South Africa’s hot young crop of aspiring professional surf stars are heading for all points of the compass as the 2013 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) season gets underway with Star rated events for men in Hawaii and China next week followed by further contests in Australia and Puerto Rico during February.

While the world’s top 34 ranked men and top 17 women only commence the race for the 2013 ASP World Titles on Australia’s Gold Coast early in March, the 11-day waiting period for the 5-Star rated Volcom Pipe Pro starts on Sunday 27 January at Pipeline in Hawaii.

Dale Staples from St Francis Bay, who finished 2012 at No.101 on the ASP Men’s World Rankings, is the sole South African in the 112-man field which is headed by defending event champion and current ASP No. 4, John John Florence (HAW).

Meanwhile four Saffas will participate in the second edition of the 4-Star rated Hainan Classic which runs at Riyuewan Bay on the tropical Chinese island of Hainan from 28-30 January. Kommetjie based brothers, Davey and Benji Brand, and Remi Peterson (Jeffreys Bay) will start in the Round of 96 in China with David van Zyl (Glenashley) seeded directly into the Round of 64.

After China, van Zyl travels to Australia for the 4-Star rated Breaka Burleigh Pro at the iconic Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast of Queensland. There he will be joined by Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay) in the Round of 96 with Mikey February (Kommetjie) on the alternates list for the event, which runs from 3-10 February.

The women’s event at the Breaka Burleigh Pro is a one of just six 6-Star rated events on the ASP Women’s Star tour and has attracted a powerful field including four South Africans. The Saffa contingent is headed by Bianca Buitendag who won 6-Star events in Peru and the Azores last year, resulting in the 19 year-old from George qualifying as the only newcomer amongst the top 17 for the 2013 ASP Women’s World Tour.

Compatriots Sarah Baum (Athlone Park), who was in contention for a spot on the Women’s World Tour herself last year, and former top-tier campaigner Rosy Hodge (East London) will start alongside Buitendag in the Round of 48 in the US $40 000 event with Faye Zoetmulder (Port Elizabeth) opening her challenge one round earlier.

The Brand brothers and Peterson head for the Caribbean after China where they will be joined by California based former Mossel Bay standout Shaun Joubert in the 4-Star Rip Curl Pro Puerto Rico from 9-13 February.

Joubert, 21, ended 2012 ranked No. 95 and will benefit from being one of the top 10 seeds in Puerto Rico as he seeks to maintain a top 100 ranking that guarantees entry into the 6-Star and Prime events with their lucrative prize-money and higher rankings points.

After the Caribbean, Joubert heads for Australia where he and No. 94 ranked Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga) along with February, van Zyl and Sawyer will contest the 6-Star, US $155 000 Burton Toyota Pro at Merewether beach in Newcastle from 18-24 February.

The Newcastle event sees the first competitive appearance of the year for newly crowned ASP World Champion Joel Parkinson.(AUS) and a dozen more of the world’s top 32 ranked surfers.

Sawyer and van Zyl will also compete against more than 100 international surfers aged 20-and-under in the 2-Star Burton Toyota Pro Junior.

The 6-Star Hunter Ports Women’s Classic, which runs in conjunction with the men’s event at Newcastle, presents a second opportunity for the South African quartet of Buitendag, Baum, Hodge and Zoetmulder to accumulate additional cash and rankings points.

While the quality of the women’s field has been strengthened by the entry of five-time ASP Women’s World Champion, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), who makes her first foray into competition for the year, Buitendag will be encouraged by her results in the beach break waves at Merewether last year where she placed 3rd in the women’s event and won the Pro Junior women’s crown.

The respective men’s and women’s ASP World Championship Tours (WCT) then take centre stage as the $450 000 Quiksilver Pro and the $120 000 Roxy Pro, both presented by Land Rover, run side-by-side from 2-13 March on Australia’s Gold Coast.

South Africa’s Jordy Smith, 24, is determined to improve on his No.12 ranking after an inconsistent 2012 season while Travis Logie, 33, will be looking to build on his career best No.21 ranking after having to re-qualify for the top tier via the Star events a couple of years back.

Bianca Buitendag faces a baptism of fire as the only rookie of the 2013 women’s WCT as she has never before competed at this level, However, a stellar qualifying campaign in 2012 saw her defeat a number of the established campaigners in her first full year on tour and end the year No. 2 in the women’s Star rankings.

Now a year older, wiser, stronger and more confident, Buitendag looks set to not only hold her own, but to upset her more experienced opponents in any conditions.

For more information, including the full schedule of ASP events, surfer profiles, news and results, visit www.aspworldtour.com

ENDS

Issued on behalf of:

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

Compiled and Distributed by:

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

About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the recognized world governing body of professional surfing and has been crowning surfing’s undisputed World Champions since 1976. The ASP sanctions and crowns World Champions for the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, ASP World Junior Tour, ASP World Longboard 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 and other media platforms. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

South Africa’s Bianca Buitendag had to settle for the runner-up spot in the Oakley ASP Women’s World Junior Championships Bali when she was convincingly defeated by Australia’s Nikki van Dyk in the final held in flawless 1.5 to 2.0 metre waves at Keramas in Bali earlier today (Friday)

The lanky 19 year-old from George in the Southern Cape had been a standout throughout the event which featured 18 of the world’s best 20-and-under female competitive surfers, posting the highest single ride score and the highest heat total on her way to the final.

In the final she was unable to find the best waves to execute the moves that saw her post the big scores in the early rounds and could not match van Dyk’s performance.

“I’m really happy with second,” Buitendag said. “I came here with no expectations and to finish like this has been great. I just want to thanks my Oakley for putting this event on, and God for giving us great surf. Nikki (Van Dijk) surfed really well, I’m very happy for her. This event has been a great warm-up for me to get ready to surf on next year’s ASP Women’s World Championship Tour.”

Van Dijk held the lead throughout the final, picking the waves that gave her the best scoring potential and using her smooth style to glide down the line and unleash some crisp and powerful carves to become the first surfer from Victoria, Australia to win an ASP World Junior Title.

“I’m feeling the best I’ve ever felt!” Van Dijk said. “I was nervous the whole heat! I was shaky when I was trying to stand up, I think I was just so excited to be out there in such perfect waves. I’m so honoured to win! This is what I dream of, it’s amazing! ”

On the men’s side of the draw, Mikey February (Kommetjie) was the last Saffa to exit the event when he was ousted by Japan’s Arashi Kato in Round 3 action today. His four teammates – Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga), Slade Prestwich (Scottburgh), Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay) and Davey Brand (Kommetjie) – were all bundled out of the event in Round 2 earlier in the week.

