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

South African surfers posted great results in Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) events on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean on the weekend with Travis Logie placed third in the 6-Star rated Saquarema Pro in Brazil while Rosanne Hodge, Tarryn Chudleigh and Sarah Baum finished equal ninth in the 6-Star women’s Swatch Girls Pro in France.

Logie’s super-fast surfing was tailor-made for the one to two metre beach-break waves that pumped throughout the Brazilian event and the Durbanite was the only one of the nine South Africans in the event to reach the last 24.

”I couldn’t find the best waves but I got the win that’s the most important,” Logie said after defeating Gabriel Villaran (PER) in the Round of 16 on Saturday. “This place is awesome and the waves have been perfect for the competition since the first day.”

Logie went on to oust Brazilian Wiggolly Dantas in the quarterfinals on the final day before coming up short against fellow ASP World Title Race campaigner and eventual runner-up Marco Polo (BRA) in the semis. The event was won by Brazilian Willian Cardoso.

Logie pocketed US $5 000 and 1 688 points which elevated him to No. 34 on the combined ASP World Rankings which are headed by Taj Burrow (AUS) with SA’s Jordy Smith in the No. 2 spot.

Rudy Palmboom (Bluff) posted the next best result by a South African when he placed equal 25th after finishing third behind Logie and Jihad Khodr (BRA) in the Round of 48, collecting $1 500 and 578 points. Brandon Jackson (Durban North), Ricky Basnett (Bluff), Chad du Toit (Durban) and Brendon Gibbens (Kommetjie) all placed equal 49th with 300 points and $300 while Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay) and Umhlanga’s Beyrick de Vries and Kyle Lane were Round 1 casualties.

ASP World Rankings
(After event Saquarema Surf Pro International)
1 Burrow,Taj AUS 24125
2 Smith,Jordy ZAF 22191
3 Slater,Kelly USA 21750
4 Andre,Jadson BRA 20977
5 Hobgood,C.J. USA 19484

South Africans (in the top 200)
34 Logie,Travis ZAF 8057
43 Bryson,Royden ZAF 6723
71 Palmboom,Rudy ZAF 4163
78 Jackson,Brandon ZAF 3701
115 Weare,David ZAF 2334
172 Joubert,Shaun ZAF 1289
182 Fahrenfort,Damien ZAF 1141
190 Basnett,Ricky ZAF 1005

Meanwhile on the other side of the Atlantic, a strong contingent of South African girls overcame tough onshore conditions, 1 to 1.5 metre waves and a host of the world’s best female surfers in the Swatch Girls Pro at Hossegor on the Bay of Biscay coast of France.

ASP Women’s World Title Race campaigner Rosanne Hodge (East London) and Tarryn Chudleigh (Kommetjie) advanced through two rounds of competition to reach the last 12 where they were joined by Sarah Baum (Athlone Park), 16, who started in the Round of 60.

“The whole 25 minutes was just paddling and duck diving under waves so you have to find the ones which connect up to the inside section through to the beach. It is a really hard contest with all the girls surfing so well at the moment so I am stoked to get through to the next round,” Baum, 16, said after grabbing second spot behind ASP Women’s Star ratings leader Sally Fitzbgibbons (AUS) and ahead of Bethany Hamilton (HAW) and Sage Ericsson (USA) to move into the last 12.

All three ended up third in their respective heats to place equal 9th overall in the event with earnings of US $900 and 1 800 points. Chudleigh is now the highest ranked SA girls on the ASP Women’s Star Rankings, holding the No. 13 spot just ahead of Bianca Buitendag (George) who placed 19th in France.

Nikita Robb (East London) joined Buitendag in 19th place overall while Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbosstrand) finished equal 37th. The event was won by three-time and reigning ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) who beat Coco Ho (HAW) in the final.

ASP Women’s Star Ratings
(After Swatch Girls Pro)
1 Fitzgibbons,Sally AUS 7440
2 Wright,Tyler AUS 6240
3 Enever,Laura AUS 5760
4 Miley-Dyer,Jessi AUS 5640
5 Blanchard,Alana HAW 5280

South Africans
13 Chudleigh,Tarryn ZAF 4728
14 Buitendag,Bianca ZAF 4680
17 Hodge,Rosanne ZAF 4440
17 Robb,Nikita ZAF 4440
24 Baum,Sarah ZAF 4080
41 Rautenbach,Chantelle ZAF 3153
78 Zoetmulder,Faye ZAF 700

Baum was also in outstanding form in the Swatch Girls Pro Junior (U/20) event held at the same venue, defeating both the eventual winner, Courtney Conlogue (USA), and runner-up, Coco Ho, in the earlier rounds. Baum just missed out on reaching the four-person final to finish equal 5th overall. Buitendag and Rautenbach finished equal 17th with Chudleigh equal 25th.

