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

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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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Compiled & Distributed by:

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

About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the 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 African Dale Staples clinched third place in the inaugural ASP World Junior Series rankings after a heart-breaking quarterfinal loss to eventual runner-up, American Nat Young, in the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships fuelled by Monster Energy at North Narrabeen beach in Sydney, Australia, earlier today (Saturday).

Coming into the event as the No. 2 seed, and with top seed Jack Freestone (AUS) watching from the beach after being eliminated in 9th place on Wednesday, Staples needed to advance to the semifinals to take the rankings lead.

However, it was not to be and the 20-year-old from St Francis Bay in the Eastern Cape surfed nervously, falling several times while attempting the same manoeuvres that had seen him defeat a number of the world’s best 20-and-under surfers on his way to the last eight in the event.

Nevertheless, Staples led for most of the 30 minute heat as Young also posted a string of low scoring rides before finally nailing two good manoeuvres on a ride that scored 5.83 out of 10. Despite riding two more waves in the remaining three minutes, Staples could not find the 5.34 points he required for victory.

Young went on to post an excellent 8.33 point ride to grab a finals berth via a last minute victory over Mitch Crews (AUS), who had the honour of becoming the first Australian since 2006 to reach the semifinals in the in the world’s most prestigious junior surfing event.
 
Meanwhile, in the top half of the draw, France’s Marc Lacomare employed a combination of outstanding wave selection in the tricky one metre waves and a repertoire of committed full rail carves to blast his way past friend and travelling companion Charles Martin from Guadalupe and then Brazilian aerial wizard Caio Ibelli to reach the final.

The final was a ding-dong affair with Young needing to win the event to overtake Freestone and become the first American to claim the ASP World Junior title. However, it was Lacomare who prevailed, emulating compatriot Maxime Huscenot’s victory last year and making it a double triumph for France this year as he added the men’s crown to the women’s title won by Alizee Arnaud earlier in the week.

An elated Jack Freestone (AUS), winner of the first event in the ASP World Junior Series event in Bali in October, was crowned the 2010 ASP World Junior Champion, finishing top of the rankings ahead of Young (USA), Staples (ZAF) and Ibelli (BRA).

“It’s been a mixed roller coaster of emotions watching the heats unfold,” Freestone said. “Big congratulations to all of the guys. It’s a dream come true. I never thought it would come true after placing 9th in this event, but I’m just so happy.”

Freestone and Arnaud will be presented with their trophies and officially crowned ASP World Junior Champions alongside ten-times ASP Men’s Champion, Kelly Slater (USA) and four times Women’s ASP World Champion Steph Gilmore (AUS) at the ASP World Champions Banquet scheduled for the Gold Coast in February.

In addition to the prestigious titles that accompany their performances, the Top 4 men’s finishers receive a massive boost to their future careers by earning preferential seeding into the Round of 96 of all ASP PRIME events for 2011. The Top 8 are also given seeds into the round before the last round of all 1-6 ASP Star Series events.

For highlights from the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships log on to http://www.billabongpro.com.
 
For more ASP information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com.

Television newsfeeds and web highlights packages will be made available to TV and online media on competition days. Please contact jj@billabong.com.au.

As the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships fueled by Monster Energy was unfolding, competitors and others involved in the event were also focused on the devastating flooding that was impacting the state of Queensland. Event sponsor Billabong committed $50,000 to the Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal and, through the Rush Surf retail banner, is planning to donate clothing to needy communities.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Queensland Government’s flood appeal can visit http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html

The Billabong ASP World junior Championships fueled by Monster Energy is made possible with the support of Sony, Volkswagon, VonZipper, Nixon, Australia’s Surfing Life Magazine, Warringah Council and NSW Sport and Recreation.

