The Lower Point at Jeffreys Bay will be the venue for a bigger and better edition of the RVCA Junior Series in 2014 Photo: Richard Johnson

Building on the success of their inaugural Junior Series surfing event at Jeffreys Bay in March, leading youth brand RVCA (pronounced ‘Rooka’) will be focussing on growing the tournament into one of the most iconic stops on the annual South African surfing calendar.

With a brand platform that combines the subcultures of art, music, fashion and modern lifestyle, RVCA’s values of integrity and balance ensure this will become a truly unique event that encourages the country’s best young surfers to push their creative boundaries, both on the land and in the waves.

“Our first event at Jeffreys Bay was a great success and we intend offering even more to the surfers and their families in future,” said RVCA South Africa Brand Manager, Arno Lane. “The Lower Point with its perfect waves, natural amphitheatre and central location on the South African coastline is everyone’s ideal venue for an enjoyable annual pilgrimage.”

The 2013 RVCA Junior Series event provided surfers and spectators with the opportunity to meet and mingle with their peers countrywide while participating in activities such as painting on an Artist Network Program (ANP) organised giant graffiti wall, impromptu table tennis tournaments, exercise bikes and chill areas, downloading action images and video footage, test riding new-age Firewire surfboards and a traditional braaivleis.

The plans for major expansion of these and many other aspects of the event have seen RVCA re-evaluate their strategy, leading to their decision to drop the Junior Series event scheduled for Durban at the end of August and devote all their energy towards making the Jeffreys Bay event the best it can be.

“We’re really excited about next year’s RVCA Junior at J-Bay and will be channelling all our resources to producing an exceptional experience for everyone who attends,” Lane confirmed.

All the results from the 2013 RVCA Junior Series are available at www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za and hundreds of images and top quality video footage can be found at www.facebook.com/RVCA.South.Africa

The RVCA Junior Series is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa (SSA), recognised as the national controlling body for surfing and a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA). The event forms part of the Pro Surf Tour (PST) with competitors in all the divisions earning points towards their 2013 PST rankings.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of:
RVCA South Africa
Contact: Arno Lane
Ph: 042 293 2199
E: arnolane7@gmail.com

Compiled & distributed by:
Life’s a Beach Communications
PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 423 1964

Michael February (Kommetjie) throws an air-reverse at J-Bay Point on his way to a 10 point ride, the U20 boys title, the highest heat score and the Fly Away award at the RVCA Junior Series event. Photo: Luke Patterson

The final day of the inaugural RVCA Junior Series enjoyed classic one metre waves peeling all the way down the legendary Lower Point and providing the perfect canvas on for the cream of South Africa’s aged 20-and-under surfers to express their creative talent as they duelled for titles in seven age divisions, over R100 000 in cash and prizes along with points on the Pro Surf Tour rankings.

The saga unfolded with equal measures of elation for the winners and disappointment for the losers as a perfect 10 point ride was recorded, courageous performances were posted by the groms and high flying aerials and progressive manoeuvres were mixed with power carves and massive hacks.

The premierU20 boys final produced the tightest finish of the entire event when local J-Bay standout Dylan Lightfoot, needing just 5.76 to snatch victory from heat leader Mikey February (Kommetjie) as time ran out, was awarded 5.75 for his final ride, leaving the pair tied on 12.85 points in first place. February was awarded the title on a count back to each surfer’s best ride when his 8.25 trumped Lightfoot’s 7.0, with Davey Brand (Kommetjie) just 0.35 of point behind them in third and Slade Prestwich (Durban North) ending fourth.

By contrast, Emma Smith (Jeffreys Bay) was in a class of her own in the U20 girls, dominating every heat she contested, including the final where her total of 13.25 left her two points clear of runner-up Nicole Pallet (La Lucia) with Tahra Uren (J-Bay) and Nikita Kekana (Kalk Bay) taking the minor placings.

The U16 girls followed a similar script with top seed Anoush Zakarian (Melkbosstrand) delivering huge backhand manoeuvres to go unbeaten throughout the event. The newly capped SA Junior Team member clinched the title ahead of Ashleigh Vaughan (Port Elizabeth), Kayla Verreynne (Mossel Bay) and Robin van der Merwe (PE), who all started in Round 1 of the event and ousted the event seeds on their way to the final.