All the action from the Oakley ASP World Junior Championships can be watched live at http://oakleyprojunior.com/

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

OAKLEY ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS WOMEN’S FINAL:
Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 13.24 def. Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 8.93

OAKLEY ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS MEN’S ROUND 3 RESULTS:
HEAT 1: Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 14.50 def. Deivid Silva (BRA) 7.77
HEAT 2: Carlos Munoz (CRI) 13.50 def. Vicente Romero (ESP) 11.70
HEAT 3: Evan Thompson (USA) 10.60 def. Tanner Hendrickson (HAW) 7.10
HEAT 4: Wade Carmichael (AUS) 17.00 def. Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 13.10
HEAT 5: Caue Wood (BRA) 11.53 def. Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 10.10
HEAT 6: Cooper Chapman (AUS) 14.63 def. Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) 13.76
HEAT 7: Andrew Doheny (USA) 16.26 def. Koa Smith (HAW) 8.47
HEAT 8: Keanu Asing (HAW) 14.17 def. Jack Robinson (AUS) 9.04
HEAT 9: Jack Freestone (AUS) 13.43 def. Geovane Ferreira (BRA) 10.00
HEAT 10: Arashi Kato (JPN) 9.27 def. Michael February (ZAF) 8.77
HEAT 11: Kalani David (HAW) 14.66 def. Luke Davis (USA) 14.50
HEAT 12: Connor Coffin (USA) 15.53 def. Hairil Anwar (IND) 13.94
HEAT 13: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 15.40 def. Matt Banting (AUS) 13.43
HEAT 14: Frederico Morais (PRT) 16.90 def. Kaito Ohashi (JPN) 7.43
HEAT 15: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 14.50 def. Hiroto Arai (JPN) 10.90
HEAT 16: Thomas Woods (AUS) 14.77 def. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 12.76

Ends

Pictured: Bianca Buitendag (George) powers off the bottom of a flawless wave in Bali on her way to the runner-up spot in the Oakley ASP Women’s World Junior Championships

Photo: ASP / Robertson
Issued on behalf of:

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

Compiled and Distributed by:

Life’s a Beach Communications
PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email: lifesabeach@mweb.co.za
About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the recognized world governing body of professional surfing and has been crowning surfing’s undisputed World Champions since 1976. The ASP sanctions and crowns World Champions for the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, ASP World Junior Tour, ASP World Longboard 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 and other media platforms. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

 

The 2012 Oakley ASP World Junior Championships Bali got off to a flying start at Echo Beach, Canggu earlier today with the world’s best 20-and-under surfers keen to stamp their authority on this event that will crown the 2012 ASP World Junior Champions.

South Africa’s Michael February caused the upset of the opening day when he defeated the event’s top seed Keanu Asing (HAW) and local trials runner-up Nyoman Satria (IND) by posting one of the day’s highest heat totals.

“That was the first surf I’ve had out here at Canggu this year,” February said. “I got a couple of good ones so I’m really happy. This place is well known for its air sections and the wind was good too.”

The lanky 19-year-old from Kommetjie produced an outstanding performance in the tricky one to 1.5 metre waves, taking the lead after just four minutes and building his heat total throughout the 25 minute encounter. When the siren sounded to end proceedings February had 16.67 points, the third highest heat total of the day, with Asing needing a perfect 10 point ride to take the lead and Satria needing a combination of two rides.

“I saw that I was up against Keanu (Asing) and I was kind of nervous, but all of the heats are hard in this competition,” February commented. “That win gives me a lot of confidence going into the next round.”

The heat victory sees ‘M Feb’ advance directly to Round 3 while those finishing second and third will have to contest sudden death man-on-man Round 2 clashes where the winner advances and the loser is eliminated from the event.

The rest of the South African contingent did not fare as well with Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga), Slade Prestwich (Scottburgh), Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay) and Davey Brand (Kommetjie) all relegated to Round 2 match-ups.

Brazilian Peterson Crisanto(BRA) put on a dominating performance in his opening heat, reading the waves perfectly and using his aerial attack to score a near perfect two wave heat-total of 19.00 (out of a possible 20).

Vicente Romero (ESP), Brazilian born but Spanish raised, scored a near perfect 9.93 (out of a possible 10) for a beautifully surfed wave with powerful carves and a massive aerial. Romero defeated defending ASP World Junior Champion Caio Ibelli (BRA) with a total of 17.03 points.

The girl’s event is likely to get underway in Bali tomorrow morning. South Africa is represented by Bianca Buitendag (George), who is the top seed for this event and recently qualified for the 2013 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour by finishing No. 2 on the ASP Star rankings, and Sarah Baum (Durban), who ended the year ranked No. 17 out of 165.

A call on who will be competing tomorrow will be made at 7am (1am SA Time).

All the action can be watched live at http://oakleyprojunior.com/

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

OAKLEY ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS MEN’S ROUND 1 RESULTS:
HEAT 1: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 13.44, Wade Carmichael (AUS) 13.17, Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) 12.83
HEAT 2: Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 15.67, Soli Bailey (AUS) 10.77, Jocelyn Poulou (PYF) 7.94
HEAT 3: Vicente Romero (ESP) 17.03, Caio Ibelli (BRA) 15.23, Slade Prestwich (ZAF) 11.67
HEAT 4: Luke Davis (USA) 13.16, Evan Thompson (USA) 11.26, Kanoa Igarashi (USA) 8.17
HEAT 5: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 13.10, Kaito Ohashi (JPN) 9.60, Luan Carvalho (BRA) 8.57
HEAT 6: Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 14.70, Arashi Kato (JPN) 14.50, Italo Ferreira (BRA) 12.54
HEAT 7: Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 19.00, Andrew Doheny (USA) 13.00, Geovane Ferreira (BRA) 10.50
HEAT 8: Michael February (ZAF) 16.67, Keanu Asing (HAW) 12.84, Nyoman Satria (IND) 7.06
HEAT 9: Koa Smith (HAW) 16.60, Jack Freestone (AUS) 14.63, Gazali Hamzah (IND) 10.57
HEAT 10: Matt Banting (AUS) 15.00, Jack Robinson (AUS) 9.43, Makai McNamara (HAW) 9.14
HEAT 11: Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) 15.50, Hairil Anwar (IND) 13.20, Dylan Lightfoot (ZAF) 10.50
HEAT 12: Conner Coffin (USA) 14.50, Deivid Silva (BRA) 12.50, Taylor Clark (USA) 10.33
HEAT 13: Thomas Woods (AUS) 14.17, Kaimana Jaquias (HAW) 11.84, Hiroto Arai (JPN) 8.87
HEAT 14: Carlos Munoz (CRI) 16.40, Cooper Chapman (AUS) 14.07, Reo Kanao (JPN) 7.74
HEAT 15: Tanner Hendrickson (HAW) 14.43, Caue Wood (BRA) 11.34, Takumi Nakamura (JPN) 10.63
HEAT 16: Frederico Morais (PRT) 11.97, Davey Brand (ZAF) 11.17, Kalani David (HAW) 9.17

UPCOMING OAKLEY ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS MEN’S ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
HEAT 1: Keanu Asing (HAW) vs. Nyoman Satria (IND)
HEAT 2: Jack Freestone (AUS) vs. Gazali Hamzah (IND)
HEAT 3: Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Jack Robinson (AUS)
HEAT 4: Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) vs. Geovane Ferreira (BRA)
HEAT 5: Makai McNamara (HAW) vs. Italo Ferreira (BRA)
HEAT 6: Andrew Doheny (USA) vs. Luan Carvalho (BRA)
HEAT 7: Arashi Kato (JPN) vs. Kanoa Igarashi (USA)
HEAT 8: Kaito Ohashi (JPN) vs. Slade Prestwich (ZAF)
HEAT 9: Evan Thompson (USA) vs. Jocelyn Poulou (PYF)
HEAT 10: Soli Bailey (AUS) vs. Wade Carmichael (AUS)
HEAT 11: Hairil Anwar (IND) vs. Dylan Lightfoot (ZAF)
HEAT 12: Taylor Clark (USA) vs. Deivid Silva (BRA)
HEAT 13: Kaimana Jaquias (HAW) vs. Hiroto Arai (JPN)
HEAT 14: Cooper Chapman (AUS) vs. Reo Kanao (JPN)
HEAT 15: Caue Wood (BRA) vs. Takumi Nakamura (JPN)
HEAT 16: Kalani David (HAW) vs. Davey Brand (ZAF)