Billabong ASP World Junior Championships Final Result:
1 – Marc Lacomare (FRA) 14.00
2 – Nat Young (USA) 11.50

Billabong ASP World Junior Championships Semifinals Results:
SF 1: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 11.07 def. Caio Ibelli (BRA) 10.03
SF 2: Nat Young (USA) 13.60 def. Mitch Crews (AUS) 13.40

Billabong ASP World Junior Championships Quarterfinals Results:
QF 1: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 15.00 def. Kiron Jabour (HAW) 10.37
QF 2: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 15.27 def. Charles Martin (GLP) 11.90
QF 3: Nat Young (USA) 10.83 def. Dale Staples (ZAF) 9.60
QF 4: Mitch Crews (AUS) 13.54 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 9.84

Billabong ASP World Junior Rankings (Top 8):
1: Jack Freestone (AUS)
2: Nat Young (USA)
3: Dale Staples (ZAF)
4: Caio Ibelli (BRA)
5: Mitch Crews (AUS)
6: Kiron Jabour (HAW)
7: Marc Lacomare (FRA)
8:Charles Martin (GLP)
 
Ends

 
Issued on behalf of:

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

Compiled & Distributed by:

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

About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the 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.

Bianca Buitendag became the first South African to win the women’s title at the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships when she narrowly outscored Justine Dupont (FRA) in the final held in tricky one metre waves at North Narrabeen beach in Sydney, Australia, earlier today (Tuesday).

The lanky 17 year-old from Victoria Bay in the Southern Cape secured the biggest victory of her career, pocketing US $5 000 (approx. R34 000) and 10 000 points which saw her finish tied second with Bali event winner Tyler Wright (AUS) in the 2010 ASP Women’s World Junior rankings.

“I’m very happy,” Buitendag said. “I don’t know how to explain it. I really wasn’t expecting this. I’m really happy about it and it’s the best result of my life. I’m stoked. My Dad has been supporting me since I was little, sitting on the beach and without him nothing would be possible, so thanks to him.”

Coming into the event as a dark-horse after placing ninth in the first leg of ASP World Junior Tour in Bali on October, Buitendag started her campaign by comprehensively defeating second seed Alizee Arnaud(FRA) in Round 1 on Saturday to advance directly to Round 3. On Sunday she overcame the challenge of Port Elizabeth born Australian Philippa Anderson and then moved into the semis by beating Felicity Palmateer (AUS).

Today Buitendag squeaked past Arnaud, who had just claimed the ASP Women’s World Junior title when her compatriot Dupont defeated defending champion Laura Enever (AUS) in the first semifinal, before racking up scores of 6.33 and 3.67 to beat Dupont by 10.0 to 9.0 in the 30 minute finale.

Fellow South African Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbosstrand) was a Round 2 casualty, placing equal 17th in this event and 21st in the overall rankings.

Dale Staples (St Francis Bay), the second seed in the men’s event following his runner-up finish to Jack Freestone (AUS) in the first leg in Bali, continued his charge by securing a comfortable Round 3 victory over Hiroto Arai(JAP). Staples opened his tally withan excellent ride that earned 8.17 out of 10 from the judges and then slammed the door on his opponent witha 4.47 in the closing moments after the Japanese surfer had chipped away at his lead with rides of 4.83 and 5.33.

“I’m just focusing on my own heat, but I was watching Jack (Freestone) in the heat before me and I’m just trying to do better than him,” Staples said of the only competitor currently ahead of him in the rankings. “I have my own things that I do before heats, but I do watch him quite a bit because he’s number one. I just hope I can do better than him every heat.”

Staples’ compatriots Brendon Gibbens (Kommetjie) and Shaun Joubert (MosselBay) were less fortunate when they were eliminated by Alex Smith (HAW) and Krystian Kymerson(BRA) respectively, with Kymerson clinching the score he required right on the final hooter. The South African pair finished equal 17th in the event, taking home US $1 200 each.

Chad du Toit (Berea, Durban) came up against Jesse Mendes(BRA) in the final heat of the day and posted an early score of 6.17 followed by a 6.67 with 11 minutes remaining. Despite recording the heat high score of 6.93, the Brazilian could not find the 5.91 he needed for victory in the time remaining and du Toit joined Staples in the last 16.

Even though the event has been plagued by small surf, onshore winds and so many bluebottles in the line-up that many competitors are wearing full wetsuits for protection, the world’s top 20-and-under competitors demonstrated exceptional talent with every heat punctuated by high-flying progressive manoeuvres.

