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

Defending champions Border retained the coveted President’s Cup at the 2011 Billabong SA Surfing Championships which was completed in clean, offshore four foot surf at Seal Point in Cape St Francis on Sunday (May 15).

Not only did the team from East London win the 46th team title for the second year in a row but they also produced the Open Men’s champion in Greg Emslie, the runner up and Surfer of the Contest recipient Wayne Monk as well as the Women’s champion in Nikita Robb.

This was Emslie’s second title in a row and his fourth SA Championship victory. He joins George Thomopoulos on four SA Championship wins and one more will see him match Chris Knutsen.

Robb returned from competing on the World Qualifying Series to represent her beloved Border and it proved to be a good decision. 2010 National Team member Chantelle Rautenbach of Boland was second in the Women’s final.

Western Province surfer Nick Godfrey, who grew up surfing Seal Point, beat Steven Sawyer of Eastern Province to win his second Under 20 Boys crown in three years while Sarah Baum of KZN Central edged fellow National Junior Team member Bianca Buitendag of Southern Cape to take honours in the Under 20 Girls division.

The four new champions, who shared R30,000 in prize money, were awarded their trophies by Surfing South Africa President Mark Hoffman, Vice President Ant Brodowicz, Board Director Emile Zoetmulder and legendary coach Graham Hynes.

All the competitors earned 3A PST points by competing in the 2011 Billabong SA Championships.

Mark Hoffman presented the coveted Presidents Cup trophy to the Team Champions Border, who were also named as the team with the most spirit during the event. The East London side not only won the accolades and the bulk of the trophies but also took home ten cases of Carling Black Label from SAB for their efforts.

The Billabong SA Surfing Champs was proudly presented by Zigzag, fuelled by Monster, coordinated by Surfing South Africa, supported the Cape St Francis Resort and hosted by the Eastern Province Surfing Council.

Surfing South Africa is recognised by the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) as the governing body for the sport and is a member of the International Surfing Association. (ISA)

Updated heat sheets, results and full image galleries available on www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za and on the official SA Champs 2011 media portal, hosted by: www.zigzag.co.za
Results:
Open Men
1st – Greg Emslie (Border)
2nd – Wayne Monk (Border)
3rd – Klee Strachan – (KZN Central)
4th- Casey Grant – (Southern KZN)

Open Women
1st – Nikita Robb (Border)
2nd – Chantelle Rautenbach (Boland)
3rd – Michelle Imeson (Southern KZN)
4th – Tasha Mentasti (Boland)

U20 Boys
1st- Nick Godfrey (W.P)
2nd – Steven Sawyer (E.P)
3rd – Matt Bromley (W.P)
4th – Dylan Lightfoot (E.P)

U20 Girls
1st – Sarah Baum (KZN Central)
2nd – Bianca Buitendag (Southern Cape)
3rd – Faye Zoetmulder (E.P)
4th – Emma Smith (E.P)

Surfer of the Contest
Wayne Monk (Border)

Team Spirit award
Border

President’s Cup
1st – Border                                        43,464 points
2nd – KwaZulu-Natal Central              41,836 points
3rd – Eastern Province                          41,200 points
4th – Western Province                       39,844 points
5th – Southern KwaZulu-Natal            37,634 points  
6th – Boland                                         32,300 points
7th – Southern Cape                           29,630 points
8th – Zululand                                      19,910 points

ENDS

From Surfing South Africa
www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za
0824541149

Distributed by:

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

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.

\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

Greg Emslie is the 2010 Mr Price SA Open Champion. After two days of competition on Saturday and Sunday (August 28 & 29) in conditions that ranged from marginal 2 foot surf on Day One to perfect 5-6 foot offshore at Nahoon Reef on Day Two, the title in the eighth edition of the SA Open of Surfing went the way of the top seed.

The experienced East London surfer was joined in the winner’s circle by fellow SA Team member Chantelle Rautenbach of Melkbosstrand, who won the Women’s title, and Slade Prestwich of Scottburgh whose brilliant performance in the Pro Junior Final saw him taking home the trophy.