The U16 boys final featured three surfers from the U14 division led by 12 year-old Mexican Sebastian Williams who justified his ‘supergrom’ status by finishing second behind Steff Burrows (Stellenbosch), the only genuine U16 surfer in the final, and ahead of fellow U14’s Adin Masencamp (Strand) and Ethan Fletcher (Kommetjie).

Rewaldo Abersalie was another whose local knowledge and powerful backhand attack groomed in the superlative waves at Jeffreys Bay led to a RVCA title. The J-Bay local secured the U14 boys division with Masencamp the runner-up, Williams third and Ford Van Jaarsveldt (Kommetjie) taking fourth place.

Saxon Randall (Durban) started his assault on the U12 boys title with an excellent 8.0 point ride which proved to be highest of final and he overcame the challenges of Max Elkington (Hout Bay), Karl Steen (George) and York van Jaarsveldt (Kommetjie), who finished in that order.

The youngest division in the event, the U10 boys, made history by becoming the first final in this age category to be held in solid 3 to 4 foot (one metre) waves on a point break, which were overhead for most of the tiny competitors, without having assistance from coaches or caddies in the water.

The standard was set when newcomer Christian Venter (Melkbosstrand) courageously charged into the biggest wave of the day on his first ride, riding it the entire length of the point. However, it was RVCA team rider James Ribbink (Durban North), whose experience and expert advice from his father, former SA champion and all-round waterman Jason Ribbink, who went on to be crowned champion with Venter taking second, Alex Townsend (Cape Town) third and Viviers Strydom (George) placing fourth.

Michael February was a shoe-in for the ‘Fly-Away’ award for the surfer punting the biggest aerial manoeuvre during the event by producing a massive frontside air-reverse, where the tail of his board was higher than his head. MFeb, as he is known, received a trip for two to Jeffreys Bay courtesy of J-Bay Travel including return flights from anywhere in SA and accommodation at ‘African Perfection’, the premier B&B overlooking Supertubes.

The lanky 19 year-old ASP World Tour campaigner from Kommetjie also earned himself an Apple iPad and custom-built Nixon accessories for posting the highest heat total of the event. His near-perfect 19.50 out of 20 came in his semi-final clash where he started out with 9.50 and then recorded the only perfect 10 point score of the event on the ride that included the air-reverse and a series of searing manoeuvres before finishing with another punt that he completed with full control.

The ‘On Fire’ awards for the surfers displaying the most radical and expressive approach during the event saw U14 finalists Ford van Jaarsveldt and Adin Masencamp each become the proud owners of a state of the art Firewire surfboard.

David Van Zyl (Glenashley), another of the emerging crop of SA juniors competing on the ASP World circuit, was rewarded for his power surfing when he collected the Sector 9 skateboard for the ’Biggest Carve’.

RVCA Junior Series – Lower Point, Jeffreys Bay
U20 Boys
1. Michael February (Kommetjie) 12.85 (Tied – count back to best ride – 8.25 vs. 7.0)
2. Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay) 12.85
3. David Brand (Kommetjie) 12.50
4. Slade Prestwich (Durban North) 9.75

U20 Girls
1. Emma Smith (Jeffreys Bay) 13.25
2. Nicole Pallet (La Lucia) 11.25
3. Tahra Uren (Jeffreys Bay) 7.50
4. Nikita Kekana (Kalk Bay) 6.85

U16 Boys
1. Steff Burrows (Stellenbosch) 12.0
2. Sebastian Williams (Mexico) 11.25
3. Adin Masencamp (Strand) 10.20
4. Ethan Fletcher (Kommetjie) 7.75

U16 Girls
1. Anoush Zakarian (Melkbosstrand) 13.0
2. Ashleigh Vaughan (Port Elizabeth) 8.50
3. Kayla Verreynne (Mossel Bay) 6.25
4. Robin van der Merwe (Port Elizabeth) 5.60

U14 Boys
1. Rewaldo Abersalie (Jeffreys Bay) 13.50
2. Adin Masencamp (Strand) 11.50
3. Sebastian Williams (Mexico) 7.50
4. Ford van Jaarsveldt (Kommetjie) 6.50

U12 Boys
1. Saxton Randall (Durban) 14.10
2. Max Elkington (Hout Bay) 11.35
3. Karl Steen (Morningside) 10.65
4. York van Jaarsveldt (Kommetjie) 10.25

U10 Boys
1. James Ribbink (Durban North) 10.50
2. Christian Venter (Melkbosstrand) 9.50
3. Alex Townsend (Cape Town) 5.65
4. Viviers Strydom (George) 2.60

Fly Away Award
Michael February (Kommetjie)

On Fire Awards
Ford van Jaarsveldt (Kommetjie)
Adin Masencamp (Strand)

Carve Award
David van Zyl (Glenashley)

Highest Heat Score
Michael February (Kommetjie) – 19.50 out of 20 in U20 boys semi-final

All the results from the RVCA Junior Series can be found at www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za and the activities were filmed with the photos and videos available for free download.