UPCOMING OAKLEY ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS WOMEN’S ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
HEAT 1: Joanne Defay (FRA), Leila Hurst (HAW), Mahina Maeda (HAW)
HEAT 2: Sarah Baum (ZAF), Canelle Bulard (REU), Rosanny Alvarez (VEN)
HEAT 3: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), Frankie Harrer (USA), Minato Takahashi (JPN)
HEAT 4: Philippa Anderson (AUS), Ellie-Jean Coffey (AUS), Juliana Meneghel (BRA)
HEAT 5: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS), Nao Omura (JPN), Brianna Cope (HAW)
HEAT 6: Alessa Quizon (HAW), Maud Le Car (FRA), Quincy Davis(USA)

Ends

Pictured: Mikey February (Kommetjie) floats over the whitewater on his way to victory in his opening heat in the Oakley ASP World Junior Championships in Bali
Photo: ASP / Robertson
Issued on behalf of:

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

Compiled and Distributed by:

Life’s a Beach Communications
PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email: lifesabeach@mweb.co.za
About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the recognized world governing body of professional surfing and has been crowning surfing’s undisputed World Champions since 1976. The ASP sanctions and crowns World Champions for the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, ASP World Junior Tour, ASP World Longboard 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 and other media platforms. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

Davey Brand and Bianca Buitendag won the men’s and women’s titles at the ASP One-Star rated Billabong Pro Junior at Cape St Francis on the weekend to qualify for the seven strong South African squad who will compete in the prestigious ASP World Junior Surfing Championships in Bali at the beginning of October.

Competing on his backhand in the excellent waves that peeled down point throughout the three days of the event, Brand, the 10th seed, eliminated higher rated opponents such as second seed and fellow Kommetjie resident Mikey February, seventh seed Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay) and younger brother Benji on his path to the final.

There Brand came up against in-form J-Bay local Dylan Lightfoot, 17, who had defeated top seed Slade Prestwich in their semi-final match-up. Brand posted two scores in the excellent range in the final and despite Lightfoot fighting back and needing just a small score for victory the title went to the Capetonian.

“This has been my best event of the year,” an elated Brand said. “I’m just so stoked that my parents were here to see it.”

Brand earned US $2 000 (approx. R17 000) and 250 invaluable points which moved him up into second place behind Prestwich (Scottburgh) in the yearend ASP Africa rankings. February ended the year ranked third and Lightfoot tied for fourth with Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga) who was competing in a 6-Star rated event in Spain where he finished in an outstanding ninth place.

The top three men in the ASP Africa rankings plus the top two South African juniors on the ASP World rankings receive invitations to compete in the US $100 000 Oakley ASP World Junior Championships. De Vries, No. 112, and February, No. 179 had clinched the ASP World ranking slots and will be joined by Prestwich, Brand and Lightfoot in taking on the world’s best surfers aged 20-and-younger in Bali.

As the only ASP rated women’s Pro Junior in South Africa this year, the Billabong Women’s Pro Junior became a one-off qualifier for the two available slots into the Oakley ASP World Junior Championships.

Proceedings were dominated by the country’s top two female surfers, Bianca Buitendag (George), who has based herself in France since matriculating at the end of last year, and good friend and fellow 18 year-old, Sarah Baum (Athlone Park), who are currently Nos. 5 and 10 respectively in the ASP Women’s Star Rankings.

The pair swept into the final at Cape St Francis to secure their invitations to Bali with Buitendag posting the highest heat tally of the entire event, 17.9 out of a possible 20, along the way before going on to clinch the title.

All the action from the Billabong Pro Junior can be found at http://billabongprojunior.co.za/ and www.facebook.com/Billabong.South.Africa

Billabong Pro Junior Men Final
Davey Brand def. Dylan Lightfoot

Billabong Pro Junior Men Semi-Finals
SF1: Dylan Lightfoot def. Slade Prestwich
SF2: Davey Brand def. Benji Brand

Billabong Pro Junior Women Final
Bianca Buitendag def. Sarah Baum

Billabong Pro Junior Women Semi-Finals
SF1: Bianca Buitendag def. Tanika Hoffman
SF2: Sarah Baum def. Emma Smith

ASP Africa Men’s Pro Junior Yearend Rankings
1. Slade Prestwich 399 pts
2. Davey Brand 355 pts
3. Mikey February 220 pts
4. Beyrick de Vries 188 pts
4. Dylan Lightfoot 188 pts
6. Dane Staples 184 pts
7. Jarred Veldhuis 174 pts
7. Rigard Smit 174 pts
7. Steven Sawyer 174 pts
10. Josh Smit 164pts

ASP Africa Men’s Pro Junior Yearend Rankings
1. Bianca Buitendag 250 pts
2. Sarah Baum 188 pts
3. Tanika Hoffman 141 pts
3. Emma Smith 141 pts

ENDS

Pictured: Davey Brand (Kommetjie) throws a rooster-tail of spray on his way to victory in the Billabong Pro Junior at Cape St Francis on Sunday

Photo: Roy Harley
Issued on behalf of:

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

Compiled and Distributed by:

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

About ASP:  The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the recognized world governing body of professional surfing and has been crowning surfing’s undisputed World Champions since 1976. The ASP sanctions and crowns World Champions for the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, ASP World Junior Tour, ASP World Longboard 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 and other media platforms. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

 

The Billabong Pro Junior, which got underway in one metre waves at Cape St Francis earlier today, will decide which of the country’s top 20-and-under surfers qualify for the ASP World Junior Surfing Championships to be held in Bali at the beginning of October.

Comprising ASP One-Star rated contests for men and women, the Billabong Pro Junior runs from Friday until Sunday (31 August – 2 September) and offers US $5 000 (approx. R42 000) in prize-money with $2 000 plus 250 ranking points going to the winner of the men’s event and the women’s winner receiving $1 000 of the total $2 000 prize-purse.

Slade Prestwich (Scottburgh) leads the men’s rankings after winning the first event in the ASP Africa Pro Junior Series in April. Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga) is second with David van Zyl (Glenashley) and Michael February (Kommetjie) equal third and Remi Peterson, Jarred Veldhuis, Regard Smit and Davey Brand are equal fifth in the standings.

The coveted invitations to the ASP World Junior Championships go to the top two ASP Africa members on the ASP World Rankings plus the top three in the ASP Africa yearend standings.

De Vries and February have already secured the two ASP World Rankings slots. While de Vries is in Europe competing in ASP Star Series events, along with van Zyl and Peterson, February will be competing at the Billabong Pro Junior. If he goes on to secure a place in the top three in the ASP Africa rankings then the next highest ranked ASP Africa surfer will qualify for Bali.

The Billabong Pro Junior women’s event is a one-off qualifier with the top two finishers awarded invitations to the ASP World Junior Champs. Bianca Buitendag (George) and Sarah Baum (Durban), currently ranked No’s 5 and 10 on the ASP Women’s World rankings, are the favorites to clinch their places at Cape St Francis this weekend.

The ASP World Junior Championships provides the opportunity to kick-start the professional surfing career of aspiring surfers as, along with the prestige and a prize-purse of $100 000 for men and $30 000 for women, the top finishers receive preferential seeding into the major ASP Prime and Star rated events in the following year.

The top four placed men are guaranteed entry into the Round of 96 in all Prime and 6-Star rated events while those finishing fifth to eighth are seeded into the first round of all 6-Star rated contests.