Emslie was a standout throughout the event, setting benchmarks in every heat he surfed in. Even when conditions were small, and at times marginal, on Day One the current SA Champion was outstanding. In his first round Emslie showed his true skill by recording a 9. 20 out of 10 wave score which underlined his status as a true champion.

It was not all plain sailing in the final however and the thirty two year old was pushed all the way by 16 year-old Jeffreys Bay star Steven Sawyer who led the heat until Emslie caught his final high scoring rides. Simon Fish who makes surfboards out of Cape St Francis but hails from East London was third and father-to-be Tyrell Johnson of East London came fourth.

Emslie has now won four of the five PST events he has competed in this year and is not only the current SA Champion, National Team captain and Cold Water Classic winner but can now add a second SA Open title to his list of achievements in 2010.

Rautenbach produced top quality surfing in the Women’s final beating Kirsty Delport of Durban, local girl Alice Mc Gregor and fellow national team member Stacey Guy into second, third and fourth respectively.

Scottburgh local Prestwich produced the highest heat score of all three finals, 16 out of a possible 20, beating Dylan Lightfoot and fellow Jeffrey’s Bay surfer Steven Sawyer into second and third respectively. Another JBay local, Bertie Stuurman, achieved his best result in a major PST event when he finished fourth.

Competitors in the 2010 Mr Price SA Open of Surfing were protected by the Surfing South Africa Shark Shield devices which were placed strategically in the line-up by the local lifeguards and other water craft on both days of the event.

The 2010 SA Open of Surfing was sponsored by Mr Price, sanctioned by Surfing South Africa and hosted by the Border Surfriders Association. It was a 3A Men’s Pro Surf Tour contest with the Women and Pro Juniors both 2A rated. R40 000 in total prize-money was on offer across the divisions.

Members of the 2010 SA Team as well as Head Coach Graham Hynes attended the event as part of their preparations for the 2010 ISA World Surfing Games in Peru in October. The team preparation, camps and fitness training as well as their attendance at the World Games is supported by a R250 000 grant from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund.

Surfing South Africa is the recognized governing body for the sport and is a member of the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and the International Surfing Association.

Ends

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

Distributed by:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GREG EMSLIE, 2010 SA MENS CHAMPION, AND FELLOW FINALISTS

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

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

RESULTS OF THE 2010 SOUTH AFRICAN SURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS.

OPEN MEN

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

OPEN WOMEN

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

SENIORS (OVER 30)

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

MASTERS (OVER 35)

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

GRANDMASTERS (OVER 40)

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

KAHUNAS (OVER 45)

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

GRANDKAHUNAS (OVER 50)

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

VETERANS (OVER 55)

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

SURFER OF THE CONTEST

ALICE MC GREGOR (BORDER)

SA CUP (OPEN DIVISIONS)

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

MASTERS CUP (O30 -055)

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

 PRESIDENTS CUP

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

Ends

Compiled by:

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

Distributed by:

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Compiled by:

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

Distributed by:

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

Dale Staples won the narrowest of victories in the Billabong Pro Junior men’s event at Westbrook today, tying with Australian Ryan Callinan in the final of the ASP Grade-1 rated contest before being awarded the victory on a countback to each surfer’s best ride, with Staples’ top score of 8.5 better than Callinan’s 7.0.

The organisers took the first Billabong Junior Series event to use a mobile event format back to Westbrook for the third and final day where 1-1.3 metre glassy waves produced the ideal scenario for high performance surfing by the country’s top 20-and-under competitors.

The final of the US $5 000 (approx R37 000) Pro Junior men’s event was a thrilling finale to a great event with Staples establishing his superiority right on the opening siren. Taking off on a set wave, the 17 year-old from St Francis Bay seamlessly combined a full repertoire of manoeuvres with powerful bottom turns punctuated by a fins-free tail-slide and a roundhouse cutback before successfully completing a vertical close-out re-entry.

With Staples awarded 8.5 out of 10 by the judges, which ultimately became the title-winning ride, Callinan had to play catch-up for the rest of the heat. The Australian’ netted a 6.0 at the 10 minute mark before Staples secured a 4.5 and leaving his opponent needing 7.01 for victory. With 10 seconds remaining Callinan took off on a wave and, as the siren sounded to end the heat, he produced a series of backhand bashes to earn 7.0 and tie the heat at 13.0 points each.