The RVCA Junior Series is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa (SSA), recognised as the national controlling body for surfing and a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA). The events form part of the Pro Surf Tour (PST) with competitors in all the divisions earning points towards their 2013 PST rankings.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of:

RVCA South Africa
Contact: Robin Kietzmann
Ph: 042 293 2199
E: robinrvca@gmail.com

Compiled & distributed by:

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

Sebastian Williams (Mexico) in action at J-Bay Point on Day 2 of the RVCA Junior Series Photo: Richard Johnson

Competitors in the RVCA Junior Series tore into the waves peeling down the fabled point at Jeffreys Bay on Saturday, posting outstanding rides and high scores on Day 2 of the event.

As the wind dropped and one metre waves swept into the bay, the U14 boys went ballistic with Adin Masencamp (Strand), 13, recording the highest heat tally of the event, 16.5 out of a possible 20, while Sebastian Williams (Mexico), 12, flew through the best aerial manoeuvre seen so far.

The day’s action got off to a delayed start as organisers waited for the tide to fill in and the opening round of the U20 boys were given 25 minute heats. Most of the seeded surfers advanced with the likes of Slade Prestwich (Durban North), Mikey February (Kommetjie), Jeffreys Bay locals Steven Sawyer and Dylan Lightfoot and Max Armstrong (Scarborough) delivering impressive heat victories in the small waves and strong offshore wind.

Emma Smith (J-Bay) was the standout in the U20 girls, racking up rides of 8.25 and 7.0, each out of 10, to take the early lead in the chase for the highest heat total and was joined in the semi-finals by fellow heat winners Nicole Pallet (La Lucia), Tahra Uren (J-Bay) and surprise package Roxy Giles (George), along with their respective runners-up.

SA U15 champion Chrystal Hulett (St Francis Bay) was outstanding in the U16 girls division, convincingly winning her quarter-final with rides of 6.5 and 5.75 and progressing to the semis where she will be challenged by the likes of Anoush Zakarian (Melkbosstrand), Cana Foster (Umdloti) and Teal Hogg (Umhlanga).

There were upsets galore in the U16 boys with the J-Bay trio of Jerry van Wyk, Tim Baard and Bernard Pretorious, along with Simo Mhkise (Umzumbe), ousted by U14 stars Masencamp, Williams, Ethan Fletcher (Kommetjie) and Jake Elkington (Hout Bay). The younger contingent was joined in the semis by heat winners Steff Burrows (Stellenbosch) and Alex van Rijswick (Port Elizabeth) and second placed Jordy Maree (Kalk Bay) and Michael Monk (East London).

Masencamp, one of the front-runners for the ‘On Fire’ awards, and Williams, whose air-reverse leads the standings for the ‘Fly-Away’ award, are pitted against each other and the Kom duo of Fletcher and Brage Jorgenson in the first of the U14 semi-finals.

The second semi is made up of Koby Oberholzer (Warner Beach), Ford Van Jaarsveldt (Kommetjie) and J-Bay’s Rewaldo Abersalie and Arnold Vermaak.

The U12 semis include Kommetjie’s York van Jaarsveldt and Manoa Robb, J-Bay’s Angelo Faulkner and Jannick Bouwer, Saxton Randall (Durban), Max Elkington (Hout Bay), Julian Zens (Melkbos) and Karl Steen (Morningside).

The U10 final will be contested by Alex Townsend (Cape Town), Christian Venter (Melkbos), James Ribbink (Durban North) and Viviers Strydom (George).

Alongside the stunning performances in the surf, competitors and spectators alike followed legendary artist Steven Bibb’s lead by spray painting Plascon graphics onto the graffiti wall on the beach, and often on each other, utilising the table tennis table and exercise bikes and test riding the selection of Firewire demonstration surfboards.

