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

Pictured: The wave on which 103 Cape Town surfers broke the Guinness World Record for the ‘most surfers riding the same wave’ at Earthwave in Muizenberg, Cape Town on Sunday
Photo: Lee Slabber

EARTHWAVE
Global surfing and sustainable lifestyle event
Surfers Corner, Muizenberg, Cape Town, South Africa
4 October 2009

Cape Town surfers break Guinness World Record at Earthwave on Sunday

More than 100 surfers rode a wave at the Earthwave beach festival in Muizenberg, Cape Town on Sunday to break the Guinness World Record for the ‘most surfers riding the same wave’.

“We estimated that there were more than 120 surfers on the fifth of the seven waves surfed at Muizenberg during Earthwave,’ said Paul Botha of Kahuna Promotions, the founders of the event that leverages the publicity generated by the world record attempt to promote awareness of climate change and sustainable lifestyles.

“However, the photographic evidence we have so far shows that there were 103 on the same wave, which is enough to overtake the record of 100 set by Earthwave Brazil in Santos last year,” Botha added. “We are still waiting for more images and video footage that we will submit to the Guinness World Record organisation in London to have the record ratified.”

In ideal sunshine conditions, a light offshore breeze and small 0.5 to one metre waves, a total of 443 surfers of all ages and abilities registered to try and bring the record back to Cape Town after Brazil had exceeded the 73 on one wave set at Muizenberg in 2006.

Five times the number in the water lined the beachfront cheering every attempt and urging their champions on as they rode the waves for five seconds before being counted, taking part in a host of fun-filled activities and fund-raising initiatives.

Activities included the inaugural Earthwave Longboard Classic, demos of SUP by Coreban, a talk entitled ‘Climate Change: How you can help’ presented by Augustine Morkel, estate manager of the internationally renowned Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, beach cleanups conducted by Ocean Minded, a Dig for Gold fund-raiser with prizes from the surf industry and local businesses and more.

The carbon footprint of the event was reduced by Metrorail allowing anyone with a surfboard to travel free on the train to and from Muizenberg while others could buy half-price fares to and from the destination. There were also specially demarcated bins to recycle the paper, plastic, glass and other refuse, minimal energy use and certificates of participation in the record-breaking event will be sent out digitally instead of being printed on paper.

The Earthwave event was also used as a forum to promote the Shark Spotters programme, the Save Our Seas Foundation, National Bandana day on 14 October for the Sunflower Fund and Cape Town Tourism’s ‘Live it, Love it, LOUDER!’ campaign for the city hosting the FIFA World Cup next year.

The action continues with an after-party tonight at the Brass Bell in conjunction the Zigzag’s celebration of the 200^th edition of SA’s longest established surfing magazine. The official numbers on the wave will be announced and SA’s funniest surfer, Mark Sampson will entertain.

Patrons will have the opportunity to win valuable prizes including R10 000 in accommodation from the Cape Villa Collection, a custom Natural Curve surfboard, Billabong watch, O’Neill wetsuit and a one-of-a-kind big-wave surfboard signed by the participants in last year’s iconic Red Bull Big Wave Africa event.

More on Earthwave, its aims and objectives, is available on the mini-site www.kahunasurf.co.za/kp/earthwave and on Wavescape.co.za, the event’s official digital media partner.

Earthwave is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa (SSA), the national controlling body for the sport and endorsed by the International Surfing Association (ISA) and Surfrider Foundation whose Argentina Chapter will be running the Earthwave event in that country.

Contact kahunasurf@mweb.co.za for further information on the Earthwave global surfing and sustainable lifestyles event and how to become part of this global movement.

/ends

Issued on behalf of:

 

Kahuna Promotions
Tel……..+27 (0) 21 783 4965
Mob……+27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email…..kahunasurf@mweb.co.za

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

 

2009 Billabong Junior Series
Event No. 3 of 3 on South Africa’s premier national junior surfing series
Victoria Bay, Southern Cape
September 23-26, 2009

Beyrick de Vries produced an awesome display of innovative surfing on the final day of the Billabong Junior Series on Saturday, defeating defending series champion Klee Strachan in the final to win the ASP Grade 2, R75 000 Pro Junior men’s division.