Freestone was impressive in advancing to Round 4 (the last 16 in the event) along with the likes of fellow Australian Dean Bowen, Grainger Larsen (HAW), Nat Young (USA), Marc Lacomare (FRA) and Brazilians Caio Ibelli and Miguel Pupo.

The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships runs until 16 January and the organisers make a decision at 7am (10pm SA time) each day on whether to get the event underway or wait for better waves.

All the action from the event is webcast LIVE via www.billabongpro.com which also features a ‘heats on demand’ facility where video footage from every heat can be found.
 
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
 
The BillabongASP World Junior Championships fuelled by Monster Energy is made possible with the support of Sony, Volkswagen, VonZipper, Nixon, Australia’s Surfing Life Magazine, Manly Warringah Council and NSW Sport and Recreation.

Billabong ASP Women’s World Junior Championships Final Results:
1 – Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 10.00
2  – Justine Dupont (FRA) 9.00

Billabong ASP Women’s World Junior Championships Semifinals Results:
SF 1: Justine Dupont (FRA) 11.27 def. Laura Enever (AUS) 8.70
SF 2: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 8.37def. Alizee Arnaud (FRA) 7.56

2010 ASP Women’s World Junior Rankings(After event #2 – Narrabeen)
 Name                                              Points  Placings
1.  Alizee Arnaud(FRA)            14500  2,3
2.  Tyler  Wright(AUS)              13750  1,9
2.  Bianca  Buitendag(ZAF)      13750  9,1
4.  Laura  Enever(AUS)              11750  5,3

South Africans
21.  Chantelle Rautenbach(ZAF)   3500  17,17

Billabong ASP World Junior Championships Round 3 Results:
Heat 1: Granger Larsen (HAW) 11.70 def. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 11.16
Heat 2: Kiron Jabour (HAW) 12.16 def. Luke Davis (USA) 7.57
Heat 3: Evan Geiselman (USA) 10.76 def. Davey Cathels (AUS) 10.47
Heat 4: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 13.27 def. Ty Watson (AUS) 9.00
Heat 5: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 11.40 def. Kaimana Jaquias (HAW) 7.83
Heat 6: Dean Bowen (AUS) 12.37 def. Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 9.00
Heat 7: Charles Martin (GLP) 9.16 def. Chris Salisbury (AUS) 8.40
Heat 8: Jack Freestone (AUS) 13.50 def. Ramzi Boukhaim (MOR) 8.17
Heat 9: Dale Staples (ZAF) 12.62def. Hiroto Arai (JPN) 10.16
Heat 10: Alex Smith (HAW) 11.84 def. Brendon Gibbons (ZAF) 8.20
Heat 11: Nat Young (USA) 13.93 def. Keanu Asing (HAW) 10.16
Heat 12: Krystian Kymerson (BRA) 12.73 def. Shaun Joubert (ZAF) 10.37
Heat 13: Mitch Crews (AUS) 11.27 def. Andrew Doheny (USA) 7.40
Heat 14: Kolohe Andino (USA) 11.36 def. Nic Von Rupp (DEU) 9.30
Heat 15: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 13.80 def. Felipe Jervis (PRT) 5.50
Heat 16: Chad Du Toit (ZAF) 12.84 def. Jesse Mendez (BRA) 12.26
ENDS

Issued on behalf of:

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

Compiled & Distributed by:

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

About ASP:The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the 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.

Billabong ASP World Junior Championships fuelled by Monster Energy
ASP World Junior Tour
North Narrabeen, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
January 8 – 16, 2011

 
South Africa’s Dale Staples (St Francis Bay) is the second seed for the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships which starts at North Narrabeen beach in Sydney, Australia, tomorrow (10.30pm tonight, South African time) and runs until 16 January.

Staples finished second to Jack Freestone (AUS) in the first stop on the ASP Junior Tour in Bali in October and will be pushing hard to topple the Australian from the top of the ratings heap and become only the second-ever South African to claim the ASP World Junior title since compatriot Jordy Smith won in 2006.
 
Staples, who celebrated his 20th birthday on Tuesday, was just metres from beating Freestone on a heart-stopping last minute ride in the final in Bali.
 
