 2010

Camps Bay, Cape Town
Wednesday 22nd December 2010

Using Sony Bloggie’s, daily photographs will be uploaded onto www.billabong.com.
You can follow the tour and check daily uploads on Facebook – /Billabong Girls-sa and twitter – /BbgGirlsSA

Thanks to Bevcan, 8.ta, Seventeen, Sony, Von Zipper and Nixon, who have all contributed to making this the coolest beach activation this summer.

/ENDS

Issued on behalf of:

Billabong South Africa
Contact: Brendon Kegel
Telephone: +27 (0) 42 200 2747
Email: brendon.kegel@billabong.co.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 Do Great Things Trust, an NPO founded by Cape Town based businessman, world renowned big-wave rider and Mavericks contest winner, Chris Bertish, has the philosophy that it is the little gestures in life that mean the most to people and every little gesture, every kind act, no matter how small, helps in making a positive difference to someone’s life.

“I have been very fortunate over the last couple of years to be able to achieve most of my goals, aspirations and life long dreams,” Bertish explained. “I just felt that it was time to give back and that’s where the idea to start the charity began.”

Bertish says it starts by just giving a little back to less fortunate people and supporting other charities like the Cancer Association, Reach for a Dream Foundation, Doctors without Borders and My Life Project.

“We feel that these charities are also ‘doing great things’ for others and making a positive difference in people’s lives,” Bertish commented. “We are also looking at launching and assisting development projects and helping various upliftment projects we can get involved with going forward.”

The first Fundraiser for the ‘Do Great Things Trust’ will be a party on Friday 26 November followed by Bertish’s CANSUP110 event on the Saturday and the Sunday, where he will be attempting to become the first person to paddle a Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) from the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town along the coastline to Langebaan on the West Coast.

This mammoth undertaking, covering a total of over 110km, will raise additional funds and generate awareness for the abovementioned charities. The Water Safety for the paddle expedition will be kindly handled by Marine Scene and supported by Texies Seafoods.

The exciting charity party on Friday 26 November will held at the legendary location of Trench Town in Observatory, Cape Town, featuring an inspirational snowboarding film, three top bands, a raffle and a charity auction with unique items up for grabs.

Organised by The Do Great things Trust, in conjunction with CMB Agencies, and sponsored by Corona and Vitamin Water, the doors open at 6.00pm and R110 gets you in with a free complimentary drink and a raffle ticket for prizes sponsored by O’Neill, Fox, Ocean Minded, Hurricane, CMB Agencies and Naish.
 
The event kicks off with the premiere of the long awaited and inspirational O’Neill / James Jones snowboard film, “Deeper”, at 6.30pm, followed by reggae rockers, The Little Kings.

Surfer and comedian extraordinaire Mark Sampson will then MC the charity auction which includes one-of-a-kind memorabilia items autographed by Mavericks winner Chris Bertish, along with block-mounted posters signed by O’Neill sponsored South African Jordy Smith, the current World No. 2 ranked surfer.

The winners of the awesome prizes in the raffle will be announced before Seventh Son and Brazilian drum & rockers Napalma take us on a journey of rock and jungle drumming for the rest of the evening with local DJ’s spinning us through until after 11pm.

All proceeds generated on the evening will be presented to the Cancer Association, Reach for a Dream Foundation, Doctors without Borders and My Life Project after Seventh Son has rocked the crowd.

For more information on the party and CANSUP110 please go to www.dogreatthingstrust.com/picsvideos. Donations can be made by SMS’ing ‘CANSUP110’ to 40131 (R20/per SMS) and you can also donate funds via EFT or PayPal. Visit www.dogreatthingstrust.com for details.

So come and unite with us at Trench Town on the evening of Friday 26 November and thump the night away by doing one great thing and making a small difference in someone else’s life.

And keep an eye on the media for Bertish’s latest exploits as he left on Sunday on a whirlwind journey to Oregon, on the West coast of the USA, to compete in the Nelscott Reef paddle-in big wave contest, an event where he finished third last year and became the first to ride the wave on a SUP.

The sixth edition of the Nelscott Reef event has been given the green light to run on Tuesday 2 November in what are forecast to be the biggest waves in its history. See www.nelscottreef.com for more.