Organisers again opted to move the event from the small surf at the original venue of Victoria Bay to Herold’s Bay where head high, left breaking waves with light onshore winds gave the competitors at the business end of the event the ideal conditions to excel.

After overcoming Shawn Dennis (Durban) in the quarters and surprise package Bertie Stuurman (Jeffreys Bay) in the semis, de Vries started the final with a 7.5 and then sealed his first ASP Pro Junior victory with 6.20 on his sixth and final wave. Strachan, 20, from Winkelspruit, caught a great wave with 10 seconds remaining, but needing 7.21 points to win, the defending Series and ASP Africa champion fell after his first manoeuvre.

The win earned de Vries, 16, US $2 500 (approx. R18 000), rocketed the Umhlanga ripper into 5^th place on the final series ratings and secured him a coveted invitation to the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships in Australia in January by ending the year ranked No. 4 in the ASP Africa rankings.

Casey Grant (Scottburgh), who went into the final day leading the Pro Junior ratings in both the Billabong Junior Series and ASP Africa, was upset by Stuurman in the quarterfinals but still earned sufficient points to claim the prestigious Billabong title although he dropped to runner-up behind new ASP Africa Pro Junior men’s champion Chad du Toit (Berea).

Du Toit, Grant, Strachan, and de Vries will be joined by Kyle Lane (Umhlanga), the highest ranked ASP Africa member on the WQS who was not in the top four of the local ratings, in Australia in January, along with Sarah Baum (Athlone Park) who finished the highest rated ASP Africa Pro Junior woman.

Meanwhile Steven Sawyer from Jeffreys Bay secured both the event and series titles in the U16 boys by accumulating a heat winning two wave total early in the final and then sitting far inside at the take-off point to keep runner-up Dane Staples (St Francis Bay) and third and fourth placed Benji Brand and Jarred Veldhuis (both Kommetjie) off the high scoring waves.

Michael February (Kommetjie), who lost out in the quarters in a major upset, held on for the runner-up spot in the U16 series ratings while David van Zyl (Glenashley) took third.

Benji Brand, 13, was the standout of the final day, surfing with a maturity way beyond his tender years to rack up a phenomenal 17.4 points out of 20 in comprehensively out-surfing his opponents in the U14 final. Vertical top turns and powerful gouges saw the stockily built goofy-foot earn an 8.5 and an 8.9 from the judges with Josh Smit (Athlone Park), Max Armstrong (Scarborough) and Diran Zakarian (Melkbosstrand) finishing in that order and all comboed.

Zakarian’s record in the previous two events – at Scottburgh and Jeffreys Bay – earned him the U14 series crown with Daniel Buitendag (George) and Slade Prestwich (Scottburgh) sharing in the series prize-pool for second and third respectively. Brand finished fourth overall even though he only competed in two of the three events, winning both.

Rising star Jordy Maree did the double of event and series titles in the U12 boys. The talented pre-teen from Kalk Bay improved his scores on every ride throughout the final to total 16.25 from his last two rides and combo runner-up Shane Sykes (Salt Rock), Steffen Burrows (Strand) and Matthew McGillivray (Port Elizabeth).

Sykes grabbed second spot in the U12 series ratings and the vastly improved Donovan Wichmann (Marina da Gama) took third largely due to his win in the Billabong Occy Grom Comp at Jeffreys Bay, the second leg of the series.

The event ended on a high note with a sensational display of high-flying manoeuvres in the Von Zipper Air Show. Dozens of futuristic moves in the air above the waves were successfully completed with Mossel Bay local Shaun Joubert pocketing the R2 000 winner-takes-all prize-purse for the best aerial of the final.