“I had a pretty good wave, a solid tube which I didn’t come out of and it could have been the winning ride, for sure,” Staples said. “But, I was happy to make the Final and we’ll see what happens at Narrabeen.”

“It’s (the Billabong ASP World Junior Championship) easily the most important event of any junior surfer’s career, it’s the one to win for sure. Narrabeen is a high performance wave. There’s not much you can’t do out there. It’s a beach break and I’m sure every surfer in the event will be going hard and pushing it. I’m looking forward to it,” added Staples.
 
The 48 man field features the world’s top 20-and-under surfers from the seven ASP regions, along with three sponsor’s wildcards, all of whom are capable of forcing their way into contention for the title.

Surfers to watch out for include defending champion Maxime Huscenot (FRA) and the likes of Nat Young and Keanu Asing, the top seeds from the USA and Hawaii respectively, alongside a host of Brazilians who have an amazing rapport with the waves at Narrabeen, having annexed the title four times and provided three runners-up.

However, despite never having competed at Narrabeen, history favours Staples in his head-to-head battle with Freestone as no Australian has clinched the title there since Joel Parkinson 10 years back (2001) and no Aussie has even reached the semifinals since Matt Wilkinson in 2006!

Staples will be joined in the event by compatriots Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay), Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga), Brendon Gibbens (Kommetjie) and ASP Africa Pro Junior champion Chad du Toit (Berea, Durban).

The Billabong ASP Women’s Junior Championships, which runs in conjunction with the men’s event, will feature South Africans Bianca Buitendag (George) and Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbosstrand).

The SA girls will be up against the likes of Tyler Wright (AUS), the winner of the Bali leg, and fellow ASP World Tour rookies Laura Enever (AUS), the defending champion, and Sage Erikson (USA).

A traditional Aboriginal ceremony will open proceedings. The Koomurri Performance Group will perform from 07:15am, Saturday 8th January. The performance includes a “Welcome to Country” & “Smoking Ceremony”, and face painting of competitors representing the various world surfing regions.

The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships will be webcast LIVE via www.billabongpro.com
 
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
 
The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships fuelled by Monster Energy is made possible with the support of Sony, Volkswagen, VonZipper, Nixon, Australia’s Surfing Life Magazine, Manly Warringah Council and NSW Sport and Recreation.

Upcoming Round 1 Billabong ASP World Junior Championships Heats:
Heat 1: Shaun Joubert (ZAF), Tyler Newton (HAW), Ty Watson (AUS)
Heat 2: Maxime Huscenot (FRA), Krystian Kymerson (BRA), Evan Thompson (USA)
Heat 3: Marc Lacomare (FRA), Chad Du Toit (ZAF), Takumi Nakamura (JPN)
Heat 4: Nat Young (USA), Luke Davis (USA), Andrew Doheny (USA)
Heat 5: Miguel Pupo (BRA), Evan Geiselman (USA), Hiroto Arai (JPN)
Heat 6: Granger Larsen (HAW), Nic Von Rupp (DEU), Enrique Ariitu (PYF)
Heat 7: Caio Ibelli (BRA), Alex Smith (HAW), Ramzi Boukhiam (MOR)
Heat 8: Jack Freestone (AUS), Ian Gouveia (BRA), Keala Naihe (HAW)
Heat 9: Dale Staples (ZAF), Charles Martin (GLP), Tom Cioarec (FRA)
Heat 10: Mitch Crews (AUS), Chris Salisbury (AUS), Arashi Kato (JPN)
Heat 11: Jesse Mendes (BRA), Albee Layer (HAW), Conner Coffin (USA)
Heat 12: Kiron Jabour (HAW), Dean Bowen (AUS), Ian Gentil (HAW)
Heat 13: Davey Cathels (AUS), Guillermo Satt (CHL), Ryan Callinan (AUS)
Heat 14: Kolohe Andino (USA), Kaimana Jaquias (HAW), Kaishu Tanaka (JPN)
Heat 15: Beyrick De Vries (ZAF), Keanu Asing (HAW), Kaito Onashi (JPN)
Heat 16: Brendon Gibbens (ZAF), Fillipe Jervis (PRT), Peterson Crisanto (BRA)