The finals in all seven divisions will be run on Sunday to decide the recipients for the more than R100 000 in cash, prizes and special awards at stake.

Special awards for the top performers in the waves include the ‘On-Fire’ awards where two competitors each receive a Firewire surfboard: the ‘Fly-Away’ award comprising a trip for two to Jeffreys Bay courtesy of J-Bay Travel and African Perfection; the highest heat score earns an Apple iPad and custom-built Nixon accessories; the biggest carve wins a Sector 9 skateboard and all division winners get a set of Futures Fins.

All activities will be filmed and the photos and videos will be available for free download.

The RVCA Junior Series is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa (SSA), recognised as the national controlling body for surfing and a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA). The events form part of the Pro Surf Tour (PST) with competitors in all the divisions earning points towards their 2013 PST rankings.

The RVCA Junior Series can be followed on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/RVCA.South.Africa

ENDS

Issued on behalf of:

RVCA South Africa
Contact: Robin Kietzmann
Ph: 042 293 2199
E: robinrvca@gmail.com

Compiled & distributed by:

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

Ford van Jaarsveldt (Kommetjie) hitting the lip at J-Bay Point on Day 1 of the RVCA Junior Series Photo: Luke Patterson

The opening rounds of the inaugural RVCA Junior Series event got underway in glassy and well shaped 0.5 metre waves at the Lower Point in Jeffreys Bay on Friday with nearly 100 of the country’s best young surfers strutting their stuff in the surf and enjoying a host of activities on the beach.

Surfers in age categories ranging from U10 to U20 revelled in the sunny conditions, performing new school, radical manoeuvres and posting plenty of 7.0 and 8.0 point scores (out of a possible 10) on long rides down the rock lined point.

Diminutive Jeffreys Bay local Kai Woolf was one of the standouts, catching the best waves and riding with flair to win her opening heat in the U16 girls’ division and finish second in her U20 match-up to move into the quarter-finals against the older girls in both divisions.

Max Elkington (Hout Bay) was another to progress in two divisions when he left his opponents combo’d and needing to improve on both their scoring rides as he advanced to the semis in the U12 boys and then winning his U14 heat to move into the last 16.

Simo Mhkise (Umzumbe) showed the talent that will see him represent South Africa at the ISA World Junior Championships later this year by shooting out of the blocks in his U16 boys heat. Mhkise racked up a series of spectacular moves rewarded with 7.5 that saw him cruise into the quarters along with second placed Adin Masencamp (Strand).

And highly touted Mexican supergrom Sebastian Williams, 12, started slowly in his U14 heat, finishing second, before going on to win one of the toughest U16 heats to advance to the quarters ahead of SA junior team member Jordy Maree (Kalk Bay).

While the gladiators did battle in the surf their peers occupied themselves on the beach, decorating the graffiti wall with their Plascon sponsored spraypaint under the guidance of surf- artist extraordinaire Steven Bibb, participating in impromptu table tennis tournaments, warming up on the stationary bikes in the Red Bull tent and learning more about the state of the art Firewire surfboards from legendary ASP judge Mike Ginsberg before enjoying a classic sunset braaivleis on the beach.

Organisers completed the first round of all divisions except the U20 boys who will be the first to take to the surf in the ideal strong offshore winds and a rising swell forecast for Saturday morning.

The RVCA Junior Series runs until Sunday when the finals in all seven divisions will be run and the recipients decided for the more than R100 000 in cash and prizes at stake.

Special awards for the top performers in the waves include the ‘On-Fire’ awards where two competitors each receive a Firewire surfboard: the ‘Fly-Away’ award comprising a trip for two to Jeffreys Bay courtesy of J-Bay Travel and African Perfection; the highest heat score earns an Apple iPad and custom-built Nixon accessories; the biggest carve wins a Sector 9 skateboard and all division winners get a set of Futures Fins.

All activities will be filmed and the photos and videos will be available for free download.

The RVCA Junior Series is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa (SSA), recognised as the national controlling body for surfing and a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA). The events form part of the Pro Surf Tour (PST) with competitors in all the divisions earning points towards their 2013 PST rankings.