After finishing 2009 ranked third in the inaugural Big Wave World Tour standings, Bertish is also honoured to have received his first invitation as an Alternate competitor in the Eddie Aikau in Hawaii. The world’s longest running big-wave event has a waiting period that runs from the beginning of December 2010 to the end of February 2011 and the contest is only held when Waimea Bay is over 20 foot.

Ends

Issued on behalf of:

Do Great Things Trust
Contact: Chris Bertish
Mobile:  079 524 8344
Email:  info@dogreatthingstrust.com

In conjunction with CMB Agencies
www.cmbagencies.co.za
www.chrisbertish.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

EARTHWAVE BEACH FESTIVAL

Guinness World Record attempt + Longboard and SUP contests
Surfing and sustainable lifestyle event
Saturday & Sunday, 25 & 26 September 2010

It was close, but the Guinness World Record for the most surfers riding the same wave remains 110 set at the 2009 Earthwave Beach Festival at Muizenberg Beach in Cape Town after today’s best effort at the same venue came in at 93.

Despite the ideal offshore winds and gentle rolling half metre waves, the unseasonable rainy weather reduced the field from last year’s record 443 to ‘just’ 228 participants. Even though nearly 50% of those who took part managed to catch and ride the same wave for the required five seconds, they could not improve on the existing record.

“What a fantastic effort by Cape Town’s surfing community,” enthused Dene Botha from Kahuna Promotions, founders of the Earthwave concept that leverages the immense interest around Guinness World Record attempts to highlight climate change and raise awareness of sustainable lifestyle options.

“We may not have been able to improve on the record, but the rain did nothing to dampen the spirits of the hundreds of people at the beach for longboard and SUP events and Earthwave’s program of environmental awareness was the best in the 4 year history of the festival,” Botha added

The two day event included stop No. 3 of 5 on the SA Longboard Series and the first course racing events at Muizenberg in the rapidly growing Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) discipline. These ran in conjunction with talks by organisations such as 350.org and the Climate Action Partnership, who calculated carbon footprints, displays on marine life by Save Our Seas and demos of wind turbines and solar panels by 3^rd Rock Energy.

Noordhoek local Justin Bing won the Open division of the longboarding ahead of Michael Grendon, Alfonso Peters and Dylan McLeod from Port Elizabeth. Bing moved into the lead on the series standings with the next event scheduled for the Eastern Cape in six weeks and inaugural national series will be finalised in Durban early next year.

Tarryn Kyte won the Women’s division, Muizenberg local Papi Makanyane took the Juniors, Deon Bing the Over 35’s and Gary Van Rooyen the O/50’s.

The super-fit van Rooyen also placed fourth in the Coreban SUP racing, behind winner Greg Bertish, runner-up Peter Peterson from Germany and Jono Rosslind, another competing in both events.

The host of activities during the festival included a Dig for Gold for the youngsters, spinning trials run by Spin 4 Charity, an outstanding display of big wave and Earthwave photographs by Nic Bothma, fund-raising by the Shark Spotters, who provided additional staff for the record attempt, and also the Sunflower Fund who do sterling work on behalf of those with leukemia.

Earthwave also featured a transformation component organised by Surfing South Africa and the Ticket to Ride Foundation, supported by Sport & Recreation SA and the Lotto, which brought 15 youngsters from Masiphumalele to the beach where they also received a hearty meal thanks to Compass Bakery.

The festival concludes with the Corona After-Party at the popular Brass Bell pub and restaurant in Kalk Bay featuring surf band the Little Kings, promos, the draw for the raffle and an auction of eco friendly items from Aidan Bennetts Design along with Corona and Monster Energy. This year there is a R10 cover-charge, the entire proceeds of which will be split between Spin 4 Charity, the Sunflower Fund and the Shark Spotters program.

The 2010 Earthwave Beach Festival is supported by Loaded Smoothies, Kustom footwear, Aidan Bennetts Design, Derevko Wetsuits, Hemporium, O’Neill, Caves Surfwear, Billabong, VonZipper, New Balance, Palmers, Zigzag, Empire Café, Rafikis, the Brass Bell and Octopus’s Garden, Bulk SMS, Compass Bakery, Monster Energy, Surfing South Africa, Corona and Wavescape, the official online and surf forecasting partner.

See www.kahunasurf.co.za/kp/earthwave-2010 for or the Facebook group Earthwave Beach Festival 2010 for further information and a gallery of images.