Staples was chaired from the water’s edge and earned US $2 000 (approx. R15 000) along with a Nixon 42-20 PU Watch valued at over R3000 and a case of Monster Energy drink for his victory while Callinan pocketed $900 and a pair of Von Zipper sunglasses for the runner-up spot.

Equal third after losing out in their respective semifinals were Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay), who was competing in both the Pro Junior and U16 boys divisions and contested five heats on the day, including back to back finals, and David van Zyl, the lone Durbanite in any of the four finals.

The first final contested was the U12 boys where reigning Billabong Junior Series champion Jordan Maree (Kalk Bay) stamped his authority on proceedings from the start by posting an excellent 8.0 point score on his first ride. Maree added a 3.5 later and his total of 11.50 out of 20 was sufficient to give him victory over talented newcomer Jake Elkington (Llandudno), Adin Masencamp (Somerset West) and Donovan Wichmann in an all Cape Town final. 

Clearly exhausted from his earlier efforts, Maree could only manage fourth place in the U14 boys final. Matt McGillivray (Port Elizabeth) whose fearless charging in the larger surf yesterday was impressive, had to settle for third as Kommetjie friend and rivals Max Armstrong and Benji Brand went head-to-head. When the spray settled it was Armstrong with his fully committed forehand attack that recorded the highest heat total of all four finals on the day – 15.50 out of 20 – who triumphed over Brand’s vertical backhand manoeuvres.

Not to be outdone, Brand stayed in the water after also qualifying for the U16 boy’s final. Steven Sawyer led for the first 18 minutes despite snapping the nose off his surfboard early in the heat and having to collect a replacement from the beach. However, a flurry of rides in the closing minutes saw Sawyer overtaken by fellow JBay ripper Dylan Lightfoot and then Diran Zakarian (Melkbosstrand).

But saving the best for last, Brand came up trumps with rides of 5.0 and 5.5 in the last five minutes to snatch the U16 title from Lightfoot, Zakarian and Sawyer, who finished in that order.

As the results were totaled and the cheques written, a dozen of the country’s best junior exponents of aerial manoeuvres paddled out for the 30 minute Von Zipper Air Show. The winner-takes-all R2 000 prize-purse was decided in the opening minute as former Kommetjie resident, Thomas Woods, now living in Australia, boosted himself more than a metre above the lip of the wave, effortlessly completed a full 360 degree turn in the air and landed successfully. While Umhlanga local Beyrick de Vries came closest to matching Woods’ aerial, the Aussie was the clear victor and pocketed the cash.

The Billabong Junior Series Dolphin Coast was the first of two events and the Series champions will be crowned for the 14th successive year at stop No. 2 at Victoria Bay in the Southern Cape from 1-4 September.

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

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

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

Billabong Junior Series
Westbrook, KwaZulu-Natal Dolphin Coast

Results
Pro Junior boys

1. Dale Staples (St Francis Bay) $2 000 + Nixon watch + Case of Monster Energy
2. Ryan Callinan (Australia) $ 900 + Von Zipper eyewear
=3. David van Zyl (Glenashley) $ 550
=3. Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay) $ 550
=5. Matt Bromley (Kommetjie) $ 250
=5. Devin Lane (Umhlanga) $ 250
=5. Mikey February (Kommetjie) $ 250
=5. Slade Prestwich (Scottburgh) $ 250

U16 boys

1. Benji Brand (Kommetjie) R2 000 + Nixon watch
2. Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay) R1 200 + Von Zipper eyewear
3. Diran Zakarian (Melkbosstrand) R 800 + Nixon watch
4. Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay) R 500 + Kustom footwear

U14 boys

1. Max Armstrong (Kommetjie) R1 500 + Nixon watch
2. Benji Brand (Kommetjie) R1 000 + Von Zipper eyewear
3. Matthew McGillivray (Port Elizabeth) R 600 + Nixon watch
4. Jordan Maree (Kalk Bay) R 400 + Kustom footwear

U12 boys

1. Jordan Maree (Kalk Bay) R1 000 + Nixon watch
2. Jake Elkington (Llandudno) R 750 + Von Zipper eyewear
3. Adin Masencamp (Somerset West) R 500 + Nixon watch
4. Donovan Wichmann (Marina da Gama) R 250 + Kustom footwear

Von Zipper Air Show

1. Thomas Woods (Australia) R2 000

\ends

Issued on behalf of:

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

Compiled & Issued by:

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

The Dolphin Coast of KwaZulu-Natal between Umhlanga and Ballito will be the venue for the opening event on the 2010 Billabong Junior Series, the premier national tour for surfers aged 20 and younger, which will crown series champions for the 14th consecutive year in September.