The RVCA Junior Series can be followed on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/RVCA.South.Africa

ENDS

Issued on behalf of:

RVCA South Africa
Contact: Robin Kietzmann
Ph: 042 293 2199
E: robinrvca@gmail.com

Compiled & distributed by:

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

York van Jaarsveldt, 10, from Kommetjie will be one of the redhot young surfers competing in the RVCA Junior Series event at Jeffreys Bay from 22-24 March Photo: Ross Turner

Nearly 100 of South Africa’s best young surfers aged 20-and-under are heading for the surfing Mecca of Jeffreys Bay this week to compete in the inaugural RVCA Junior Series which will be run in the world renowned waves of the Lower Point from Friday to Sunday (22-24 March).

The more than R100 000 in prize-money, prizes and special awards at stake in seven age divisions ranging from Under 10 to U20 for boys and girls, along with points in the 2013 Pro Surf Tour (PST) rankings, has attracted competitors from every corner of the SA coastline and even Mexican supergrom Sebastian Williams, 12.

The 32-man U20 boys’ field is packed with talent including ASP World Tour campaigners David Van Zyl (Glenashley) and the Kommetjie trio of Mikey February and brothers Davey and Benji Brand, alongside national junior team members such as Jeffreys Bay standouts Dylan Lightfoot and Steven Sawyer, Slade Prestwich (Durban North), Mikey Venter (Warner Beach), Max Armstrong (Scarborough) and Diran Zakarian (Melkbosstrand).

Local girls head the U20 girls contingent and current SA U17 champion Gina Smith, her sister Emma and fellow Jeffreys Bay local Tahra Uren will be hoping to see off the challenge from the likes of Nicole Pallet (La Lucia), Inge McLaren (East London) and Nina Woermann (Kenilworth, CT) and scoop the bulk of the prize-money and points on offer.

The highly competitive U16 boys’ division features SA U15 champion and J-Bay local Matt McGillivray, fellow national team members Jordy Maree (Kalk Bay), Steff Burrows (Stellenbosch) and Simo Mhkise (Umzumbe) as well as rising stars Bevan Willis (Umdloti), Nthando Msibi (Durban) and a host of U14 upstarts.

SA U15 champ Crystal Hulett (St Francis Bay) and national team member Anoush Zakarian (Melkbos) will be tested in the U16 girls at J-Bay by the likes of Olivia Brand (Umdloti), SA U13 champ Sophie Bell (Umhlali) and diminutive 11 year-old local emerging star Kai Woolf (Jeffreys Bay), amongst others.

All four SA U13 finalists – Adin Masencamp (Strand), Ethan Fletcher (Kommetjie), Jose Faulkner (Jeffreys Bay) and Max Elkington (Hout Bay) – will be in action in the U14 boys division at the RVCA event. They will be up against a talented field that includes Koby Oberholzer (Warner Beach), Ford van Jaarsveldt (Kommetjie) and Sebastian Williams (Mexico).

Williams, who will also contest the U16 boys’ category, is visiting the country for the first time with his father, former Durbanite Tim Williams. Arguably the best 12 year-old to compete in SA, Williams was ranked No. 12 in the prestigious 2012 Surfer Mag ‘Hot 100 Groms’ (U16) list, up from 19^th in 2011, and has a signature range of Firewire surfboards, a signature Sticky Bumps deckpad, endorses Futures Fins and has his own YouTube channel (YouTube.com/SebastianSurfer) which has received more than 70 000 views since 2009.

The Firewire stand at the event will provide expert advice and have a large selection of these exciting new-age surfboards for any of the competitors to test ride in the surf.

The U12 and U10 boys’ divisions showcase SA’s rising wave of future surf stars including York van Jaarsveldt and Manoa Robb (Kommetjie), Angela Faulkner (J-Bay) and Durbanites Saxton Randall, Tide Lee Ireland and James Ribbink and 20 more.

The RVCA Junior Series combines the subcultures of art, music, fashion and modern lifestyle to encourage young surfers to display creativity, originality and community awareness as well as performing in the waves.

The event incorporates an Instagram competition with an ANP artist onsite creating interactive artwork and motivating the surfers and spectators to get involved on the graffiti wall using the Plascon sponsored paints and stencils.

Special awards for the top performers in the waves include the ‘On-Fire’ awards for the most radical and expressive approach during the event with two competitors each receiving a state of the art Firewire surfboard while the ‘Fly-Away’ award goes to the surfer punting the biggest aerial manoeuvre who wins a trip for two to Jeffreys Bay courtesy of J-Bay Travel and African Perfection.