Ends

 

Pictured: Travis Logie (Durban) throws a rooster-tail of spray as he cuts back on his way to third place in the Saquarema Pro in Brazil on the weekend
Photo: Daniel Smorigo / ASP South America

Issued on behalf of:

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

Compiled & Distributed by:

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

About ASP:
The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

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

 

Billabong has announced the airing of a brand new 6-part reality television show, captured and directed by Silver Bullet Productions over the recent nineteen day Billabong Girls Get Out There Summer tour.

The show has gained exponential momentum over the last two weeks, be sure not to miss episode three tonight on VUZU, channel 123 on DSTV, at 7pm!

It all started on Sunday, the 6^th of December, five new Billabong Ambassadors arrived in Jeffreys Bay for a trip that was going to change their lives. Nicky Van Den Aardweg (19) from Durban, Christi Vosloo (16), Amy Jane Smorenburg (17) and Chanel Hurlin (18) from Cape Town and Tanya Van Aswegan (19) from Pretoria joined up with the three Billabong Girl team surfers TarrynChudleigh (20) from Kommetjie, Morag Steele (18) from Somerset West and Adele Nortje (19) from Mossel Bay and embarked on a three week roadtrip. For the next nineteen days, the pink Billabong bus became their home as they traveled the South African coastline from Jeffreys Bay up to Durban and then all the way back along the coast to Cape Town.

For the entire journey, the eight Billabong Girls had cameras in their faces from when they woke up to when they went to sleep at night, capturing all the magic of their trip. The highs, lows, fun, excitement and girly fights were all caught on camera and are all ingredients for a show that is going to undoubtedly capture the imaginations of young girls around South Africa.

Episode 3 begins with a second attempt to liberate the flamingos, this time the pair are rescued and join the pink bus tour as it makes it way along the coast towards Umhlanga. The girls are able to explore their naughty nature while on tour, whether it’s chalking messages on sidewalks, playing pranks or just instigating mischief. Adele seems particularly apt at stirring up mischief.

Tarryn has made the Under 20 and the Open Women’s Finals in her competition and Chanel and Morag sneak off to support her. Each competition is a step towards Tarryn’s dreams and her disappointing result upsets her. She’s glad to have Morag and Chanel there for support.

The bus moves on towards Margate, pausing for a hilltop sunset. The group vibe is definitely easier now, with Tarryn perking up and attempting a sunset bush dive, unfortunately missing the bush, and Tanya taking her first bush pee, which she’s delighted with.

Day 9 finds the girls in Margate on a rainy morning, discovering a magnificent secluded waterfall, its thunderous presence instilling calm reflection and putting life into tranquil perspective. Back in Margate it’s not an ideal beach day, though the girls are still keen to make the most of the chance to surf, while Chanel and Adele sneak off to Pleasure Centre to ride the carousels and super tubes.

The girls and 2 flamingos move on towards the Transkei, pulling up alongside a pine forest. Determined to live every moment the girls charge into the misty forest, climbing trees and hiding in the eerie calm of the quiet forest before screaming at the top of their lungs. Their energy not exhausted Adele and Tarryn then decide to charge a herd of cows. 

Nicola Reid-Ross, Billabong Girls SA Marketing Manager, was thrilled at the prospect of showcasing the Girls Get Out There Tour through a six-part television show.  “This is a first for Billabong Girls in South Africa and is something that we are incredibly excited about. It is an opportunity for us to share our brand with our target market in an unforced way which resonates with their everyday lives.” said Nicola. “It is the perfect way for us to express the Billabong Girls lifestyle and show off our beautiful Winter product range.

Michael Raimondo, Director of the show, elaborated further stating, “the essence of surfing ebbs and flows throughout the trip, as the sport and lifestyle that inspired a brand is introduced to the ambassadors and their love and respect of the ocean and Mother Nature moves them in different ways; sunrise and sunsets, beach activations, a Winter ’10 shoot, hidden waterfalls, bush diving, screaming in forests, chalk messages, friendships and differences all weaved into a personable expression of what it’s like to explore yourself and set your spirit free.”