The awards ceremony, where the Billabong Junior Series champions in all divisions were crowned for the 13^th consecutive year, was staged at the Ster Kinekor complex in George followed by the South African premiere of the award winning surf movie ‘Still Filthy’.

2008 Billabong Junior Series

Final Series ratings

Pro Junior men

1.  Casey Grant (Scottburgh)                         1 915 pts
2.  Chad du Toit (Berea)                                  1 825 pts
3.  Klee Strachan (Winkelspruit)                 1 690 pts
4.  Brendon Gibbens (Kommetjie)             1 610 pts
5.  Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga)                1 500 pts

Pro Junior women

1.  Bianca Buitendag (George)                       2 500 pts
2.  Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbos)          2 020 pts
3.  Kirsty Delport (Durban)                           1 693 pts

U16 Boys

1.  Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay)                 2 360 pts        R2 000
2.  Michael February (Kommetjie)            2 310 pts        R1 500
3.  David van Zyl (Glenashley)                    2 005 pts        R1 000

U14 Boys

1.  Diran Zakarian (Melkbosstrand)          2 390 pts        R2 000
2.  Daniel Buitendag (George)                     2 110 pts        R1 500
3.  Slade Prestwich (Park Rynie                 2 070 pts        R1 000 

U/12 Boys

1.  Jordy Maree (Kalk Bay)                         3730 pts         R2 000
2.  Shane Sykes (Salt Rock)                         3720 pts         R1 500
3.  Donovan Wichmann (Marina da Gama)  2800 pts     R1 000

Victoria Bay Results

Pro Junior Boys (ASP Grade 2 Pro Junior men)

1.  Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga)                  US $2 500
2.  Klee Strachan (Winkelspruit)                  US $1 500
3.  Bertie Stuurman (Jeffreys Bay)              US $1 000
3.  Chad du Toit (Berea)                                   US $1 000
5.  Shawn Dennis (Durban)                             US $   500
5.  Casey Grant (Scottburgh)                         US $   500
5.  Chris Leppan (Umhlanga)                         US $   500
5.  Dale Staples (St Francis Bay)                   US $   500

Pro Junior Girls (ASP Grade 1 Pro Junior women)

1.  Bianca Buitendag (George)                        US $1 000
2.  Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbos)           US $   500
3.  Sarah Baum (Athlone Park)                      US $   300
3.  Tarryn Chudleigh (Kommetjie)               US $   300

U16 Boys

1. Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay)                  R2 000
2. Dale Staples (St Francis Bay)                   R1 000
3. Benji Brand (Kommetjie)                           R   750
4. Jarred Veldhuis (Kommetjie)                 R   550 

U14 Boys

1. Benji Brand (Kommetjie)                           R1 500
2. Josh Smit (Athlone Park)                          R   850
3. Max Armstrong (Kommetjie)                  R   550
4. Diran Zakarian (Melkbosstrand)            R   350 

U12 Boys

1. Jordy Maree (Kalk Bay)                             R1 000
2. Shane Sykes (Salt Rock)                             R   750
3. Steffen Burrows (Strand)                           R   500
4. Matthew McGillivray (PE)                        R   350 

Von Zipper Air Show

Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay)                                 R2 000

Video footage, images, results and news from the event are available at www.billabong.com. The TV documentary produced by Silver Bullet Productions will be broadcast on the DSTV channel Vuzu – watch the media for details.

The U16, U14 and U12 boys events in the Billabong Junior Series form part of the Pro Surf Tour (PST) sanctioned by Surfing South Africa (SSA), the national controlling body for the sport. The internationally rated Pro Junior events are sanctioned by ASP Africa, the regional office for ASP International.

Other prizes were awarded daily courtesy of Von Zipper, Kustom and Billabong.

Billabong Events & Contest Coordinator Laureen Payne can be contacted for queries at 042 200 2600 / 072 898 1001 / laureen.payne@billabong.co.za

The 2009 Billabong Junior Series started in Scottburgh (8-11 April) and continued with the inaugural Billabong Occy Grom Comp in Jeffreys Bay (9-15 July). The series concluded at Victoria Bay (23-26 September) where the series champions were crowned for the 13^th time.