The surfer posting the highest heat score of the event ‘scores’ an Apple iPad and custom-built Nixon accessories; the surfer carving the biggest turn wins a Sector 9 skateboard; the winner of each division receives a set of Futures Fins and every competitor takes home a goodie bag of merchandise including Nixon headphones, RVCA contest tee, Lundun eyewear, Plascon spray paint, Sticky Bumps wax and loads more.

All activities will be filmed and the photos and videos will be available for free download.

The RVCA Junior Series is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa (SSA), recognised as the national controlling body for surfing and a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA). The events form part of the Pro Surf Tour (PST) with competitors in all the divisions earning points towards their 2013 PST rankings.

All divisions are already full and entries for the event are closed.

The RVCA Junior Series can be followed on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/RVCA.South.Africa

ENDS

Issued on behalf of:

RVCA South Africa
Contact: Robin Kietzmann
Ph: 042 293 2199
E: robinrvca@gmail.com

Compiled & distributed by:

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

Mobile:         +27 (0) 82 423 1964

Mexican supergrom Sebastian Williams, 12, seen here riding a revolutionary 4’10” Firewire ‘Vanguard’ surfboard in Cape Town, will be competing against SA’s top junior surfers in the RVCA Junior Series event at Jeffreys Bay from 22-24 March Photo: Ross Turner

Mexican surfing supergrom, Sebastian Williams, 12, looks set to make a huge impression amongst South Africa’s top junior surfers when he competes in the inaugural RVCA Junior Series in Jeffreys Bay from 22-24 March.

On his first trip to the country with his father, former Durbanite Tim Williams, Sebastian had everyone who saw him surfing in Cape Town on the weekend asking, “Who is that kid?”, with his phenomenal talent in the waves, cutting edge equipment and mature attitude.

Rated in the prestigious Surfer Mag ‘Hot 100 Groms’ list in both 2011 and 2012, Sebastian already has a signature range of Firewire surfboards (the Sebastian Williams Pro Model), a signature deckpad by Sticky Bumps (the Williams), endorses Futures Fins and has his own YouTube channel (YouTube.com/SebastianSurfer) which has received more than 70 000 views since 2009.

Having grown up surfing sand-bottom points on the island off the Mexican coast where he lives, Sebastian is looking forward to competing in the RVCA event at the Lower Point in Jeffreys Bay.

“I’m really looking forward riding J-Bay and competing against the South Africans,” said Sebastian. “I got to hang-out with a bunch of really cool guys in Cape Town and saw some of the local kids surfing really good. Hopefully we’ll get waves at J-Bay and I can do well in the contest.”

The RVCA Junior Series event has attracted nearly 100 entries from all over the SA coastline in age divisions ranging from U10 to U20 for boys and girls with more than R100 000 in prize-money and prizes at stake, along with points on the 2013 Pro Surf Tour (PST) rankings.

RVCA combines the subcultures of art, music, fashion and modern lifestyle making this a unique event with the young surfers encouraged to display creativity, originality and community awareness as well as performing in the waves.

An Instagram competition will be launched at the event with an ANP artist onsite creating an interactive artwork and motivating the surfers and spectators to get involved on the graffitti wall using the Plascon sponsored paints and stencils.

Special awards for the top performers in the waves include the ‘On-Fire’ awards where the two surfers displaying the most radical and expressive approach during the event will each receive a state of the art Firewire surfboard.

The Firewire stand at the event will also provide expert advice and a large selection of these exciting new-age surfboards for any of the competitors to test ride in the surf.

The ‘Fly-Away’ award goes to the surfer punting the biggest aerial manoeuvre who wins a trip for two to Jeffreys Bay courtesy of J-Bay Travel that includes return flights from anywhere in SA and accommodation at ‘African Perfection’, the premier B&B overlooking Supertubes.

The highest heat score in the event ‘scores’ an Apple iPad and custom-built Nixon accessories, the biggest carve wins a Sector 9 skateboard and the winner of each division receives a set of Futures Fins.

And every competitor takes home a goodie bag of merchandise including Nixon headphones, RVCA contest tee, Lundun eyewear, Plascon spraypaint, Sticky Bumps wax and loads more.

In addition, all activities will be filmed and the photos and videos will be available for free download.