Scheduled for Sunday to Tuesday, 25-27 April, the Dolphin Coast event will use a mobile format that takes the contest to the best waves available on each day. Breaks like Salmon Bay and Surfers in Ballito, Westbrook or Main Beach in Umhlanga have been identified as potential venues with the competitors and public notified of where the contest will be staged at 7am daily.

The event features an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Grade 1 Pro Junior men’s event with US $5 000 (approx. R37 000) in prize-money. There are also invaluable ratings points at stake that count towards the prestigious Billabong Junior Series title, the ASP Africa Pro Junior crown and for the four-man squad who receive coveted invitations to compete in the inaugural ASP World Junior Series that starts in Bali in October.

Alongside the men’s event are Surfing South Africa sanctioned Pro Surf Tour events for Pro Junior girls and Under 12, U14 and U16 age categories for boys that determine the series champions and count for the annual SSA PST age group titles.

Shaun Joubert, the 18 year-old standout from Mossel Bay who won the first Pro Junior men’s event of the year in Durban over Easter, heads a stellar line up that includes Billabong team mates Dale and Dane Staples (St Francis Bay), the Kommetjie pair of Matt Bromley, third in Durban, and Davey Brand and JBay local Bertie Stuurman.

Other top contenders who will be striving to overtake Joubert at the top of the 2010 rankings and pocket the Nixon 42-20 PU Watch valued at over R3000 that goes to the event winner are reigning ASP Africa Pro Junior champ Chad du Toit and fellow Durbanite Shawn Dennis, Beyrick de Vries and Devin Lane from Umhlanga and Brendon Gibbens (Kommetjie).

Billabong’s Tarryn Chudleigh returns from campaigning on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS), where she reached the final in her opening event of the year in Australia, and will be the one to beat in the Pro Junior girls.

The 20 year-old from Kommetjie faces stiff opposition from 2009 Billabong Junior Series champion Bianca Buitendag (George), perennial standout Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbosstrand), Faye Zoetmulder (Port Elizabeth) and the Smith sisters, Emma and Gina, from Jeffreys Bay.

Reigning series champion Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay) will be going all out to defend his U16 boy’s title from a group comprising Mikey Venter (Warner Beach), Jarred Veldhuis (Kommetjie), Diran Zakarian (Melbos) and Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay), amongst others.

Benji Brand (Kommetjie) heads a super competitive U14 boy’s field that features Dylan Wichmann (Marina da Gama), Steffen Burrows (Somerset West), Jason Harris (Scottburgh) and Dolphin Coast local Shane Sykes (Salt Rock).

The youngest division – the U12 boys – will see a shoot out between 2009 champ Jordan Maree (Kalk Bay) and Cape Town rivals Ethan Fletcher (Kommetjie), Donovan Wichmann (Marina da Gama) and Jake Elkington, the Somerset West pair of Adin Masencamp and David Burrows, PE’s Matthew Hobson and Bevan Willis (Durban).

Each event in the Billabong Junior Series also features a spectacular VonZipper Air Show where the surfer successfully completing the most innovative aerial manoeuvre earns the winner-takes-all R2 000 prize-purse.

The format for the Dolphin Coast event sees the opening rounds of all divisions staged on Sunday with the Pro Junior girls champion crowned on Monday and the boys titles decided on Tuesday, along with the VZ Air Show.

All competitors will receive an SMS with the venue and start time for each day of the contest while the location and daily event updates can be accessed throughout the event via the Event Hotline at 071 179 9813.

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

The 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.

Entries for the event have officially closed but there is still space for late entries in several divisions. Please contact Billabong Events & Contest Coordinator, Laureen Payne, at 042 200 2600 or laureen.payne@billabong.co.za before entering online.