\ends

NB: High resolution images from the event are available for MEDIA outlets.

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

2009 Billabong Junior Series
Event No. 3 of 3 on South Africa’s premier national junior surfing series
Victoria Bay, Southern Cape
September 23-26, 2009

Bianca Buitendag, 15, confirmed her credentials as one of South Africa’s foremost female surfers by defeating Chantelle Rautenbach in the final of Pro Junior women’s event on Day 3 of the Billabong Junior Series. 

The Southern Cape local steadily built her total during the final, starting with a flurry of low scoring rides before posting her title winning total of 15.0 out of 20 by scoring 7.25 and 7.75 on her last two rides. The victory in the Grade 1, ASP rated event earned Buitendag US $1 000 (approx. R7 500) and clinched the coveted 2009 Billabong Junior Series Pro Junior women’s title after her victory in the first event of the year in Scottburgh.

Buitendag started the day’s action by finishing second behind arch-rival and fellow 15-year-old Sarah Baum (Athlone Park) in the four-person quarterfinals but then reversed that result in the one-on-one semis to advance to the final. Rautenbach (Melkbosstrand) followed a similar route, qualifying for the semis in second place behind Tarryn Chudleigh (Kommetjie) before overcoming the WQS campaigner from Kommetjie to set up the finale against Buitendag.

Baum, with her victory in the first ASP Pro Junior women’s event to held in SA in May and her third place here, wrapped up the 2009 ASP Africa Pro Junior women’s title and receives the prestigious invitation to the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships in Sydney, Australia, for the second successive year.

Small waves forced the organisers to move the event from Victoria Bay to the nearby beach-break of Herold’s Bay and it proved an inspired decision when hip to head high predominantly left-breaking waves, sunshine and light winds combined to provide an ideal setting for the country’s best 20-and-under surfers to display their talent as the event moved towards its conclusion.

The Round of 16 in the ASP Grade 2, R75 000 Pro Junior men’s event produced fireworks from the outset when unseeded Shawn Dennis (Durban) and Bertie Stuurman (Jeffreys Bay), both of whom started in Round 1, eliminated No. 4 seed Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay) and Kyle Beach (Queensburgh).

Heat 2 saw top seed Casey Grant (Scottburgh) and Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga) lead throughout to dispatch No. 5 seed Kyle Lane (Umhlanga) and Matt Bromley (Kommetjie). The next heat began dramatically when Chris Leppan (Umhlanga) was given an interference penalty on his first ride and then posting an excellent 9.0 points on his next ride. With only half of his second best ride counting, Leppan still held on to win the heat and advance to the man-on-man quarter-finals along with second placed Klee Strachan (Winkelspruit).

Dale Staples (St Francis Bay) and Chad du Toit (Durban) progressed from the fourth heat to set up an exciting final day of competition on Saturday with eight surfers still in contention for the event crown, while the permutations for the 2009 Billabong Junior Series and ASP Africa Pro Junior titles and the top four ranked men who will join Baum in Sydney are still wide open.

The U16 boy’s quarterfinals produced great surfing and a major upset when top seed Michael February (Kommetjie) was dumped out of the event by Dane Staples (St Francis Bay) and fellow Kommetjie ripper Jarred Veldhuis, who snatched second place with a last minute 6.75. Dylan Lightfoot cruised to victory in his encounter and fellow Jeffreys Bay competitor Steven Sawyer opened with a 7.5 and then sat for 18 minutes waiting for a second ride, eventually taking the heat win with a 3.5 with two minutes to go.