Watch it all unfold every Thursday.

BBGGOT ‘09 – Coming up on Episode 3

LINK:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXeo9ErwhTY

BBGGOT ‘09 – Coming up next for Ep4

LINK:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCqT-XGBxNM

 

Billabong Girls Get Out There Summer Tour hits beaches countrywide in December

The Billabong Girls Get Out There Summer Tour hits the beaches of South Africa again this December, bringing its patented formula of fun in the sun, the healthy outdoor lifestyle, plenty of activities and heaps of give-aways and prizes to coastal towns in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern and Western Cape.

The 12-day, eight-stop tour starts in Ballito on 12 December with the Billabong surf team-riders and brand ambassadors traveling the length of the coastline introducing girls of all ages to the fun-loving lifestyle that includes learn-to-surf lessons, creative workshops, Yoga sessions and other energising activities.

Well known TV personality Marius Roberts will be presenting the beach activities as the tour also visits the premier holiday destinations of Umhlanga, Margate, Port Elizabeth, Plett, Mossel Bay, Big Bay and Camps Bay.

“The Girls Get Out There Summer tour is simply about having fun on the beach,” says Billabong Girls marketing manager Tara Hossack. “Billabong Girls is all about getting the girls out of the malls and onto the beaches to experience laughing, playfulness, family and friends … all set against a backdrop of sun, sand and surf!”

The activities on the Billabong Girls Get Out There Summer Tour are all absolutely free and girls countrywide are invited to bring their friends and family to the beach to enjoy the lifestyle, meet and mingle with SA’s surf stars and participate in the action.

The Neutrogena Surf School offers learn-to-surf lessons every hour, on the hour, using fully accredited surf instructors and all the necessary equipment at each stop on the tour. Sign up at the Neutrogena gazebo on a first-come, first-served basis and all participants’ names will be entered into the lucky draws for Neutrogena product hampers.

Bevcan are driving the message that cans are cooler, lighter, stronger and less dangerous than glass on our beaches! Come and have fun on their giant inflatable slide and enter their competition to stand a chance of winning a specially designed surfboard at each event!

Seventeen Magazine is focusing on all the things girls just love and have their portable photo booth where they will make you feel like a cover model! And there will be a creative area set up where girls can express their imaginative, original and artistic talents with paints on canvas or with beading.

Meet our Billabong Girl Surf Team and our Billabong brand ambassadors as they hit the beach to get you on film enjoying yourselves – all the fun and best moments will be uploaded onto Billabong.com, Facebook and YouTube and you may even get to see yourself on Vuzu TV (DSTV Channel 123).

The Billabong Girls Get out There Summer Tour is coordinated by Magnetic Events and proudly supported by Neutrogena, Bevcan, Seventeen, FNB, Vuzu, Sony, Von Zipper, Kustom and Nixon.

Watch out for the customised Billabong Girls Get Out There Summer Tour bus in these towns:

Saturday 12th – Willard Beach, Ballito (10am – 3pm)
Sunday 13th – Main Beach, Umhlanga (10am-3pm)
Monday 14th – Main Beach, Margate (10am-3pm)
Wednesday 16th – Hobie Beach, Port Elizabeth (10am-3pm)
Thursday 17th – Beacon Isle Main Beach, Plettenberg Bay (10am-3pm)
Saturday 19th – Dias Beach, Mossel Bay
Monday 21st – Big Bay, Bloubergstrand, Cape Town (10am-3pm)
Tuesday 22nd – Camps Bay, Cape Town (10am-3pm)

/ends

Girls countrywide are invited to enjoy the natural fun-loving lifestyle when the Billabong Girls Get Out There Summer Tour visits the beaches of SA this December

Issued on behalf of:

Billabong South Africa

Tel:                   042 200 2600
Fax:                  042 293 2478
Email:               tara.hossack@billabong.co.za

Compiled & Issued 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

Thursday 19 November 2009 – South Africans Brandon Jackson, Rudy Palmboom Jnr. and Damien Fahrenfort were eliminated from the 6-Star Prime rated Reef Hawaiian Pro yesterday, leaving only Royden Bryson and Travis Logie still in contention in the penultimate event on the 2009 ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the first event in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.

The event got underway last Thursday on the first day of the 12-day waiting period, with former Capetonian Fahrenfort advancing to the Round of 96 when he placed a comfortable second in his opening encounter held in wind affected 1 to 1.5 metre waves at Haleiwa.