/ends

Issued on behalf of:

Company:         Kahuna Promotions
Contact:            Paul Botha
Email:               kahunasurf@mweb.co.za

Compiled & Issued by:Life’s a Beach Communications
Mobile:         +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email:           lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

 
Durban (Sunday 12 September 2010) – Surfers riding Safari Surfboards shaped by master-craftsman Spider Murphy bagged two Gold and one Bronze medal at the ISA World Masters Surfing Championships which concluded in Panama on the weekend.

Chris Knutsen and Heather Clark successfully defended their Grand Kahunas (Over 50) and Women’s Masters (o/35) titles while David Malherbe placed third in the Kahunas division (o/45).

‘Knutto’, the only surfer in the 42 year history of SA surfing to have won the SA men’s title four times, went unbeaten throughout the 2010 ISA Masters and scored the only perfect 10 point ride of the entire event on his way to victory in the final. The 53 year-old from Durban added a third ISA World Masters gold medal to his tally following his triumph in the Grand Kahunas in Peru in 2008 and in the Kahunas in Puerto Rico in 2007.

“As always I felt comfortable and secure on my boards which went 110%,” said Knutsen of the Safari surfboards he used in Panama. “Spider is so good to work with, he’s always there to give advice and I used my ‘Podium Model’, the one I won the SA title on at St Mikes, and it took me to the podium again.”

‘Fergie’, SA’s ‘Queen of surfing’, completed an astonishing recovery from a life-threatening motor accident in October last year to add the 2010 gold medal to the one she earned in Peru in 2008, the first time the Women’s masters division was included in the event. A former ASP Women’s World Tour campaigner and still the only SA surfer ever to win the Hawaiian Triple Crown of Surfing, Heather has won every heat she has contested in two ISA Masters events.

“Spider always delivers the goods and my boards were brilliant,” said Clark. “I used all of them in the practice sessions but I was really nervous going into the event with the bigger surf so I used ‘Old Faithful’ and it worked unreal. Now I want one of those new Hydro X boards everyone is raving about!”

‘Herbie’, the ASP World Pro-Am champ back in 1990, the SA men’s champ in the mid ‘90’s and a multiple SA Masters champion, took the bronze medal in Panama, going one step better than his copper medal for fourth place in the Grand Masters in the inaugural event in Puerto Rico.

“My quiver of Safari boards were fantastic – I just wish I surfed as well in the final as my boards were going,’ commented Malherbe on his boards. “The wave was similar to Nahoon Reef, except the tidal difference was huge, about six metres between high and low, but Spider has been consistently delivering top-class boards for 30 or 40 years and mine went well in all conditions.”

The trio, who arrived back in South Africa late last week, have all been collaborating with Spider for many years while riding to victory on Safari Surfboards. Chris is currently riding Spider’s new Hydro X model which is receiving critical acclaim across South Africa and globally. A host of top-class performers are claiming it is 20% faster and more maneuverable than any surfboard previously ridden!

“Fantastic results for Chris, Heather and David,” said legendary surfboard shaper Spider Murphy, himself a former SA Masters champion. “They are all really experienced competitors and still love surfing so it’s a pleasure working with them to fine-tune their surfboards.”

Safari Surfboards was established in 1963 and is the exclusive provider of Spider Murphy’s shapes. Contact boards@safarisurf.com for more information.

/ends

Issued on behalf of:

Surfari Surfboards
Contact:            Lonnie Tiegs
Email:               lonnie@safarisurf.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

Chantelle Rautenbach won the Billabong Pro Junior Women’s title at Victoria Bay on Friday, defeating Sarah Baum in the final held in rippable head-high waves peeling down the point at the iconic Southern Cape surf break.

Rautenbach, 20, from Melkbosstrand controlled the final from outset, selecting two waves that allowed her to utilise her full repertoire of backhand manoeuvres and post scores of 6.5 and 5.0. While she didn’t improve on these for the remainder of the heat, they ultimately proved sufficient to clinch victory, a cheque of R2 000 and a haul of 1 000 points on the Pro Surf Tour (PST) rankings.

Baum was the favourite going into the final after a convincing semifinal victory over top seed Bianca Buitendag (George), but the 16 year-old from Athlone Park struggled to find waves with good scoring potential during the final and, with a highest ride of 4.35, was left needing 7.15 points when the curtain came down on the 25 minute match up.