The results of the U14 boys went mostly to the top seeds with Benji Brand (Kommetjie), Slade Prestwich (Scottburgh), Josh Smit (Athlone Park) and Diran Zakarian (Melkbosstrand) taking the heat wins. The only upset came when George local Daniel Buitendag, winner of the Billabong Occy Grom Comp in Jeffreys Bay, the second leg of the 2009 series, was pipped by Brandon Benjamin (Retreat) for a spot in the tomorrows semis.

The youngest division, the U12 boys, saw rising star Jordy Maree (Kalk Bay) record the highest heat total of the day when he racked up successive rides of 7.25, 8.0, 8.5 and 9.0, leaving him ‘throwing away’ the lowest two scores which would have won nearly every other heat on the day. Maree will be joined by heat winners Ethan Fletcher (Kommetjie), Shane Sykes (Salt Rock) and Donovan Wichmann (Marina da Gama) and their respective runners-up when the semis take to the surf on Saturday.

With small surf expected tomorrow, organisers will make a decision at first light on where to hold the final day of competition. The program features the quarterfinals of the Pro Junior men followed by the semifinals and finals of all four divisions before the spectacular Von Zipper Air Show completes the action in the surf.

The awards ceremony, where the Billabong Junior Series champions in all divisions will be crowned for the 13^th consecutive year, will be staged at the Ster Kinekor complex in George starting at 5pm. The South African premiere of the award winning surf movie ‘Still Filthy’ will take place immediately after the awards have been announced.

Video footage, images, results and news from the event are available daily at www.billabong.com. The TV documentary produced by Silver Bullet Productions will be broadcast on the DSTV channel Vuzu.

The U16, U14 and U12 events in the Billabong Junior Series form part of the Pro Surf Tour (PST) sanctioned by Surfing South Africa (SSA), the national controlling body for the sport. The internationally rated Pro Junior events are sanctioned by ASP Africa, the regional office for ASP International.

Other prizes will be awarded daily courtesy of Von Zipper, Kustom and Billabong.

Billabong Events & Contest Coordinator Laureen Payne can be contacted for queries at 042 200 2600 / 072 898 1001 / laureen.payne@billabong.co.za

The 2009 Billabong Junior Series started in Scottburgh (8-11 April) and continued with the inaugural Billabong Occy Grom Comp in Jeffreys Bay (9-15 July). The series concludes at Victoria Bay (23-26 September) where the series champions will be crowned for the 13^th 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

 

Pictured: Pro Junior top seed Casey Grant was on fire Photo: Moonrocket / Billabong

 

Thursday 24 September 2009 

2009 Billabong Junior Series

Event No. 3 of 3 on South Africa’s premier national junior surfing series

Victoria Bay, Southern Cape

September 23-26, 2009

Casey Grant showed the way as the seeded surfers in the Billabong Juniors Series dominated proceedings on Day 2, producing an outstanding display of new school, innovative surfing in the overhead waves and variable weather conditions at Victoria Bay.

The top seed for the Grade 2, R75 000 Pro Junior men’s division, Grant employed his full repertoire of fins-free manoeuvres to post scores of 7.5 and 8.0 out of 10 to leave his opponents in the four-man heat scrambling for second place and a spot in the last 16. The 20-year-old from Scottburgh, who won the first event of the Billabong Junior Series at his home beach at Easter and also leads the 2009 ASP Africa Pro Junior ratings, remains on track for a slew of honours, including an invitation to the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships in Australia in January, if he can repeat his opening showing.

However, it won’t be easy as the likes of second seed Klee Strachan (Winkelspruit), Mossel Bay local Shaun Joubert, the Kommetjie trio of Matt Bromley, Brendon Gibbens and Michael February along with Chad du Toit (Durban) and Kyle Beach (Queensburgh) all delivered heat-winning performances in the rippable waves.

Bertie Stuurman (Jeffreys Bay) and Shawn Dennis (Durban) were the only two qualifiers from Day 1 to force their way into the next round while wildcard Remi Peterson (JBay) threw sheets of spray on his way to joining them.