The RVCA Junior Series is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa (SSA), recognised as the national controlling body for surfing and a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA). The events form part of the Pro Surf Tour (PST) with competitors in all the divisions earning points towards their 2013 PST rankings.

Entries for those divisions that are not already full can be submitted online at www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za and participants must be PST members.

The RVCA Junior Series can be followed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rvcajuniorseries

ENDS

Issued on behalf of:

RVCA South Africa
Contact: Robin Kietzmann
Ph: 042 293 2199
E: robinrvca@gmail.com

Compiled& distributed by:

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

Dylan Lightfoot takes to the air on his way to victory in the U20 Boys final Photo: Billabong / Kody McGregor

Durban – Dylan Lightfoot was the star performer at the Billabong Junior Series presented by BOS event in Durban on the weekend, winning every heat he contested and comfortably taking both the Under 20 and U18 boys’ titles.

Competing in rippable one metre waves at New Pier, the 18 year-old DaKine and Nixon team-rider from Jeffreys Bay earned a wildcard into the U20 specialty event by winning the U18 final. He went on to dominate his older competitors to pocket a total of R15 000 in prize-money and take the early lead in both the Billabong Junior Series and SSA Pro Surf Tour (PST) U18 rankings.

Heidi Palmboom (Bluff) snatched the winner-takes-all R10 000 prize-purse in the U20 girls while Chanelle Botha (Warner Beach) outclassed her opponents in the U18 girls, posting almost twice the score of runner-up Nicole Pallet (Durban) to add R5 000 to her bank balance.

Jordan Maree (Kalk Bay) was just as dominant in the U16 boys, which like the U18 divisions, was 2A PST rated. Racking up a heat tally of 13.25 points out of a possible 20, Maree left runner-up Tim Baard (Jeffreys Bay) with too much to do as he cruised to victory.

The most impressive performance came from diminutive Kai Woolf (Jeffreys Bay).who posted a perfect 10 point ride and followed that with a 9.40 for a heat total of 19.40 in the U14 girls’ final. That not only clinched the title for Woolf but also earned her the Nixon WTA award of a custom engraved Nixon watch for the highest heat total of the entire event, which she accepted with an impressive speech that belied her tender years.

By contrast, the final of the U14 boys was a ding-dong encounter with the lead changing hands several times and Koby Oberholzer (Durban) narrowly outscoring Adin Masencamp (Strand) by less than a point to take the win.

The final of the U12 boys, the youngest division in the Billabong Junior Series, was also a see-saw battle with Max Elkington (Hout Bay) eventually pulling ahead to secure victory after a great display of progressive surfing.

The light onshore wind provided ideal ramps for aerial and progressive manoeuvres and the country’s top 20-and-under surfers took full advantage, pushing the limits and making it difficult for the judges to decide the special awards.

Once the spray had settled, the VonZipper Flair Up award and R10 000 went to Diran Zakarian (Melkbosstrand) for the highest flying aerial while Shane Sykes (Salt Rock) received the DaKine Youthful Movement award and R10 000 for his progressive surfing.

The next stop on the Billabong Junior Series presented by BOS will be held at Nahoon Beach in East London on 6&7 April before moving to Kommetjie in Cape Town in August and culminating at Seal Point in the Eastern Cape in September where the series champions in all divisions will be crowned.

Billabong Junior Series (Event #1 of 4)
New Pier, Durban
Results

U20 Boys
1. Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay) R10 000
2. Michael February (Kommetjie)
3. Mickey Venter (Durban)
4. Dane Staples (St Francis Bay)

U20 Girls
1. Heidi Palmboom (Bluff) R10 000
2. Emma Smith (Jeffreys Bay)
3. Nicole Pallet (Durban)
4. Chanelle Botha (Warner Beach)

U18 Boys
1. Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay) R5 000
2. Max Armstrong (Scarborough) R900
3. Ethan Pentz (Kalk Bay) R600
4. Justin Sykes (Salt Rock) R500

U18 Girls
1. Chanelle Botha (Warner Beach) R5 000
2. Nicole Pallet (Durban) R900
3. Tahra Uren (Jeffreys Bay) R600
4. Caryn McNicol (Scottburgh) R500

U16 Boys
1. Jordan Maree (Kalk Bay) R5 000
2. Tim Baard (Jeffreys Bay) R900
3. Jerry van Wyk (Jeffreys Bay) R600
4. Donovan Wichmann (Marina da Gama) R500