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

\ends

Issued on behalf of:

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

Compiled & Issued by:

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

 

The 2010 South African Junior Team is all set for the 2010 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships which get under way at Piha Beach in Auckland, New Zealand on January 21.

The preparation of the team and the costs involved in sending them to compete in this premier International Surfing Association tournament have been made possible by a grant of R300,000 from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF).

Quiksilver South Africa, Skullcandy and Power Balance added their support to the team which represents the cream of South African Under 18 surfing.

The 2010 Team were awarded their colours at the end of November on completion of their final camp and at the ceremony Durban surfer Beyrick de Vries was named Captain. Bianca Buitendag of George was appointed Vice Captain.

Joining de Vries in the Under 18 Boy’s group is 2009 World Junior Championships bronze medal winner David Brand , fellow Kommetjie surfer and 2009 Quiksilver King of the Groms champion Mikey February and Dane Staples of Cape St Francis.

Buitendag’s teammates in the Under 18 Girl’s group are Sarah Baum of Durban, Tanika Hoffman of Kommetjie and new cap, Heidi Palmboom of the Bluff in Durban.

Steven Sawyer and Dylan Lightfoot of Jeffreys Bay, Jarred Veldhuis of Kommetjie and Diran Zakarian of Melkbosstrand make up the Under 16 Boys group. All four are new caps.

Head Coach Graham Hynes, who at 80 years of age is one of the coaching legends in South African and World surfing, will be assisted by Deputy Coach Etienne Venter and Assistant Coach Josh Salie. The Team Manager is Surfing South Africa Deputy President, Pax Nydoo.

As a final preparation for the 8th ISA World Junior Championships, the SA Team will compete in the annual Lotto SANZ Challenge against their traditional opponents and World Championship hosts New Zealand on January 19.

The Lotto SANZ Challenge uses the ISA Aloha Cup format and was held for the first time in Durban in 2003. Since then the SANZ Challenge has taken place before the official start of every World Junior Championship.

At stake is pride and a unique hand crafted trophy made from semi precious New Zealand stone and South African yellow wood. South Africa are the current holders of the trophy having beaten New Zealand in Ecuador last year.

South Africa will also be represented at the tournament by Cyril Nel of East London, who is one of three senior Technical Officials appointed by the International Surfing Association. Somerset West based Emma Bone has been included on the international judging panel which is made up of technical officials from 14 countries.

The 2010 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Championships will get under way on January 20 with the Parade of Nations and Sands of the World Ceremony. During this traditional parade a representative from each nation will deposit sand from their country’s beaches into a specially constructed box.

This Sands of the World ceremony symbolises the gathering of all the “tribes” which make up the surfing world. South Africa will deposit sand from beaches in the Western and Eastern Cape and KZN.

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

The International Surfing Association is recognised by the International Olympic Committee and is the governing body for World Surfing. Fernando Aguerre (Argentina) is the President, Alan Atkins (Australia), Robin de Kock (South Africa), Mike Gerard (USA) and Kieran Sieralta (Peru) are the four Vice Presidents.

Live webcasting of the Parade, Sands of the World Ceremony and the surfing at each of the two podiums will be available from January 20 on www.isasurf.org and Surfing South Africa will post a daily Press Release and photos focusing on the progress of the South Africans on www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za

Ends

2010 SA JUNIOR SURFING TEAM

BACK ROW : left to right : DIRAN ZAKARIAN, BEYRICK DE VRIES, BIANCA BUITENDAG, DAVID BRAND, DANE STAPLES, MIKEY FEBRUARY

MIDDLE ROW : left to right : STEVEN SAWYER, DYLAN LIGHTFOOT, HEDI PALMBOOM, TANIKA HOFFMAN, JARRED VELDHUIS, SARAH BAUM

FRONT ROW : left to right : JOSH SALIE, ETIENNE VENTER, GRAHAM HYNES, PAX NYDOO

Compiled by:

Robin de Kock
General Manager
Surfing South Africa
for information on the 2010 SA Junior Surfing Team contact : 0824541149
surfingsouthafrica@gmail.com
www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za

Distributed by:

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