Upcoming Round 1 Billabong ASP Women’s World Junior Championships Heats:
Heat 1: Justine Dupont (FRA), Lakey Peterson (USA), Camila Cassia (BRA)
Heat 2: Sage Erickson (USA), Chantelle Rautenbach (ZAF), Malia Manuel (HAW)
Heat 3: Laura Enever (AUS), Alessa Quizon (HAW), Minato Takahashi (JPN)
Heat 4: Tyler Wright (AUS), Diana Cristina (BRA), Ellie-Jean Coffey (AUS)
Heat 5: Felicity Palmateer (AUS), Leila Hurst (HAW), Nao Omura (JPN)
Heat 6: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), Alizee Aranaud (FRA), Airini Mason (NZL)

ENDS

Issued on behalf of:

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

Compiled & Distributed by:

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

About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the 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.

Billabong team rider Dale Staples put himself firmly into contention for the 2010 ASP World Junior title with a sensational runner-up finish in the Oakley ASP Pro Junior in Bali, the first of two events that will culminate in the crowning of undisputed world’s best junior surfer in Sydney, Australia in January.

The 19 year-old from St Francis Bay in the Eastern Cape had a stunning run through the 48 man field of the world’s best 20-and-under surfers before ending up just short in the final against today’s winner, Australian Jack Freestone.

Coming into the event seeded No.30, Staples opened slowly with a second place finish behind No. 3 seed Granger Larsen (HAW), but got his game plan spot on thereafter with victories over Enrique Ariitu (PYF) and compatriot Chad du Toit (Durban) before exacting revenge on Larsen in their Round 4 duel.

Staples got his charge to the final underway with a comprehensive quarterfinal victory over No. 14 seed Evan Thompson (USA) this morning, sealing his semifinal berth with a near-perfect 9.73 out of 10 ride that left the American comb’ed with five minutes remaining.

The South African then had to come back from a combo situation himself in the semi clash against No. 8 seed Mitch Crews (AUS). Needing to improve both his counting scores with 15 minutes left on the clock, Staples produced a 7.50 and then followed that up with another phenomenal ride of 9.33 that left the Aussie looking for 8.34 points when the siren sounded.

As the swell dropped off and the tide went out, Freestone posted a 9,57 on the first ride of the final and despite Staples having the opportunity to clinch the win on a set wave late in the heat, he was clipped as he exited the barrel and the Aussie claimed victory.

“I was just really stoked to be out there and get a good result,” said Staples. “I’m happy to beat some of the best junior surfers in the world – anyone could have been in that final.”

Staples admitted that he was anxious heading into the later stages of the finale.

“I was really nervous,” he said. “I was waiting for a set wave all final. But it didn’t come until the end. I was hoping the last one would open up but it didn’t.”

Staples pocketed US $5 000 (approx. R35 000) and a priceless 8 000 ranking points for his runner-up finish and goes into the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships at North Narrabeen in Sydney in January full of confidence.

With victories in the Billabong Pro Junior on the KZN Dolphin Coast in April and the VonZipper Wild Card Shoot Out at Jeffreys Bay in July, followed by his stellar wildcard performances in outstanding overhead surf at Supertubes against the world’s top professional surfers in the Billabong Pro, Staples will be looking to emulate current ASP World No. 2 Jordy Smith (Durban) and become the second South African to clinch the ASP World Junior title in Australia in three months time.

OAKLEY ASP WORLD PRO JUNIOR FINAL RESULT:

Jack Freestone (AUS) 13.84 def. Dale Staples (ZAF) 8.44

OAKLEY ASP WORLD PRO JUNIOR SEMIFINAL RESULTS:

SF1: Jack Freestone (AUS) 12.84 def. Caio Ibelli (BRA) 11.83

SF2: Dale Staples (ZAF) 16.83 def. Mitch Crews (AUS) 15.33

OAKLEY ASP WORLD PRO JUNIOR QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:

QF 1: Jack Freestone (AUS) 14.10 def. Nat Young (USA) 13.57

QF 2: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 13.83 def. Conner Coffin (USA) 11.76

QF 3: Mitch Crews (AUS) 18.23 def. Kiron Jabour (HAW) 17.86

QF 4: Dale Staples (ZAF) 18.06 def. Evan Thompson (USA)

Ends

Issued on behalf of:

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

Compiled & Distributed by:

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

South Africa’s Dale Staples has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Oakley ASP World Pro Junior in Bali, defeating the No. 3 seed Granger Larsen from Hawaii in their Round 4 heat held in epic two metre barreling waves at Keramas in Bali earlier today.