U14 Boys
1. Koby Oberholzer (Durban) R2 500
2. Adin Masencamp (Strand) R450
3. Ethan Fletcher (Kommetjie) R300
4. Rewaldo Abersalie (Jeffreys Bay) R250

U14 Girls
1. Kai Woolf (Jeffreys Bay) R2 500
2. Olivia Izzard (Durban) R450
3. Sophie Bell (Durban) R300
4. Kirsty McGillivray (Jeffreys Bay) R250

U12 Boys
1. Max Elkington (Hout Bay) R2 500
2. Saxton Randall (Durban) R450
3. Tide Lee Ireland (Durban) R300
4. Angelo Faulkner (Jeffreys Bay) R250

VonZipper Flair Up Award – Best Aerial manoeuvre
Diran Zakarian (Melkbosstrand) R10 000

DaKine Youthful Movement Award – Most progressive surfing
Shane Sykes (Salt Rock) R10 000

Nixon Winner Takes All (WTA) – Highest heat total
Kai Woolf (Jeffreys Bay) – 19.40 (10.0 + 9.40) out of 20 – Custom engraved Nixon Watch

The Billabong Junior Series presented by BOS is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa, recognised by the Dept of Sport and Recreation as the national controlling body for surfing. The events form part of the Pro Surf Tour (PST) with competitors in all the divisions except the U20’s earning points towards their 2013 PST rankings.

Billabong South Africa can be followed on Facebook at Billabong South Africa
Billabong South Africa is on Twitter @BillabongSA
Billabong is on Instagram @billabongsa – the series hashtag is #billabongjnr

The Billabong Junior Series is proudly supported by BOS Ice Tea, Sony, All Aboard Travel, VonZipper, Nixon, DaKine and KR Fins.

For more details contact:
Chad D’Arcy
e: chad.darcy@billabong.co.za
t: 079 519 5990

or

Josh Enslin
e: josh.enslin@billabong.co.za
t: 079 6987 456

For media enquiries contact
Paul Botha
e: lifesabeach@mweb.co.za
t: 082 423 1964

Durban – The first of four events in the 2013 Billabong Junior Series presented by BOS kicks off this weekend (2 & 3 March) at New Pier in Durban. Featuring nearly 100 of the country’s top 20-and-under surfers, the series offers a total of over R750 000 in prize-money and prizes along with coveted titles in eight age divisions for boys and girls.

Favourable conditions with light winds, a pushing swell and excellent sand banks at Durban’s premier surfspot all point to an exciting start to the 17th annual edition of South Africa’s longest running junior surfing series.

The event gets underway with an opening function for all competitors and officials in the Collopy Room at Durban Surf Lifesaving Club at North Beach at 6pm on Friday evening where snacks will be served. The first heats in the Under 16 boys’ division take to the surf at 8am on Saturday morning.

The early rounds for the U12, U14 boys and girls, U16 boys and U18 boys and girls will be run on Saturday with all the finals scheduled for Sunday. The U20 divisions, where the 16 boys and eight girls are competing for winner-takes-all R10 000 prize-purses, will be run entirely on Sunday.

Other awards at stake at the event include the VonZipper Flair Up Award and the DaKine Youthful Movement Award which each earn R10 000 for the winners, the Nixon Winner Takes All (WTA) contest where the surfer posting the highest heat score receives a WTA engraved Nixon watch and specialty prizes including an array of cutting-edge Sony products.

Awards for the overall top performers across the four-event series include Billabong sponsorships amounting to R75 000 each for six deserving surfers, the BOS Surfer of Series who collects cash and prizes to the value of R20 000 and the All Aboard Travel Sportsmanship Award for the surfer displaying the best sportsmanship who wins a return ticket and four nights accommodation in Bali, Indonesia, valued at R17k.

The Billabong Junior Series presented by BOS is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa, recognised by the Dept of Sport and Recreation as the national controlling body for surfing. The events form part of the Pro Surf Tour (PST) with competitors in all the divisions except the U20’s earning points towards their 2013 PST rankings.

Billabong South Africa can be followed on Facebook at Billabong South Africa
Billabong South Africa is on Twitter @BillabongSA

Billabong is on Instagram @billabongsa – the series hashtag is #billabongjnr

ENDS

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