Rautenbach, who captured the SA Open Women’s crown in East London last weekend, defeated Heidi Palmboom (Bluff) in a wave-starved, low-scoring semi-final. Palmboom and Buitendag finished equal third overall in the event.

Day 3 action opened with the Pro Junior men going to work in solid 1 to 1.5 metre waves that offered plenty of opportunity for high performance surfing. The country’s best surfers aged 20-and-under did not disappoint, tearing into the long lines on the point and producing several shock eliminations.

First to be ousted was fourth seed Dale Staples (St Francis Bay), winner of the first Billabong Pro Junior event in April, and he was soon followed by the seemingly unstoppable Benji Brand (Kommetjie), then second seed Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga) and Scottburgh standout Slade Prestwich.

The Pro Junior men’s quarterfinal heats, using the man-on-man format, were held at the end of the day and saw top seed Chad du Toit (Berea) lead throughout to defeat Shawn Dennis (Durban) and set up a crucial semifinal encounter with Matt Bromley who eliminated fellow Billabong team rider Kommetjie resident Davey Brand in their quarter.

The match-up between 2009 ASP Africa champion du Toit and Bromley will be one that the Kommetjie surfer will be desperate to win. With Staples and du Toit having secured their participation in the inaugural ASP World Junior Tour by reaching the last 16 here, Bromley needs to reach the final of the Billabong Pro Junior Vic Bay to clinch the coveted third and final invitation.

In the bottom half of the draw, J-Bay standout Steven Sawyer grabbed victory over Haydn MacNicol and will go up against Nick Godfrey (Cape St Francis) in the second semifinal on Saturday.  Godfrey, a previous Vic Bay winner, had racked up an 8.0 and a 6.0 to eliminate David van Zyl (Glenashley).

In between the clashes of the Pro Junior titans, the semifinals U12 boys produced a spectacular display of rising talent as Adin Masencamp (Somerset West) simply blitzed to book his berth in the final alongside runner-up Jordan Maree (Kalk Bay). The pair will be up against perennial achiever Donovan Wichmann (Marina da Gama) and diminutive Ford van Jaarsveld  who caused an upset by ousting fellow Kommetjie surfer Ethan Fletcher.

In the U14’s, long time friends and rivals Max Armstrong (Scarborough) and Benji Brand had their opponents fighting for second place in their respective semifinals as they continuously delivered excellent scores. The pair will duke out tomorrow’s final against respective runners-up Shane Sykes (Salt Rock) and Steffen Burrows (Strand).

The highly competitive U16 boys quarterfinals produced another phenomenal display by Benji Brand as the Billabong rider racked up scores of 8.1 and 7.0 to move into the semis along with Matt McGillivray (Port Elizabeth) while Dylan Lightfoot (J-Bay) and a fast improving Brandon Benjamin advanced from Heat 2.

Slade Prestwich detonated with an excellent 8.25 to win Heat 3 ahead of newcomer Wade Simkiss with Max Armstrong and Steven Sawyer dominating the last quarterfinal.

Prestwich then went on to book his spot in tomorrow’s final of the R2 000 VonZipper Air Show by punting a massive boost in the U16 trials.

With the wave period shortening and the swell dropping the organisers will make a call at 7.30am on when and where the final day of action will be staged.

Anyone who would like to be included onto the Billabong Junior Series event SMS notification database can send their name and mobile number to brendon.kegel@billabong.co.za

There are daily video and picture uploads for each day of the event on www.billabong.com/za and the heat results can be followed as they happen throughout the event on Twitter and Facebook (Username- BillabongSA).

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.

\ends

Issued on behalf of:

Brendon Kegel – Media and Communications
Billabong South Africa
Tel:                   042 200 2747
Fax:                  042 293 2478
Cell:                  083 799 0110
Email:               brendon.kegel@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

After getting the Billabong Junior Series underway in half-metre waves at the preferred venue of Victoria Bay this morning, the organisers made an inspired decision to switch the season-ending event to Herold’s Bay, which paid off handsomely as the country’s top junior surfers reveled in consistent one metre surf.

Having completed the opening rounds of the Under 12 and U14 boys divisions at Vic Bay, contest director Colin Fitch called a 30 minute break when the waves became inconsistent on the dropping tide. Reports that Herold’s Bay had bigger waves saw the organisers successfully complete a swift transfer of the contest infrastructure and 90 minutes later the event was up and running 30 Kms down the coast.