Staples, 19, from St Francis Bay continued his momentum from yesterday when he posted the highest single ride (9.80 out of 10) and combined two wave heat tally (16.63 out of 20) of the day while dispatching compatriot Chad du Toit (Berea, Durban) in their Round 3 match up.

In today’s outstanding conditions Staples posted a heat tally of 16.07 to oust Larsen and become the last of the seven ASP Africa members still in contention in the event after Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay) was eliminated in his Round 4 clash by Caio Ibelli (BRA).

The event is the first of two on the inaugural ASP World Pro Junior Tour which will crown the ASP World Junior Champion in Sydney, Australia in January.

All the action can be followed LIVE at http://oakleyprojunior.com starting at approximately 2am South African time daily.

OAKLEY ASP WORLD PRO JUNIOR ROUND 4 RESULTS (MEN’S):

Heat 1:Nat Young (USA) 18.96 def. Tyler Newton (HAW) 15.50
Heat 2: Jack Freestone (AUS) 18.47 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 15.24
Heat 3: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 15.40 def. Shaun Joubert (ZAF) 9.17
Heat 4: Conner Coffin (USA) 18.26 def. Krystian Kymerson (BRA) 2.83
Heat 5: Mitch Crews (AUS) 11.66 def. Charles Martin (GLP) 6.97
Heat 6: Kiron Jabour (HAW) 18.16 def. Alex Smith (HAW) 16.70
Heat 7: Dale Staples (ZAF) 16.07 def. Granger Larsen (HAW) 15.46
Heat 8: Evan Thompson (USA) 13.50 def. Davey Cathels (AUS) 10.47

OAKLEY ASP WORLD PRO JUNIOR QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS (MEN’S):

QF 1: Nat Young (USA) vs. Jack Freestone (AUS)
QF 2: Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Conner Coffin (USA)
QF 3: Mitch Crews (AUS) vs. Kiron Jabour (HAW)
QF 4: Dale Staples (ZAF) vs. Evan Thompson (USA)

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 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.

KERAMAS, Bali/Indonesia (Wednesday, September 29, 2010) -The Oakley ASP World Pro Junior, the opening stop on the 2010 ASP World Junior Tour (WJT), will commence its waiting period this weekend in Bali, ushering in the greatest assemblage of junior surfing talent from around the globe.

Surfing young guns Conner Coffin (USA) and Keala Naihe (Haw) will challenge the world’s best junior surfers in arguably one of the world’s best high-performance waves after being awarded wildcards into the high stakes event, which will run at Keramas from October 2-13 and offer a prize pool of US $95,000.

With a surfing attack built on power and topped with an increasingly progressive repertoire, Coffin, 17, is looking to add to his trophy case with a big result in the tournament.

Coffin, who has an amazingly smooth, clean, and powerful pointbreak style, was raised in Santa Barbara’s legendary point breaks, and should ultimately put him in good stead at the right-hand waves of Keramas.

In Round 1, Coffin will come up against Kiron Jabour (HAW) and Chris Salisbury (AUS).

Naihe is also positioned well for an impressive showing at the prestigious tournament and will face Marc Lacomare (FRA) and Charles Martin (GLP) in Round 1 of competition.

Ronny Nelson, Oakley Sports Marketing Manager, is excited to see Conner and Naihe lineup in the event.

“Choosing wildcards is always a hard thing to do, there are so many options out there but at the end of the day you need to look at who will do well or even win the event,” he said.