The Billabong Pro Junior runs until can be followed via http://billabongprojunior.co.za, on Facebook www.facebook.com/Billabong.South.Africa and Twitter @BillabongSA

ENDS

Pictured: The Billabong Pro Junior event featuring the country’s top 20-and-under surfers got underway at Cape St Francis this morning

Photo: Roy Harley / Billabong
Issued on behalf of:

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

Compiled and Distributed by:

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

About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the recognized world governing body of professional surfing and has been crowning surfing’s undisputed World Champions since 1976. The ASP sanctions and crowns World Champions for the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, ASP World Junior Tour, ASP World Longboard 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 and other media platforms. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

 

 

Buitendag & Baum maintain challenge for ASP Women’s World Tour spots

Jordy Smith, Travis Logie and Matthew Bromley get ready for Teahupo’o in Tahiti

Beyrick de Vries takes fifth place in Airwalk Pro Junior in France

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Buitendag & Baum maintain challenge for ASP Women’s World Tour spots

South Africans Bianca Buitendag and Sarah Baum maintained their challenge for coveted spots on the 2013 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT) when they finished fifth and ninth respectively in the ASP 6-Star rated Paul Mitchell Supergirl Pro at Oceanside in California on Saturday.

Competing in peaky 0.5 to one metre waves, Buitendag, 18, (Victoria Bay) built on her confidence-boosting victory in Peru a fortnight back by advancing through a strong field of WCT and Star Tour competitors to reach the quarterfinals at Oceanside.

There she was ousted by 2012 ASP World No. 5 Courtney Conlogue (USA), placing fifth overall and earning US $1 100 (approx. R9 000) and an invaluable 1 560 rankings points, her second highest haul of the year to date.

The result sees Buitendag maintain her No. 5 ranking on the ASP Women’s Star Rankings but with an increased lead of 773 points over sixth ranked Rebecca Woods (AUS). Six women qualify for the WCT from the Star rankings annually and with three of the four women above her in the rankings – Conlogue, Malia Manuel (HAW) and Paige Hareb (NZL) – having already qualified for the 2013 ASP WCT through their elite tour results, Buitendag is now effectively in second spot.

Baum, 18, (Durban) also had a great run in the Supergirl Pro, winning her opening heat ahead of Buitendag and placing second behind Conlogue to reach the last 12 where she was eliminated by ASP World No. 6 Manuel and Buitendag.

Baum earned US $900 and 920 points for her ninth place result, moving her up from No. 12 to No. 10 in the rankings. With four of those ahead of her already qualified, she currently sits in an effective sixth place and on the cusp of giving South Africa two girls amongst the world’s top 17 ranked female surfers on the 2013 ASP Women’s WCT.

Compatriot Rosanne Hodge (East London), the only other South African competing at Oceanside and a former four-year WCT member, produced her best result of 2012 with a 13th place finish. Hodge placed third behind Baum and Conlogue in their Round 24 encounter, finishing 13th overall pocketing $800 and 650 points to climb to No. 28 in the rankings.

There are three 6-Star rated women’s events still be run – one each in Spain, Portugal and the finale in the Azores Islands. The next event is the Cabreiroa Pantin Classic Pro at Pantin in Spain starting12 September.

PAUL MITCHELL SUPERGIRL PRO FINAL
1 – Sage Erickson (USA) 14.00
2 – Paige Hareb (NZL) 13.00

PAUL MITCHELL SUPERGIRL PRO SEMIFINALS RESULTS:
SF 1: Sage Erickson (USA) 13.53 def .Courtney Conlogue (USA) 12.23
SF 2: Paige Hareb (NZL) 14.03 def. Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 10.26

PAUL MITCHELL SUPERGIRL PRO QUARTERFINALS RESULTS:
QF 1: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 16.50 def. Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 8.00
QF 2: Sage Erickson (USA) 14.10 def. Malia Manuel (HAW) 13.27
QF 3: Paige Hareb (NZL) 11.53 def. Philippa Anderson (AUS) 8.87
QF 4: Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 12.83 def. Pauline Ado (FRA) 12.43

PAUL MITCHELL SUPERGIRL PRO ROUND OF 12 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 12.36, Sage Erickson (USA) 12.17, Rebecca
Woods (AUS) 11.77
Heat 2: Malia Manuel (HAW) 14.87, Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 10.13, Sarah Baum (ZAF) 8.70
Heat 3: Phillipa Anderson (AUS) 10.83, Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 10.70, Laura Enever (AUS) 7.93
Heat 4: Pauline Ado (FRA) 10.70, Paige Hareb (NZL) 9.97, Nage Melamed (HAW) 7.26

CURRENT ASP WOMEN´S STAR 2012 – TOP 10 (After Paul Mitchell Supergirl Pro )
1 Conlogue, Courtney USA 11810
2 Erickson, Sage USA 9870
3 Manuel, Malia HAW 9840
4 Hareb, Paige NZL 8170
5 Buitendag, Bianca ZAF 7813
6 Woods, Rebecca AUS 7040
7 Fitzgibbons, Sally AUS 7000
8 Ado, Pauline FRA 6890
9 Mulanovich, Sofia PER 6050
10 Baum, Sarah ZAF 5490

South Africans (More than one event)
28: Rosanne Hodge ZAF 2481
56: Faye Zoetmulder ZAF 1140

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jordy Smith, Travis Logie and Matthew Bromley get ready for Teahupo’o in Tahiti

Jordy Smith and Travis Logie, the two South Africans who qualified amongst the world’s top 32 ranked surfers for the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), have been joined by Matthew Bromley, 20 (Kommetjie) in Tahiti as they ready themselves for the Billabong Pro Tahiti which gets underway on Thursday 16 August.

Bromley is one of 16 international surfers who have received sought after invitations to compete in the prestigious Air Tahiti Nui VonZipper Trials. They will be joined by16 local Tahitians in the trials at the notorious surfbreak of Teahupo’o with the winner plus the highest finishing Tahitian earning the two wildcards into the main event.

Smith, currently ranked No. 8 on the ASP WCT, will be determined to halt a slide that has seen him finish third, fifth, ninth and 13th in the four events completed this year. He was injured in a controversially re-run Round 3 heat against Logie held in giant surf at Teahupo’o last year and went on to miss the next two events, finishing the year ranked No. 7.

Logie, currently on the cusp of requalification in the No. 24 position, will be looking forward to Tahiti as he went on to post a third place finish in last year’s event, his best result on the ASP WCT, which contributed substantially to him qualifying for another year amongst competitive surfing’s highest echelon.

The 12 day waiting period for the Billabong Pro Tahiti runs from 16—27 August and all the action can be followed live at www.billabongpro.com/tahiti12

Surfline, official forecasters for the Billabong Pro Tahiti, are calling for waist to shoulder high waves until Tuesday and a better, longer-period swell from a current Tasman Sea storm scheduled to move in on Thursday, 16th, and peak Friday with chest to head high surf and inconsistent overhead sets.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Beyrick de Vries takes fifth place in Airwalk Pro Junior in France

Beyrick de Vries, 19, (Umhlanga) finished in fifth place in the Airwalk Pro Junior at Lacanau in France earlier today (Monday 13 August).

De Vries, in his final year in the Pro Junior division before turning 20 in December, turned heads with his outstanding displays in the tiny surf in France, winning all three of his heats on Day 1 of the event last Friday. He continued this form yesterday with a comfortable Round 32 heat victory and then posted a strong quarter-final win this morning.

However, de Vries only managed a third place in his semi-final encounter and was eliminated in fifth place overall.