Other than Adin Masencamp (Somerset West) placing  third and having to contest Round 2 of the U12 boys, the top seeds Jordy Maree (Kalk Bay), Billabong’s Jake Elkington (Cape Town), Ethan Fletcher (Kommetjie) and Donovan Wichmann (Marina da Gama) all progressed directly to the semifinals.

The usual suspects also advanced from Round 1 of the U14 boys where Wichmann, Jason Harris (Scottburgh), Jonah Paarman (Kommetjie) and Matt McGillivray (Port Elizabeth), along with newcomer Jerry van Wyk, booked their places in the last 16 against the top eight seeds in the division.

The U16 boys were first up once the event restarted and Heat 1 saw 16 year Sarah Baum (Athlone Park), just back from a successful stint competing in the ASP Star-rated events in the California, upstage her male rivals by winning the encounter and advancing to the last 16 along with second placed Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay).

Benji Brand (Kommetjie), winner of the U16 boys in the Billabong Junior Series event on the Dolphin Coast in April, delivered his customary high-powered performance in the left-handers to convincingly win his heat, as did fellow Billabong team riders Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay) and Mikey Venter (Warner Beach), top seed Jarred Veldhuis (Kommetjie) and No. 2 seed Slade Prestwich (Scottburgh).

Only one heat of Pro Junior (U20) women was run which saw Morag Steele and Cara MacDonald join the stacked heats in Round 2 that feature the likes of Southern Cape local and top seed Bianca Buitendag (George), fellow international campaigners Sarah Baum and Billabong team rider Tarryn Chudleigh (Kommetjie), Alice McGregor (East London), SA Open champion Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbosstrand) and Kirsty Delport (Durban).

The day’s proceedings were completed by the four Round 1 heats in the Billabong Pro Junior, a R37 500 Grade-1 ASP Pro Junior event that will determine the yearend ASP Africa Pro Junior rankings for 2010 and the recipients of the three invitations to compete in the inaugural ASP World Junior Tour starting in Bali at the end of October.

Heat winners Jacob Mellish (Somerset West) and local Vincent Withers (Wilderness) along with Mikey Venter and Jordan Alexander (Cape Town) who received walk-throughs, and their respective runners-up, joined the top 24 seeds in Round 2, which promises to produce world-class action when the event gets underway on Thursday.

There will be daily video and picture uploads for each day of the event on www.billabong.com/za and the heat results can be followed as they happen throughout the event on Twitter and Facebook (Username- BillabongSA).

The organisers will check the waves at Vic Bay at first light on Thursday to decide when and where to commence the event.

Anyone who would like to be included on the Billabong Junior Series event SMS notification database can send their name and mobile number to brendon.kegel@billabong.co.za

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.

\ends

Issued on behalf of:

Brendon Kegel – Media and Communications
Billabong South Africa
Tel:                   042 200 2747
Fax:                  042 293 2478
Cell:                  083 799 0110
Email:               brendon.kegel@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

Derevko wetsuits team rider Greg Emslie has proved himself once again by winning the Mr Price Pro SA Open Championships in near perfect conditions at his home break of Nahoon Reef, East London.

After announcing his retirement from the WCT Greg has put all his focus into national events and has secured 4 victories in the past 5 events! Emslie is not only the current SA Champion, National Team captain and Cold Water Classic winner but can now add a the SA Open title to his list of achievements in 2010!

With almost all the events taking place in cold water conditions Greg has been putting his signature wetsuit, The Patriot, through its paces. The results bear testimony to the dedication between Derevko and Greg to design a wetsuit that can offer exceptional performance, durability and warmth.

“When Derevko approached me to get involved in designing their top end suit I was super excited to get on board,” said Emslie. “There were a lot of features I thought could make a difference to performance and warmth, and offer a truly South African designed product into the market.”

And the results speak for themselves…

What started out as an “affordable option” brand has quickly turned into a sought after product range that continues to offer surfers the very best value-for-money wetsuits available and exceptional after sales service.

Founder of Derevko, Donovan Marais comments: “Our focus has definitely shifted from a price point product to a brand that values quality and after sales service above all else, while still maintaining an affordable pricing structure.”