“In my eyes, I feel that Conner and Keala will best represent Oakley and have a great chance to win. Conner’s explosive surfing in punchy waves will be his advantage while the smooth finesse surfing and knowledge of reef breaks will suit Keala in Bali. Oakley is really happy that Conner and Keala are competing in the first event of two to help crown a legitimate ASP World Junior champion.

Similar to years past, athletes compete on their respective regional ASP Pro Junior Series throughout the season to qualify for the ASP World Junior Tour. Qualification for the ASP WJT is based on regional results from January 1 through August 31, 2010.

The inaugural ASP World Junior Tour will see six representatives from ASP Australasia, ASP South America, ASP North America and ASP Europe, five representatives from ASP Africa, ASP Hawaii and ASP Japan, and additional wildcards to make up the 48-man field.

The ASP World Junior Tour events will also feature an 18-woman field, which will crown the undisputed ASP Women’s World Junior Champion.

The undisputed ASP World Junior Champions will be the No. 1 ranked male and female surfer after the completion of the ASP World Junior Tour.

The Oakley ASP World Pro Junior will be webcast LIVE via www.oakleyprojunior.com

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

OAKLEY ASP WORLD PRO JUNIOR MATCH-UPS (MEN’S):
Heat 1: Brendon Gibbens (ZAF), Alex Smith (HAW), Jack Freestone (AUS)
Heat 2: Shaun Joubert (ZAF), Peterson Crisanto (BRA), Keanu Asing (HAW)
Heat 3: Caio Ibelli (BRA), Tyler Newton (USA), Mitch Crews (AUS)
Heat 4: Kiron Jabour (HAW), Chris Salisbury (AUS), Conner Coffin (USA)
Heat 5: Maxime Huscenot (FRA), Guillermo Satt (CHL), Enrique Ariitu (PYF)
Heat 6: Nat Young (USA), Dean Bowen (AUS), Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR)
Heat 7: Miguel Pupo (BRA), Jesse Mendes (BRA), Takumi Nakamura (JPN)
Heat 8: Alejo Muniz (BRA), Krystian Kymerson (BRA), TBC
Heat 9: Marc Lacomare (FRA), Charles Martin (GLP), Keala Naihe (HAW)
Heat 10: Granger Larsen (HAW), Dale Staples (ZAF), Tom Cloarec (FRA)
Heat 11: Davey Cathels (AUS), Luke Davis (USA), Kaimana Jaquias (HAW)
Heat 12: Beyrick De Vries (ZAF), Felipe Jervis (PRT), Hiroto Arai (JPN)
Heat 13: Kolohe Andino (USA), Albee Layer (HAW), Andrew Doheny (USA)
Heat 14: Chad Du Toit (ZAF), Kaito Ohashi (JPN), Evan Thompson (USA)
Heat 15: Nic Von Rupp (DEU), Ryan Callinan (AUS), Kento Takahashi (JPN)
Heat 16: Evan Geiselman (USA), Ty Watson (AUS), Arashi Kato (JPN)

OAKLEY ASP WORLD PRO JUNIOR MATCH-UPS (WOMEN’S):
Heat 1:Pauline Ado (FRA), Alizee Arnaud (FRA), Nao Omura (JPN)
Heat 2: Sage Erickson (USA), Chantelle Rautenback (ZAF), Alessa Quizon (HAW)
Heat 3: Laura Enever (AUS), Lakey Peterson (USA), Minato Takahashi (JPN)
Heat 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA), Airini Mason (NZL), Camila Cassia (BRA)
Heat 5: Tyler Wright (AUS), Leila Hurst (HAW), Diana Cristina (BRA)
Heat 6: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), Felicity Palmateer (AUS), Malia Manuel (HAW)

ASP WORLD JUNIOR TOUR SCHEDULE:
- Oakley ASP World Pro Junior, Bali/Indonesia – October 2 – 13, 2010
- Billabong ASP World Junior Championships, Australia – January 8 – 16, 2011

PAST ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONS:
2009:Maxime Huscenot (REU), Laura Enever (AUS)
2008: Kai Barger (HAW), Pauline Ado (FRA)
2007: Pablo Paulino (BRA), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
2006: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Nicola Atherton (AUS)
2005: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
2004: Pablo Paulino (BRA)
2003: Adriano de Souza (BRA)
2002: N/A
2001: Joel Parkinson (AUS)
2000: Pedro Henrique (BRA)
1999: Joel Parkinson (AUS)
1998: Andy Irons (HAW)

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For Immediate Release

Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) International

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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.