De Vries will be joined by compatriots Davey Brand (Kommetjie) and David van Zyl (Glenashley, Durban) in the ASP 5-Star Sooruz Lacanau Pro which runs from 14-19 August at the same venue.

ENDS

Pictured: Beyrick de Vries, 19, (Umhlanga) demonstrates the small-wave talent that saw him winn five consecutive heats before bowing out in the semi-finals of the Airwalk Pro Junior at Lacanau in France today

Photo: Aquashot / ASP Europe
Issued on behalf of:

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

Compiled and Distributed by:

Life’s a Beach Communications
PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email: lifesabeach@mweb.co.za
About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the recognized world governing body of professional surfing and has been crowning surfing’s undisputed World Champions since 1976. The ASP sanctions and crowns World Champions for the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, ASP World Junior Tour, ASP World Longboard 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 and other media platforms. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

 

Sunday 29 July 2012 – South Africa’s Bianca Buitendag, 18, (Victoria Bay) clinched the biggest victory of her professional surfing career yesterday when she defeated Alana Blanchard (HAW) in the final of the ASP 6-Star rated Movistar Women’s Pro presented by Rip Curl and Petrolera Sapet in Peru.

Competing in excellent one metre waves at the lefthand pointbreak of Lobitos, Buitendag used her powerful forehand attack to post a heat total of 15.00 points (out of a possible 20), earning scores of 7.0 and an 8.0 on her two best rides, to Blanchard’s 12.90 (7.9 and 5.0).

“I feel really emotional and very happy with my victory,” said Buitendag on the podium. “I never thought that I would make it past the Quarter-Finals, let alone past Sofia (Mulanovich) in the Semi-Finals. So to make it to the Finals and win the contest is such an incredible feeling. Alana (Blanchard) surfed really well, the waves were excellent throughout the whole week and this is the most important moment for me in my early career.”

The victory earned Buitendag U$ 8,000 (approx. R66 000) in prize money and 3,500 points, moving her up to 5th place on the ASP World Star women’s rankings, the highest ranking by a surfer not on the 2012 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT).

“This was such a fun contest and I’m thankful for making it to the Finals,” said Blanchard. “It’s a shame I never got a good second wave to backup my score, but Bianca (Buitendag) was unstoppable throughout the entire event and she deserved the victory.”

Buitendag, who has based herself in France where she has already won three consecutive ASP Women’s Pro Junior (U20) events since matriculating last year, was dominant throughout the event in Peru.

She won her opening encounter and then placed second behind local heroine and 2004 ASP Women’s World Champion, Sofia Mulanovich (PER) to move into the Round of 24, where she again won to reach the quarter-finals. In the final day one-on-one heats Buitendag defeated Port Elizabeth born Australian Philippa Anderson before getting revenge over Mulanovich in their semi-final match-up.

Compatriot Sarah Baum, the only other South African in Peru, placed third to record her best result in an ASP 6-Star event. Baum, 18, from Athlone Park, Durban overcame ASP No. 8 Paige Hareb (NZL) and ASP No. 10 Rebecca Woods twice on her way to the semis where she was narrowly beaten by Blanchard.

Baum pocketed US $1 900 and 2080 points which moved her up to No. 12 in the ASP World Star women’s rankings. With eight of women ahead of her on the rankings currently competing on the ASP Women’s WCT, five of whom will probably re-qualify, Baum is now firmly in contention for a spot on the 2013 ASP Women’s WCT with five ASP Star Series events still to be run this year

The Movistar Women’s Pro was event number 6 (out of 11) of the 2012 ASP Women’s World Star Series. The next event will be held from August 9-12 at Oceanside, California, right after the final event of the 2012 ASP Women’s Tour during July 30-August 5th at Huntington Beach.

The remaining ASP 6-Star events will be held in Europe on consecutive weeks. The first will be held in Spain from September 12-16 and the following two will be in Portugal, with the final event on the Azores Islands from September 27-30, where the top six athletes on the ASP World Star Series will qualify for the 2013 ASP WCT.

Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSN4P7iMAZw for video highlights of the final day of competition in Peru

MOVISTAR WOMEN´S PRO FINAL RESULT:
1st – Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) – 15.00 (8.0+7.0) – US$ 8,000 and 3.500 points
2nd – Alana Blanchard (HAW) – 12.90 (7.9+5.0) – US$ 4,000 and 2.640 points

MOVISTAR WOMEN´S PRO SEMI-FINALS RESULTS – 3rd place – US$ 1,900 and 2.080 points:
SF 1: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 16.25 def. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 15.50
SF 2: Alana Blanchard (HAW) 13.95 def. Sarah Baum (ZAF) 11.40

MOVISTAR WOMEN´S PRO QUARTER-FINALS RESULTS – 5th place – US$ 1,100 and 1.560 points:
QF 1: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 16.15 def. Felicity Palmateer (AUS) 7.65
QF 2: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 12.60 def. Philippa Anderson (AUS) 8.76
QF 3: Alana Blanchard (HAW) 14.80 def. Sage Erickson (USA) 13.60
QF 4: Sarah Baum (ZAF) 12.50 def. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 10.90

CURRENT ASP WOMEN´S STAR 2012 – TOP 10 (After Movistar Women´s Pro):
01: Courtney Conlogue (USA) – 9.730 points
02: Malia Manuel (HAW) – 8.280
03: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) – 7.000
04: Sage Erickson (USA) – 6.750
05: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) – 6.663
06: Rebecca Woods (AUS) – 6.530
07: Pauline Ado (FRA) – 5.980
08: Paige Hareb (NZL) – 5.910
09: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) – 5.640
10: Alana Blanchard (HAW) – 5.400

South Africans (More than one event)
12: Sarah Baum (ZAF) – 5.220
33: Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) – 1.831
52: Faye Zoetmulder (ZAF) – 1.140

+++++++++++++++++++++

Tanika Hoffman places fourth in Billabong Sopelana Pro Junior in France

SA’s Tanika Hoffman placed fourth amongst ASP Europe’s best 20-and-under female surfers in the Billabong Sopelana Pro Junior event in France last week.

The 19 year-old from Cape Town won her Round 2 and quarter-final heats before advancing to the final when she finished runner-up to Maud le Car (FRA) in the semis.

Hoffman earned US $150 for her fourth place behind winner Cannelle Bulard (REU), le Car and Garazi Sanchez Ortun (ESP) respectively in the difficult one metre waves in the final.

All the results can be found at http://sopelana.aspeurope.com/

+++++++++++++++++++++

Michael February advances to quarter-finals at Nike US Open of Surfing Pro Junior in California

SA’s Michael February continued his stellar run of contest performances to advance through two rounds on the opening day of the 4-Star rated Nike US Open of Surfing Pro Junior at Huntington Beach in California on Saturday.

February, 19, from Kommetjie, Cape Town, was on fire in the tricky one metre conditions, convincingly winning his opening heat and then placing second behind Hawaiian standout and current ASP North America Pro Junior ratings leader, Keanu Asing, to move into the last 16 in the event.

The Nike US Open of Surfing runs from 28 July to Sunday 5 August and includes Pro Junior events for men and women, an ASP Prime rated men’s event and the seventh and final ASP Women’s WCT event for 2012 alongside skateboarding, music concerts and a massive exhibition area.

SA’s Jordy Smith (Cape Town), Travis Logie (Durban) and Shaun Joubert (formerly Mossel Bay, now California) are seeded directly into the Round of 96 in the Prime rated men’s event. Rudy Palmboom (Bluff, Durban) is one of 32 surfers in the trials from which four will qualify for the main event.