Five consecutive days with strong winds, plenty of rain and small waves saw the event remain on hold until yesterday when the balance of the Round of 128 and the first 14 (of 16) heats in the Round of 96 were run in clean one metre surf.

Palmboom, 21, from the Bluff demonstrated the experience he gained from a great run in the corresponding event last year, easily winning his opening heat to join Fahrenfort in the last 96, along with Jackson (Durban North) and Bryson (Cape Town), both of whom were seeded to start in that round.

Fahrenfort was the first to be ousted, placing third in his heat behind Hawaiian standout Bruce Irons and emerging Brazilian star Alejo Muniz. Jackson could not find a second high-scoring ride to add to his best ride of 5.57 out of 10 and placed fourth. Palmboom suffered a similar fate when, needing a score of 6.10 to finish second and advance, he fell just short with a ride of 5.50 points.

The result is a blow to Jackson’s hopes of qualifying for the elite ASP World Tour for 2010. Rated No. 20 on the WQS going into this event, Jackson now needs a minimum of a semi-final finish at the last event of the 2009 season, the 6-Star Prime rated O’Neill World Cup of Surfing which starts 10 Kms away at Sunset Beach next Tuesday, to have any chance of finishing in the top 15 on the yearend ratings.

Bryson will start his campaign in the Haleiwa event in Heat No.15, the first heat to be run when competition resumes, while Logie (Durban), currently ranked No. 10 on the WQS but as yet not assured of a spot in the top 15 at yearend, gets his challenge underway in Heat No. 3 of the Round of 64.

The waiting period for the Reef Hawaiian Pro runs until Monday 23 November and all the action can be followed on the live webcast at www.triplecrownofsurfing.com where there are also videos of every heat already run. Note that Hawaii is 12 hours behind South Africa, e.g. 8am in Hawaii is 8pm in SA.

REEF HAWAIIAN PRO

Day 2 RESULTS:

Round of 128: Results shown in order of 1st place through 4th. 1st & 2nd advance

H12: Rudy Palmboom (ZAF), Hodei Collazo (EUK), Izuki Tanaka (JPN), Kai Barger (HAW)
H13: Sunny Garcia (HAW), Shaun Ward (USA), Christophe Allary (REU), Danny Fuller
H14: Adam Robertson (AUS), Ola Eleogram (HAW), Dane Gudauskas (USA), Bruno Rodrigues (USA)
H15: Ruben Gonzalez (PRT), Jesse Merle-Jones (HAW), Jack Perry (AUS), Ross Williams (HAW)
H16: Yuri Sodre (BRA), Torrey Meister (HAW), Dylan Graves (PRI), Kamalei Alexander (HAW)

Round of 96:
H1: Granger Larsen (HAW), Jarrad Howse (AUS), Nathaniel Curran (USA), Dylan Melamed (HAW)
H2: Bruce Irons (HAW), Alejo Muniz (BRA), Damien Fahrenfort (ZAF), Pablo Paulino (BRA)
H3: Flynn Novak (HAW), Taylor Lincoln (AUS), Brad Ettinger (USA), Drew Courtney (AUS)
H4: Cory Lopez (USA), Jay Thompson (AUS), Dylan Goodale (HAW), Brandon Jackson (ZAF)
H5: James Taipan Wood (AUS), Evan Valiere (AUS), Leonardo Neves (BRA), Luke Munro (AUS)
H6: Joel Centeio (HAW), Nathan Hedge (AUS), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Nic Muscroft (AUS)
H7: Andre Silva (BRA), Marcia Farney (BRA), Jihad Khodr (BRA), Yadin Nicol (BRA)
H8: Tanner Gudauskas (USA), Leigh Sledley (AUS), Luke Campbell (AUS), Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
H9: Nathan Yeomans (USA), Hank Gaskell (USA), Gony Zubrieta (ESP), Heat Joske (AUS)
H10: Alain Riou (PYF), Aritz Aranburu (EUK), Shaun Gossman (AUS), Gavin Gillette (HAW)
H11: Hodei Collazo (EUK), Brian Toth (PRT), Neco Padaratz (BRA), TJ Barron (HAW)
H12: Dion Atkinson (AUS), Marco Polo (BRA), Rudy Palmboom (ZAF), Jason Shibata (HAW)
H13: Sunny Garcia (HAW), Bernardo Miranda (BRA), Ola Eleogram (HAW), Thiago Camaro (BRA)
H14: Clay Marzo (HAW), Tim Reyes (USA), Adam Robertson (AUS), Shaun Ward (USA)

South Africa’s Rosanne Hodge (East London), currently rated No. 9 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour, will also be in action in the event at Haleiwa in the Vans Hawaiian Pro, a specialty event featuring the ASP top 16 ranked females plus four wildcards.