“Derevko is investing heavily into developing our new product lines for 2011. We have had tremendous success in launching last year in Australia and have just signed distribution into New Zealand…”

“We are also finalizing design of our new top end wetsuit that will feature environmentally sustainable materials that are exclusive to the Derevko brand!”

-ends

Pictured: Greg Emslie tucks into a barrel at Nahoon Reef on his way to victory in the Mr Price SA Open. Photo: Pierre Tostee

Issued on behalf of:

Derevko Wetsuits International

(t) 021 556 7425
(f) 0865837428
© 082 571 5732
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The country’s top pro junior surfers (20-and-under) are heading for Victoria Bay in the Southern Cape where the outcome of the crucial, season ending Billabong Pro Junior will see two surfers receive sought after invitations to compete internationally on the inaugural ASP World Junior Tour.

Scheduled for Wednesday to Saturday, 1-4 September, the Billabong Pro Junior features a R37 500, Grade-1 ASP Pro Junior men’s event alongside Pro Surf Tour (PST) events for Under 16, U14 and U12 boys and Pro Junior women and the spectacular VonZipper Air Show.

The absence of Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay), who has already wrapped up the 2010 ASP Africa Pro Junior men’s title and is overseas engaged in improving his ASP World Ranking, leaves the way open for fellow Billabong team rider, Dale Staples from St Francis Bay, the current ASP Africa No. 2 and winner of the Billabong Pro Junior Dolphin Coast event in April, to grab one of the two coveted invitations.

Staples, a former Vic Bay winner and the fourth seed here, faces a strong challenge from 2009 ASP Africa Pro Junior Champion and this week’s top seed, Chad du Toit (Berea), along with last year’s event champion Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga) and the Kommetjie pair of Brendon Gibbens and Billabong’s Matt Bromley, all of whom are capable of earning the R15 000 winner’s paycheque and the precious rankings points.

With the balance of the 40 strong field snapping at their heels, the competition amongst the five contenders will be fierce, particularly as a change in the allocation of the invitations sees just the top three in the ASP Africa rankings plus the top two Pro Juniors on the ASP World Rankings invited to challenge for the ASP Pro Junior Champion title. In previous years the top 4 from ASP Africa and one from the international rankings gained entry to what was a one-off World Pro Junior Championship.

Vic Bay local and SA’s highest ranked surfer on the ASP Women’s World Rankings, Bianca Buitendag (George), heads a very competitive Pro Junior Women’s field at Vic Bay that includes fellow international campaigner, Billabong’s Tarryn Chudleigh (Kommetjie).

Recently crowned SA Open women’s champion Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbos), Alice McGregor (EL), Kirsty Delport (Durban), Tanika Hoffman (Kommetjie) and rising star Emma Smith (Jeffreys Bay) are others with strong credentials.

In the U16 boys, top seeds Jarred Veldhuis (Kommetjie) and Slade Prestwich (Scottburgh) face a titanic struggle against Billabong’s Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay), a finalist in the both the men’s and Pro Juniors in the SA Open in East London on the weekend, and Benji Brand (Kommetjie), winner of the U16’s on the Dolphin Coast.

Brand and Prestwich will also face off in the U14 boy’s against the likes of Max Armstrong (Scarborough), Matt McGillivray (Port Elizabeth), Steffen Burrows (Strand) and Shane Sykes (Salt Rock) while Jordan Maree (Kalk Bay), Ethan Fletcher (Kommetjie), Adin Masencamp (Strand), Donovan Wichmann (Marina Da Gama) and brothers Jake and Max Elkington from Cape Town look the pick of the U12’s.

The visually dynamic VonZipper Air Show will again reward the surfer successfully completing the most innovative aerial manoeuvre pockets with a winner-takes-all R2 000 prize-purse

There will be daily video and picture uploads for each day of the event on www.billabong.com/za and the heat results can be followed as they happen throughout the event on twitter and Facebook (Username- BillabongSA).

Anyone who would like to be included onto the Billabong Junior Series event SMS notification database can send their name and mobile number to brendon.kegel@billabong.co.za

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.