All the action from the Nike US Open of Surfing can be followed live via http://www.usopenofsurfing.com/ starting at approximately 5pm SA time daily.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of:

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

Compiled and Distributed by:

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

With only a slight drop in swell from Saturday, the Billabong Pro Junior Finals went down in dramatic fashion in large surf at Vic Bay as the 4-day event culminated late on Sunday afternoon. After yesterday’s cancellation of competition due to massive waves, it was more than fitting that the final day went off in solid 6-8 foot surf with some very committed and valiant surfers taking on the biggest and best that Vic Bay had to throw at them.

First up this morning were the Pro Junior Girls who had been waiting patiently for the past 3 day’s for their chance to surf. And after 3 days of waiting, the girls paddled straight into some of the biggest sets of the day with some getting washed in, while the fortunate few scratched out the back.

The four who managed to fight their way through the draw and into the final were Emma Smith (J-Bay), Nicole Pallet (Durban), Heidi Palmboom (Bluff) and Bianca Buitendag (Vic Bay).  After an initial slow start, Bianca set the tone for the final with a succession of fluid backhand snaps and despite gallant attempts to match the score by Nicole, Heidi and Emma, Bianca was in a class of her own at a wave she knows so well and powered convincingly through to take the win, and in so doing earning herself R2 500 prize-money and 1 000 valuable PST ratings.

Anyone who witnessed the U12 heats en route to the final will testify to some of the bravest and courageous surfing ever seen in a junior event. In front of many anxious parents and onlookers, the plucky U12’s took to the heavy seas in search of some of the biggest waves they had ridden in their fledging competitive careers.

In between some of the ‘groms’ taking 8ft closeout waves on the head and enduring countless hold down’s, some sensational waves were ridden at least 3 times overhead for the young chargers. In the end, it was the spirited Adin Masencamp from Strand in Cape Town who took the impressive win over Ethan Fletcher (Cape Town), Jose Faulkner (J-Bay) and Jake Elkington (Cape Town) who placed 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively.

Next up were the U14 Boy’s who must also be commended for braving the gnarly conditions. In a hotly contested final with positions constantly changing, in the end it was Matt McGillivray from P.E who stole the show with a late minute score to pip Steffen Burrows (Strand) into second. Event standout Jordy Maree (Cape Town) took 3rd while a physically drained Adin Masencamp, having surfed in consecutive finals, taking 4th. With some very mature and calculated surfing displayed by all the finalists, it’s safe to say that South African junior surfing has some exciting future talents to look out for. 

The U16 Boys division then raised the bar even higher. With a packed Vic Bay boardwalk, the U16 finalists put on a show that many will never forget, and what some, including legendary surf coach Graham Hynes, are calling the finest final they’ve watched in years. Ultimately it was two of South Africa’s brightest surfing talents going blow for blow in the still ‘sizey’ and consistent conditions.

J-Bay’s Dylan Lightfoot picked off the bombs and racked up a 9 and a high 8 point score. KZN South Coaster Slade Prestwich answered right back with a succession of stylish hack’s including one massive roundhouse rail grab carve that looked remarkably similar to those consistently pulled off by Dane Reynolds. Lightfoot, having then taken the lead back again watched in angst as Slade smashed his way to his highest wave score of the day with a 9 point ride courtesy of an under-the-lip 360 rail spin. However, it was just less than the 9.4 score he needed and Dylan secured a memorable victory, much to the delight of the cheering crowd.

With the ocean beginning to settle and rippable conditions prevailing, it came time for the much anticipated finale of the Premier Pro Junior Boy’s division. Umhlanga’s Beyrick De Vries, still fresh off the plane from France was up against rival Nick Godfrey, who had managed to take down St Francis Bay compatriot Dale Staples in their semifinal match-up.

With both surfers being event-standout’s it was always expected to be a nail bitter, and after the first exchange of rides, it looked to be heading that way. However, Beyrick sat slightly wider and lucked into 2 set waves that he milked all the way to the beach and despite the KZN surfer having to endure 2 consecutive ‘run-arounds’ back into the line-up, Godfrey simply wasn’t able to find the mid 7 point score he so badly needed.

And with that, the final buzzer sounded, the crowd erupted and elated top seed Beyrick De Vries was crowned the Billabong Pro Junior Vic Bay Champion for 2011. Having consistently posted huge scores all weekend, charging the heavy surf and wowing the judges with his progressive no holds barred approach, it was a truly deserved win for the quirky 19 year old.  Along with the prestigious internationally rated ASP Grade-One win, Beyrick walked away with a $2000 US Dollars in prize-money and 250 ASP ratings points along with a SONY Trick Docking Station which was presented to every finalist across all five divisions.

Billabong Pro Junior Vic Bay
Results
 
Pro Junior Boys
1.  Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga)                $2000 + Nixon watch + Sony Trick
2.  Nick Godfrey (Cape St Francis)           $1000 + Sony Trick
=3.  Dale Staples (St Francis Bay)            $550
=3.  Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay)            $550
=5.  Dane Staples (St Francis Bay)           $250
=5.  Jarred Veldhuis (Kommetjie)              $250
=5.  Matt Pallet (Durban)                            $250
=5.  Slade Prestwich (Scottburgh)             $250

Pro Junior Girls
1. Bianca Buitendag (Vic Bay)                 R2500 + Sony Trick + Nixon Watch
2. Nicole Pallet (Durban)                          R1500 + Sony Trick                 
3. Heidi Palmboom (Bluff)                        R750
4. Emma Smith (J-Bay)                            R500

U16 boys
1. Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay)             R1 200 + Sony Trick + Nixon Watch
2. Slade Prestwich (Scottburgh)              R2 000 + Sony Trick
3.  Jordan Maree (Kalk Bay)                    R800 + Sony Trick
4.  Diran Zakarian (Melkbos)                   R500 + Sony Trick

U14 boys
1.  Matt McGillivray (Port Elizabeth)        R1500 + Sony Trick
2.  Steffen Burrows (Strand)                    R1000 + Sony Trick
3.  Jordan Maree  (Kalk Bay)                R600 + Sony Trick
4.  Adin Masencamp (Strand)                  R400 + Sony Trick

U12 boys
1.  Adin Massencamp (Strand)                R1 500 + Sony Trick
2.  Ethan Fletcher (Cape Town)              R750 + Sony Trick
3.  Jose Faulkner (J-Bay)                        R500 + Sony Trick
4.  Jake Elkington (Cape Town)              R250 + Sony Trick

Von Zipper Air Show
1.  Matt Pallet (Durban)                            R2 000 + VZ Sunnies

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

Images and video, results, heat sheets and news from the Billabong Pro Junior Vic Bay will be available daily at the official contest portal powered by Zigzag www.zigzag.co.za/wpmu/bongjuniorseries as well as www.billabong.com/za

The Billabong Pro Vic Bay is proudly supported by Sony, Von Zipper, Kustom and Nixon and Zigzag Surfing Magazine

\ends

Compiled & 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

Distributed 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

South Africa’s best junior surfers aged 20-and-under will be vying for coveted invitations to compete on the 2011 ASP World Junior Tour when the Billabong Pro Junior event is run at Victoria Bay in the Southern Cape next week.

Scheduled for Thursday to Sunday, 1-4 September, the event is the second and final stop on the 2011 ASP Africa Pro Junior Series where the top four surfers in the year-end rankings qualify to take on their peers from around the globe in the three-event World Junior Tour with the winner crowned the ASP World Junior Champion in Sydney, Australia in January 2012.