The U16 boys division took to the surf as the onshore wind freshened and Josh Smit (Athlone Park) was most impressive, winning his heat and advancing along with second placed Dane Staples (St Francis Bay). Benji Brand (Kommetjie), the 13-year-old who is competing in the Pro Juniors (U20), U16 and U14 divisions, upset Scottburgh winner David van Zyl (Glenashley) by winning their match-up while Mikey Venter (Warner Beach) used a patient strategy to secure victory.

Top seed Michael February (Kommetjie) won his heat as did Daniel Wilson (Tokai), Diran Zakarian (Melkbos) and the Jeffreys Bay duo of Dylan Lightfoot and Steven Sawyer with Sawyer posting a ride of 9.0 in a heat that did not deliver many waves.

As conditions cleaned up, Vic Bay local Bianca Buitendag got the Grade 1, R18 000 Pro Junior women’s event underway in dramatic fashion by catching her first ride as the siren sounded and combining a series of vertical manoeuvres and sweeping cutbacks to earn a near-perfect 9.5 out of 10. Buitendag followed that up with an 8.25 on her next ride just six minutes later to leave her opponents comboed and needing to improve on both their rides throughout the heat.

Sarah Baum (Athlone Park), the top seed, won her encounter to advance to the last eight along with heat runner-up Kirsty Delport (Durban) while Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbos) and Heidi Palmboom (Bluff) progressed from Heat 3 and multiple SA champion and current WQS campaigner Tarryn Chudleigh (Kommetjie) and Alice McGregor (East London) joined them in the next round.

As the swell dropped the U12 VonZipper Air Show produced explosive aerial action with Matthew McGillivray (Port Elizabeth) earning his berth in Saturday’s final alongside Slade Prestwich (Scottburgh) who won the U14 version yesterday. Two huge whales surfaced during the heat and, after gamboling on the other side of the bay, moved over to the take-off spot giving the youngsters some intimidating close-up views of their power.

Friday’s program sees the next rounds of the Pro Junior men, U16, U14 and U12 boys while the Pro Junior women will complete their Round of 8 and the one-on-one semifinals before the day ends with the women’s final.

Competitors, their families and VIP’s will be treated to the South Africa premiere of the award winning surf movie Still Filthy on Saturday. The performance will be at the Ster Kinekor complex in George on Saturday after the awards presentation where the Vic Bay event winners and the 13^th annual Billabong Junior Series champions in all divisions will be crowned.

Results from the event will also determine the 2009 ASP Africa Pro Junior men and women’s titles and the four men and one woman who will receive the coveted invitations to the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships in Sydney, Australia, in January 2010, the world’s premier annual junior surfing event.

Video footage, images, results and news from the event are available daily at www.billabong.com. The TV documentary produced by Silver Bullet Productions will be broadcast on the DSTV channel Vuzu.

The U16, U14 and U12 events in the Billabong Junior Series form part of the Pro Surf Tour (PST) sanctioned by Surfing South Africa (SSA), the national controlling body for the sport. The internationally rated Pro Junior events are sanctioned by ASP Africa, the regional office for ASP International.

Other prizes will be awarded daily courtesy of Von Zipper, Kustom and Billabong.

Billabong Events & Contest Coordinator Laureen Payne can be contacted for queries at 042 200 2600 / 072 898 1001 / laureen.payne@billabong.co.za

The 2009 Billabong Junior Series started in Scottburgh (8-11 April) and continued with the inaugural Billabong Occy Grom Comp in Jeffreys Bay (9-15 July). The series concludes at Victoria Bay (23-26 September) where the series champions will be crowned for the 13^th 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

Pictured: Benji Brand (Kommetjie) Photo: Moonrocket Billabong

Wednesday 23 September 2009 

2009 Billabong Junior Series

Event No. 3 of 3 on South Africa’s premier national junior surfing series

Victoria Bay, Southern Cape

September 23-26, 2009

The third and final event in the 2009 Billabong Junior Series got underway today in overhead waves and light onshore winds that strengthened during the day at the picturesque venue of Victoria Bay in the Southern Cape.