\ends 

Issued on behalf of:

Brendon Kegel – Media and Communications

Billabong South Africa
Tel:                   042 200 2747
Fax:                  042 293 2478
Cell:                  083 799 0110
Email:               brendon.kegel@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

Billabong Pro Tahiti pres. By Air Tahiti Nui
Stop No. 5 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour
Teahupoo, Taiarapu/Tahiti
August 23 – September 3, 2010

Jordy Smith the Top Seed as World’s Best Surfers get set for Billabong Pro Tahiti
 
TEAHUPOO, Taiarapu/Tahiti (Saturday, August 21, 2010) – The greatest assemblage of surfing talent in history is converging upon the idyllic South Pacific island of Tahiti, home of the world’s heaviest wave, Teahupoo, for Stop No. 5 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour, the Billabong Pro Tahiti.

Completing the halfway point of the 2010 ASP World Tour season, the Billabong Pro Tahiti plays a vital role in both the hunt for the 2010 ASP World Title and the midyear field reduction from the ASP Top 45 to the Top 34.
 
Jordy Smith (ZAF), 22, current ASP World No. 1, is into his third season on the elite ASP World Tour, but enters into the Billabong Pro Tahiti as the No. 1 seed, a career first for the young South African.
 
“Most important for me is to realize that it’s not always going to be a walk in the park,” Smith said. “Being No. 1 is much like being No. 2, 3 or 4 as there is still a long way to go this season. I am working heat to heat, and that is really all that I can do. My goals are to win heats and stay in range to win battles which, in the end, win the war. A win would be great.”
 
Despite having yet to net a solid result in Tahiti (a 17th in 2008 and a 9th in 2009), Smith’s growing familiarity with the wave gives him confidence moving forward.
 
“Teahupoo is known for its power and stands alone as one of the most unique waves in the world,” Smith said. “I don’t think there is any surfer on the planet who does not respect it, even if it’s breaking at a mid-range size. As perfect as it gets, it can still crush your dreams even if you favour big waves, and I don’t think anyone gets into a comfort zone out there. You can’t get too cheeky.”
 
With the added intensity of the midyear field reduction and the minefield of Teahupoo specialists lining the wildcard ranks, Smith understands the challenge awaiting him in this island paradise.
 
“The wildcards and lower seeds will be going all out to get themselves back into the Top 32 seeds for re-qualifying so I guess we are going to see some really good performances from them – or whoever for that matter,” Smith said. “If we go back and look at the veteran standout World Tour campaigners, maybe Kelly (Slater), Andy (Irons), the Hobgoods, among a few others, also with the mix of all the specialists could be dangerous. Even the local boys could possibly come away with a surprise win.”
 
Smith’s opening heat will be a real test of his competitive skills as he takes on two of Teahupoo’s standouts in former ASP World Champion (2001) C.J. Hobgood (USA), 31, and 2008 event runner-up and wildcard Manoa Drollet (PYF) in Round 1 of competition.
 
Mick Fanning (AUS), 29, reigning ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 6, has been a consistent performer thus far in 2010, but admits that not being a top seed in Tahiti is not necessarily a bad thing.
 
“I am not the top seed heading into Tahiti which may actually be a blessing,” Fanning said. “I think you need to avoid the wildcards in Tahiti as they are so dangerous. I am just going to try and put a smart event together and hope to get a solid result.
 
However, Fanning, the No. 4 seed in Tahiti, will have a wildcard in his Round 2 heat as he takes on the runner-up in the Air Tahiti Nui VonZipper Trials, Tamaroa McComb (PYF), and in form 2010 ASP Dream Tour rookie Adam Melling (AUS), 25, who was runner-up to Jordy Smith at Jeffreys Bay in the last ASP World Tour event.
 
Bobby Martinez (USA), 28, current ASP World No. 8 and defending Billabong Pro Tahiti Champion, has historically been one of the strongest performers at Teahupoo, but the lethal goofy-footer remains cautious when considering his options for the 2010 instalment.
 
“Nothing is on my mind other than trying my best in the next event,” Martinez said. “There’s no point in thinking ahead of yourself. Every contest holds your hopes of winning a World Title so you’ve got to do the best in each contest or else there is no chance at all.”
 
Despite the certainty of hungrier performances from those looking to make the midyear field cutoff, the Californian maintains that  everyone can be a threat at this level of competition, especially in Tahiti.
 
“I do think the lower seeds will be intense in Tahiti, but I expect that from everybody on this tour in every heat in every event,” Martinez said.  “If you don’t give 100% in every event, you will not be here the following year so I think it’ll be a very interesting contest. That said, it’s like that every contest. Anyone and everyone is a contender in Tahiti. Nobody is a favourite and nobody is an underdog in my eyes. And it’s not just in this contest, but every contest. At this level, anyone can beat anyone.”
 