Competition will be fierce with a total of more than R50 000 in prize-money at stake next weekend of which US $5 000 (approx. R35 000) is on offer in the ASP 1-Star rated Pro Junior men’s event. Nearly R14 000 will be shared by the top four in the SSA sanctioned Pro Junior Women and Under 16, U14 and U12 boy’s Pro Surf Tour (PST) events and an additional R2 000 goes to the winner of the VonZipper Air Show.

And all four finalists in each division, from U12 to Pro Junior, will also receive a limited edition Sony Trik to the value of R2 400.

Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga) leads the ASP Africa rankings after the first event in Durban in April. De Vries, Slade Prestwich (Scottburgh) in second position and Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay) and Michael February (Kommetjie) in equal third, are the front-runners for the ASP World Junior Tour slots.

Dale Staples (St Francis Bay), who finished third on the ASP World Junior Tour rankings in January this year, fellow Billabong team rider Matt Bromley (Kommetjie), David van Zyl (Glenashley) and Matt Pallet (Bergvliet) are ranked equal fifth and need a top performance at Victoria Bay to force their way into contention for one of the four slots available.

The Billabong Pro Junior men’s event will also create history when a trio of Ghanaian surfers – Clement Baidoo and brothers Peter and Emmanuel Ansah – participate in a surfing event in South Africa for the first time.

Vic Bay local Bianca Buitendag (George), winner of the Billabong Pro Junior Women’s World Championships in Australia in January, heads a competitive field in the women’s event at her home break. Buitendag, who has already qualified for the 2011 ASP Pro Junior Tour via her ASP World Women’s Tour ranking, will be up against the likes of Billabong team rider Emma Smith (Jeffreys Bay), Heidi Palmboom (Bluff), Nikita Kekana (Durban) and Inge McLaren (East London).

Josh Smit (Warner Beach) is the top seed in the U16 boy’s, the biggest division of the event, with Dylan Lightfoot (J-Bay), Diran Zakarian (Melkbosstrand) and Brandon Benjamin (Retreat) capable of causing an upset.

Jordan Maree (Tokai) will be up against perennial rivals Matt McGillivray (Port Elizabeth), Adin Masencamp (Strand), Ethan Fletcher (Kommetjie) and Shane Sykes (Salt Rock) in the U14 division while Fletcher and Masencamp will also do battle with brothers Jake and Max Elkington from Cape Town, amongst others, in the U12’s.

The spectacular VonZipper Air Show, where the surfer successfully completing the most innovative aerial manoeuvre pockets the winner-takes-all R2 000 prize-purse, will be staged on the final day.

The customary vibrant social scene at the Billabong Pro Vic Bay event will be substantially upgraded this year when Jeremy Loops, one of Cape Town’s hottest up and coming musical talents, performs live with friends at the Saturday evening Bring-and-Braai in the Caravan Park.

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

Images, results and news from the Billabong Pro Junior Vic Bay will be available daily at www.billabong.com.

The Billabong Pro Vic Bay is proudly supported by Sony, Von Zipper, Kustom and Nixon.

\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

Sarah Baum used her patented forehand attack and full repertoire of progressive manoeuvres to clinch an outstanding third place finish in the ASP 6-Star Swatch Girls Pro France at Hossegor last Friday.

The result rocketed the 17 year-old from Warner Beach up to No. 7 on the latest ASP Women’s World Rankings and into contention for a spot on the 2011 ASP Women’s World Title Race. The Top 6 on the World Rankings at the end of each year join the Top 10 from the ASP World Title Race Rankings to contest all the events on following year’s World Title Race, the series of contests that determine the annual ASP Women’s World Champion.

With three of the women ranked above Baum already well-placed to re-qualify via their World Title Race Rankings, the SA teenager is in fact currently fourth in line for one of the six qualifying spots with three Star series events still to be run in 2011.

 Starting the Swatch event in the Round of 48, Baum posted a number of excellent performances including recording the highest scoring ride of Day 2 of the event on Friday – 8.75 out of a possible 10 – and winning a tightly contested quarterfinal over elite tour member Alana Blanchard (HAW). In the semifinals Baum was ousted by eventual runner-up Sage Erikson (USA), pocketing US $2 000 and 2 080 rankings points for third place.

“I am super stoked with a third here,” Baum said. “I didn’t expect to get this far in the event. Last year I made it to the Round of 12 and I am really pleased to beat that. It is my best result for sure. All the girls are ripping and it is a great feeling to be part of it. I am heading down to Estoril on Tuesday and I am now looking towards that contest.”

The Swatch event was won by current ASP World No. 2 Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS). Other South African girls in the event included Nikita Robb (East London, 19th), Bianca Buitendag (Victoria Bay, 19th), Rosanne Hodge (EL, 25th), Tarryn Chudleigh (Kommetjie, 37th) along with Fay Zoetmulder (Port Elizabeth) and Tanika Hoffman (Kom) who placed equal 49th.

The entire SA girls’ contingent has travelled to Portugal for the ASP 6-Star Estoril Surf and Music Billabong Girls 2011 which runs from Friday to Sunday, 10-12 June. The final two events on the 2011 ASP Women’s World Tour rankings, both 6-Star rated, will be run in Spain and on the Azores Islands in September.

Swatch Girls Pro France Final Result
Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.00 Def. Sage Erickson (USA) 9.70

Swatch Girls Pro France Semi-Final Results
Heat 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 15.67 Def. Courtney Conlogue (USA) 15.00
Heat 2: Sage Erickson (USA) 10.77 Def. Sarah Baum (ZAF) 4.67

Swatch Girls Pro France Quarter-Final Results
Heat 1: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 10.25 Def. Justine Dupont (FRA) 7.15
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 12.00 Def. Paige Hareb (NZL) 8.90
Heat 3: Sage Erickson (USA) 8.00 Def. Suelen Naraisa (BRA) 7.20
Heat 4: Sarah Baum (ZAF) 14.25 Def. Alana Blanchard (HAW) 8.40

ASP Women’s World Tour Rankings (After event #4 – Swatch Girls Pro France)
1 Conlogue,Courtney  USA 8220
2 Erickson,Sage  USA 6080
3 Fitzgibbons,Sally  AUS 5580
4 Hareb,Paige   NZL 4680
5 Woods,Rebecca  AUS 4183
6 Ho,Coco   HAW 3880
7 Baum,Sarah  ZAF 3423
8 Ado,Pauline  FRA 3160

South Africans
17 Robb,Nikita   ZAF 2143
22 Buitendag,Bianca  ZAF 1843
37 Hodge,Rosanne  ZAF 1170
37 Chudleigh,Tarryn  ZAF 1170
48 Zoetmulder,Faye  ZAF 880
77 Hoffman,Tanika  ZAF 250

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Bianca Buitendag grabs third place in Swatch Girls Pro Junior in France

Bianca Buitendag continued her sensational assault on the World’s age-group surfing scenario by grabbing third spot in the Swatch Girls Pro Junior France on Saturday.

The lanky 17 year-old from Victoria Bay in the Southern Cape, who won the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships in Australia in January and finished runner-up in the U18 girls’ division of the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Championships in Peru 10 days ago, again defeated a slew of the world’s best female surfers aged 20-and-under in France.

Buitendag earned US $350 after defeat by eventual champion Sarah Mason (NZL) in a semifinal encounter held in tricky one metre waves.

“The swell definitely dropped and although the conditions were quite nice I didn’t get any good scoring waves,” said Buitendag. “I have a Pro Junior event coming up in South Africa and it is very important to get a result there to qualify for the World Juniors.”