More than 80 of South Africa’s best surfers aged 20-and-under and their entourages have flocked to the event which has R103 000 in prize-money at stake and will crown the series champions for the 13^th successive year. The results will also determine the ASP Africa Pro Junior (U20) titles for men and women and see prestigious invitations to the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships in Australia in January issued to the highest ranking four men and top ranked woman.

The competitors in Round 1 of the Pro Junior men were the first to take to the surf with Shawn Dennis (Durban) and Jacob Mellish (Somerset West) the standouts of the round, easily winning their respective heats and advancing to match-ups with the top 16 seeds in Round 2.

Others to impress included Slade Prestwich (Scottburgh), 14, who along with Daniel Wilson (Tokai), 16, caused the upset of the round by eliminating highly touted Jaco Steyn (Melkbosstrand) from the event. Heat 8, the final encounter of the round, was a non-stop affair with the lead changing hands after every ride before Justin Grey (Port Elizabeth) and Benji Brand (Kommetjie) secured their berths amongst the last 32.

Brand, 13, who is also competing in the U14and U16 divisions, was the top point scorer of the day, racking up a near perfect 9.0 point ride to go with a 7.0 that gave him a heat tally of 16.0 out of 20 while winning his U14 match-up. The stockily built goofy-foot also won his U16 heat with a 7.25 and a 6.0 to narrowly outpoint Sarah Baum, the top seed in the Pro Junior women’s division and one of three girls who are taking on the boys in the U16 age division.

Vic Bay local Bianca Buitendag (George) won her U16 heat to join Baum in the Round 2 of the U16 boys while Heidi Palmboom (Bluff), who was in the same heat as Brand and Baum, narrowly lost out when she finished third and will have to wait for the women’s event for her next competitive heat.

Standout performances also came from Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay) in winning his U16 heat while in the U14’s, Max Armstrong (Scarborough) recorded the second highest heat total of the day’s action as he left all three of his opponents in a combo situation. Daniel Buitendag (George) and Matthew McGillivray (Port Elizabeth), 12, also tore the dropping swell apart with Shane Sykes (Salt Rock) delivering three excellent scores in his U12 heat.

Organisers are expecting offshore conditions but smaller swell for Day 2 of the event which runs until Saturday 26 September. Tomorrow will see the Pro Junior women in action alongside the other four divisions with a daily Von Zipper Air Show being run to determine the finalists who will compete for the R2 000 winner-takes-all prize-purse that goes to best aerial manoeuvre in the final on Saturday.

Video footage, images, results and news from the event will be available daily at www.billabong.com. The TV documentary produced by Silver Bullet Productions will be broadcast on the DSTV channel Vuzu.

The U16, U14 and U12 events in the Billabong Junior Series form part of the Pro Surf Tour (PST) sanctioned by Surfing South Africa (SSA), the national controlling body for the sport. The internationally rated Pro Junior events are sanctioned by ASP Africa, the regional office for ASP International.

Other prizes will be awarded daily courtesy of Von Zipper, Kustom and Billabong.

Billabong Events & Contest Coordinator Laureen Payne can be contacted for queries at 042 200 2600 / 072 898 1001 / laureen.payne@billabong.co.za

The 2009 Billabong Junior Series started in Scottburgh (8-11 April) and continued with the inaugural Billabong Occy Grom Comp in Jeffreys Bay (9-15 July). The series concludes at Victoria Bay (23-26 September) where the series champions will be crowned for the 13^th time.

\ends

Pictured: Benji Brand (Kommetjie), 13, recorded the highest heat total of 16.0 out of 20 on Day 1 of the Billabong Junior Series event at Victoria Bay on Wednesday. Brand is competing in the U14, U16 and Pro Junior (U20) events in the contest and advanced to the next round in all three divisions.

Photo: Theron / Billabong

NB: High resolution images from the event are available daily for MEDIA outlets.

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