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The country’s top Pro Junior surfers shredded the 1 to 1.5 metre waves on offer at Herold’s Bay in the Southern Cape on Day 2 of the Billabong Junior Series today (Thursday), using the hollow wedges and boostable sections to deliver top-class performances in the chase for prize-money, points and prestige.

Organisers had no hesitation in moving the event from the main venue of Victoria Bay at first light and competitors in the Round of 32 of the R37 500, internationally rated Billabong Pro Junior enjoyed the best conditions of the day.

Davey Brand set the tone for the day by earning two scores of 6.75 out of 10 early in the first heat of the day before shutting out his opponents with an excellent 8.0 just before the siren. Brand advanced to the last 16 along with runner-up and fellow Billabong team rider and Kommetjie resident Matt Bromley.

Billabong’s Dale Staples (St Francis Bay), the fourth seed here and winner of the Billabong Pro Junior on KZN’s Dolphin Coast in April, kept his challenge alive by progressing along with heat winner Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay) before Kommetjie’s Mikey February blitzed the highest heat total of the day, 16.25 out of 20, in Heat 3.

Top seed Chad du Toit (Berea) controlled his opening encounter but 14 year-old Billabong rider Benji Brand (Kommetjie) gave Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga) a fright by securing the heat victory with the second seed having to settle for the runner-up spot. David van Zyl (Glenashley), Nick Godfrey (St Francis Bay) and another 14 year-old standout in Slade Prestwich (Scottburgh) clinched the remaining heat wins.

After one heat of U12 boys where rising stars Ford van Jaarsveld (Kommetjie) and Billabong’s Max Elkington (Cape Town) eliminated Rewaldo Abersalie (J-Bay), international campaigner Tarryn Chudleigh opened the Pro Junior women’s event with a stunning performance.

Determined to make an appearance at her sponsor’s contest, the Billabong team rider shrugged off 48 hours of travel, including rising at 4am for the five-hour drive to Herold’s Bay from her home in Kommetjie, to dominate the heat and relegate top seed Bianca Buitendag, currently SA’s currently highest placed surfer on the ASP Women’s World Rankings, to the runner-up spot.

Sarah Baum (Athlone Park), another with strong international credentials, clinched victory in the next heat with while Heidi Palmboom (Bluff) and Holly Armstrong (Scarborough) upset higher ranked rivals for their heat wins.

The eight remaining Pro Junior Women were back in contest vests in more intimidating overhead conditions at the end of the day when the crosswind had freshened and the tide had turned. Baum and Buitendag eliminated Kirsty Delport (Durban) and a clearly exhausted Chudleigh to move into the one-on-one semifinals where they were joined by recent SA Open Women’s champion Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbosstrand) and Palmboom.

In between the U14 boys battled with elements that saw the lifeguards on standby on the beach. Max Armstrong (Scarborough) had no problem in winning the opening heat while Jason Harris (Scottburgh) snatched his berth in the last eight with a great 6.25 point ride in the final seconds. Jordy Maree (Kalk Bay) reveled in the peaky lefts to win Heat 2 before Benji Brand recorded the highest single ride score of the day with – 9.0 out of 10 – in Heat 3.

The last heat saw the lead change hands on virtually every ride with all four competitors in front at some stage. When the final siren sounded it was Matt McGillivray (Port Elizabeth) in first place with Steffen Burrows (Strand) in second and joining him in the semifinals.

The trials for U12’s and U14’s to qualify for Saturday’s VonZipper Air Show, where the surfer completing the most outrageous aerial manoeuvre pockets a winner-takes-all R2 000 prize-purse, were held in daunting conditions at the end of the day and not one air was completed.

The rising swell may well see the season-ending Billabong Junior Series back at the main venue of Victoria Bay on Friday and organisers will make a call at 7.30am on when and where the day 3 action will commence.

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.

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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