Mason went on to beat Demitry Stoyle (AUS) in the final held at Les Bourdaines on the Bay of Biscay coast. South Africans Faye Zoetmulder (PE) and Tanika Hoffman (Kom) finished 25th and 33rd respectively.

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Royden Bryson the top South African in South American Prime events

Royden Bryson produced the best results by the South Africans in the two Prime rated events run in South America over the past fortnight. The Hout Bay based Capetonian boosted his ASP World Tour ranking from No. 113 to No. 81 after placing 13th in the Saquarema Surf Pro International near Rio de Janeiro and following that up with 9th in the Super Surf International in Santa Catarina.

Both events were run in huge waves with the final day of the Saquarema event postponed to the Monday when the waves on the Sunday were deemed too dangerous for competition. ASP Dream Tour member Kai Otton (AUS) beat Raoni Monteiro (BRA) to pocket the US$40 000 and 6 500 points there while Brazilian prodigy Gabriel Medina,17, scored two perfect 10 point rides on the final day to claim the title from experienced Australian Tom Whittaker in the Super Surf.

Dale Staples (St Francis Bay), who qualifies for all 11 events on the 2011 Prime Series thanks to his third place finish in the 2010 ASP World Junior Title Tour, and fellow 20 year-old, Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay), who leapfrogged into the top 100 on the rankings with an outstanding fifth place finish in the first Prime event of 2011, were eliminated in the first round (Round of 96) in both events.

Brandon Jackson (Durban North) and former ASP Dream Tour campaigner Travis Logie (Durban) only competed in the Super Surf event with Jackson ousted early and Logie, in his first event after recovering from a foot injury sustained in April, advanced to the Round of 48 but placed fourth in his next match-up to end the event 37th overall.

Logie has dropped from No. 28 to No. 42 in the rankings but remains the highest placed SA surfer behind Jordy Smith (Durban) who is No. 2 behind 10 times ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA). Joubert has maintained his ranking of No. 80 with Bryson now up to No. 81 while Jackson has held on to his No. 104 spot.

ASP World Tour Rankings (After Super Surf International, Brazil)
1 Slater,Kelly   USA 66200
2 Smith,Jordy  ZAF 52000
3 Fanning,Mick  AUS 43648
4 Burrow,Taj   AUS 43177
5 Durbidge,Bede  AUS 39370

South Africans (Top 200 out of 784)
42 Logie,Travis  ZAF 15162
80 Joubert,Shaun  ZAF 8570
81 Bryson,Royden  ZAF 8564
104 Jackson,Brandon  ZAF 6280
113 Palmboom,Rudy ZAF 5807
141 Strachan,Klee  ZAF 4072
147 Fahrenfort,Damien  ZAF 3849
157 Gibbens,Brendon  ZAF 3357
170 Staples,Dale   ZAF 2912
176 Weare,David  ZAF 2695
178 De Vries,Beyrick  ZAF 2608

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Beyrick de Vries takes early lead in ASP Africa Pro Junior men’s rankings

Beyrick de Vries won the 2-Star rated Quiksilver Pro Junior at New Pier in Durban back in April to take the early lead in the 2011 ASP Africa Pro Junior men’s rankings which determine four of the five-man squad invited to compete in the this year’s ASP World Junior Title series.

De Vries, 18, from Umhlanga, produced an impressive display of progressive surfing to overcome Slade Prestwich (Scottburgh), 16, in the final and take home US $2 500 and 500 rankings points.

Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay) and Michael February (Kommetjie) were sidelined by Prestwich and de Vries in their respective semifinals while Dale Staples (St Francis Bay), David van Zyl (Glenashley), Matt Pallet (Cape Town) and Matt Bromley (Kommetjie) ended their campaigns in the quarters.

The ASP Africa Pro Junior men’s rankings will be finalised after the 1-Star Billabong Pro Junior at Victoria Bay in the Southern Cape from September 1-4. The top four on the season ending rankings plus the highest placed ASP Africa Pro Junior on the ASP World Tour Rankings who has not already qualified via the local rankings will join representatives from the other six ASP regions in the World Junior Title series.

The 2011 series comprises three events starting with the Oakley ASP World Junior in Bali from October 3-14, followed by the inaugural Arnette ASP World Junior in Rio de Janeiro from October 24-November and culminating in the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships which will be staged as part of the recently announced Australian Open of Surfing at Manly Beach in Sydney from 11-19 February, 2012.

ASP Africa Pro Junior Men’s Rankings (After Quiksilver Pro Junior)

1 De Vries, Beyrick 500
2 Prestwich, Slade 375
3 Lightfoot, Dylan 281
 February, Michael 281
5 Staples, Dale  211
 Bromley, Matthew 211
 Van Zyl, David 211
 Pallet, Matt  211
9 Gibbens, Brendon 158
 Smit, Rigard  158
 Godfrey, Nicholas 158
 Baum, Sarah  158

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Mid-year international events in Durban, Ballito & Jeffreys Bay

South Africa’s traditional mid-year series of international surfing events will be kick-started by the ASP 1-Star Roxy Wahine Girls Pro Junior in Durban followed by the ASP Prime rated Mr Price Pro Ballito at Ballito in KZN and culminates in Jeffreys Bay with the Billabong Pro J-Bay, stop No. 4 of 11 on the 2011 ASP World Title series.

The inaugural edition of the Roxy Wahine Pro Junior to be an ASP rated event will be staged at New Pier in Durban on the weekend 18 & 19 June. The event features the country’s best 20-years-and-under female surfers competing for a prize-purse of US $2 000 with the winner also earning one of the two coveted invitations to compete in the 2011 ASP World Junior Title series.

The 12th edition of Mr Price Pro Ballito is stop No. 7 of 11 on the ASP Prime Tour and will be run from July 4-10. The event is restricted to the top 88 ranked ASP surfers who enter plus six wildcards and two trialists and offers $250 000 in total prize-money with $40 000 and 6 500 points going to the winner. The field is headed by defending event champion and current World No. 2, Jordy Smith, and includes 24 of the world’s top 34 ranked surfers.

The 26th running of the Billabong Pro J-Bay will again attract all of the world’s top 34 ranked surfers to the waves of Supertubes from July 14-24. The event offers a total purse of $425 000 with the winner earning $75 000 and 10 000 points. The seeding is headed by 10-time and reigning ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) along with former world champions Mick Fanning (AUS) and CJ Hobgood (USA), former event champions Jordy Smith (ZAF) and Australians Joel Parkinson and Taj Burrow and current ASP World Title Race ranking s leader Adriano de Souza (BRA).

ASP World Title Race rankings (After event No. 3 – Billabong Pro Rio)

1 Adriano De Souza (BRA) 20500
2 Joel  Parkinson (AUS) 19200
3 Kelly  Slater (USA)  16950
4 Taj  Burrow (AUS)  16500
5 Jordy Smith (ZAF)  14750
6 Owen  Wright (AUS) 12150
7 Michel Bourez (PYF) 12000
8 Mick  Fanning (AUS) 11500
9 Bede  Durbidge (AUS) 11000
9 Tiago  Pires (PRT)  11000

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For more news on the South African based ASP Events see www.aspafrica.com. For up to date news on the events and ASP Africa members ‘like’ ASP Africa on Facebook

ENDS
Issued on behalf of:

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

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About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the recognized world governing body of professional surfing and has been crowning surfing’s undisputed World Champions since 1976. The ASP sanctions and crowns World Champions for the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, ASP World Junior Tour, ASP World Longboard 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 and other media platforms. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.