Martinez will face Jeremy Flores (FRA), 22, and Marco Polo (BRA), 29, in his opening round match.
 
Andy Irons (HAW), 32, former three-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 18, took a sabbatical from full-time competing in 2009 and his transition back to the competition singlet this season as yielded moments of brilliance amidst an overall building momentum.
 
“The season went the way I thought it would be – hard,” Irons said. Everyone is surfing really well and you basically can’t skip a beat or you’re off the tour. I’m feeling stronger and stronger at every comp. On my time off, I have been putting in some extra time in at the gym and I think it’s starting to pay off.”
 
A former winner at the Billabong Pro Tahiti, the Hawaiian’s performances at the treacherous lefthander have become the stuff of legend and Irons enters into this year’s event as the man to watch.
 
“Teahupoo is one of my favourite contests, that’s for sure,” Irons said. “I love the wave. I love the tropical vibe as well. It’s like being home for me. Of course, everyone is going to be charging at this year’s event regardless. The field reduction is a heavy thing and it weighs on everyone’s mind. Everyone wants to keep there job.”
 
Irons will take on former nine-time ASP World Champion and multiple Billabong Pro Tahiti winner Kelly Slater (USA), 38, and wildcard Heiarii Williams (PYF) in Round 1 of competition.
 
The major storyline threading its way through the upcoming Billabong Pro Tahiti is the mid-year field reduction of the ASP Top 45 to 34 (Top 32 finishers plus two wildcards) following the battle at Teahupoo.

Durban’s Travis Logie is one of those on the cusp of re-qualifying and is currently in a three-way tie for the No. 30 ranking. With another five potential qualifiers one spot back ranked equal 33rd, Logie needs to win at least one heat at Teahupoo to give himself a solid chance of staying on the 2010 ASP World Tour.

Logie competed four times in Tahiti while campaigning on the Dream Tour between 2005 and 2008, twice winning his Round 1 encounters and reaching Round 3 on three occasions, including recording the highest heat tally in Round 2 in his debut season. He faces veteran Taylor Knox (USA) and Luke Munro (AUS) in his Round 1 heat this year.
 
A full breakdown of ASP World Title Rankings possibilities for the Billabong Pro Tahiti are available at ASPWorldTour.com
 
The waiting period for the Billabong Pro Tahiti will begin Monday, August 23 and runs through September 3, 2010.
 
Surfline, official forecasters for the Billabong Pro Tahiti, are calling for a slow start to the contest waiting period with a very modest mix of southwest swells providing contestable, but small scale, surf on Monday and Tuesday.
 
The Billabong Pro Tahiti will be webcast LIVE via http://www.billabongpro.com/tahiti10/. The time difference between Tahiti and South Africa is 12 hours with the decision on when to get the event underway made at approximately 7pm SA time daily
 
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
 
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS
Heat 1: Damien Hobgood (USA), Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 2: Jadson Andre (BRA), Luke Stedman (AUS), Nate Yeomans (USA)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA), Jeremy Flores (FRA), Marco Polo (BRA)
Heat 4: Dane Reynolds (USA), Tom Whitaker (AUS), Blake Thornton (AUS)
Heat 5: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Roy Powers (HAW), Tim Reyes (USA)
Heat 6: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Kieren Perrow (AUS), Joan Duru (FRA)
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS), Adam Melling (AUS), Tamaroa McComb (PYF)
Heat 8: Jordy Smith (ZAF), C.J. Hobgood (USA), Manoa Drollet (PYF)
Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS), Tiago Pires (PRT), Tuamata Puhetini (PYF)
Heat 10: Kelly Slater (USA), Andy Irons (HAW), Heiarii Williams (PYF)
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Dusty Payne (HAW), Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 12: Owen Wright (AUS), Brett Simpson (USA), Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 13: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Tanner Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 14: Michel Bourez (PYF), Dean Morrison (AUS), Mick Campbell (AUS)
Heat 15: Taylor Knox (USA), Luke Munro (AUS), Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 16: Chris Davidson (AUS), Patrick Gudauskas (USA), Ben Dunn (AUS)
 
 Ends
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
 

Issued on behalf of:

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