For more information on the ASP Africa members, including profiles and rankings, visit www.aspafrica.com

Ends

Issued on behalf of:

ASP Africa
Contact: Colin Fitch – Operations Manager
Tel: 021 534 5738
Email: aspafrica@mweb.co.za

Compiled & Distributed by:

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

About ASP:

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

South African Junior Surfing Championships
Surfing South Africa’s premier national junior tournament
Nahoon Reef, East London
Wednesday September 29 to Sunday October 4

Durban team successfully defends Freedom Cup at the 2009 South African Junior Surfing Championships in East London

The strong, highly motivated Durban based KZN team successfully defended the Freedom Cup at the South African Junior Championships in perfect surf at Nahoon Reef in East London yesterday (Sunday October 4) when they beat 2007 champions and arch rivals Western Province by a mere 476 points.

Eastern Province came third, hosts Border were fourth, Boland finished fifth, KZN South were sixth, Southern Cape seventh and the South African Development Academy Team were eighth.

The Durban team deservedly won the Team Spirit Trophy for their war cry, team spirit and support of each other throughout the championships.

 Defending U18 champion and WP captain Matthew Bromley was outstanding throughout the event and earned his victory in the premier division final. His 13.5 points were good enough to beat Beyrick de Vries of KZN who scored 12.75 to finish second. Nick Godfrey of Eastern Province was third with 11.4 points and Devin Lane of KZN posted 6.25 to end fourth.

Host province Border had something to celebrate when Alice McGregor beat Kirsty Delport of KZN to take honours in the U18 Girls Final. Holly Armstrong of Western Province was third and Alice’s twin sister Laurie came fourth.

In the Under 16 Boys final David Van Zyl of KZN scored 14 points which meant that 2008 runner up Mikey February had to settle for second spot once again. Jean du Plessis of Border came third and fourth place went to Ruben Lammers of Southern Cape.

With an air ticket to the 2010 Rip Curl Junior International up for grabs, defending U16 Girls champion Bianca Buitendag of Eastern Province powered her way to victory over fellow national junior team member Sarah Baum of KZN. Cara MacDonald of Border was third and Sabrina Scott of Western Province came fourth.

Newly selected SA Junior team member Diran Zakarian of Boland posted the highest score of all the finals, a massive 17.75 in the U14 Boys division to take the title away from 2008 champion Slade Prestwich of KZN. Benji Brand and fellow WP surfer Nic Notten, who was named the Most Improved surfer at the championships, were third and fourth respectively.

In the U14 Girls Division last year’s runner up, Carryn MacNicol of KZN, went one better and took gold while 2008 U12 Girls champion Inge McLaren of Border was second ahead of Nina Woermann of Western Province and Nicole Pallett of KZN.

The U12 Boy’s final was one of the best heats of the contest as the four talented surfers gave it their all in the perfect 3-4 foot Nahoon Reef surf. In the end Matthew McGillivray of Eastern Province, who was fourth in this division last year, edged out Jordy Maree of Western Province to take gold while Steffen Burrows and Boland teammate Adin Masencamp had to settle for third and fourth respectively.

Jordy Maree was named Surfer of the Contest for his outstanding surfing in all of the heats he competed in.

Plucky Chanelle Botha, who was fourth in this final in 2008, gave KZN South a title to take home when she beat Anoush Zakarian of Boland into second place in the Girls U12 division while Teal Hogg of KZN was third here just ahead of Kim van Greunen of Eastern Province.

The Sportsmanship trophy was awarded to Jarred Charlton of KZN South who went to the assistance of a teammate whose leash had broken during a heat.

The five day annual South African Junior championships got under way in tough 6 foot surf on Wednesday and was put under pressure by onshore surf, rain and mist on the final day which forced the event to go on hold for two hours. Overall however, Nahoon Reef lived up to its reputation as one of South Africa’s best reef breaks and the 200 or so surfers who competed in the event will return to their provinces having surfed in some of the most challenging waves of their lives.

The event was first held in 1996 and is the most important contest for junior surfers in South Africa. It not only determines National Champions in the Under 18, Under 16, Under 14 and Under 12 boys and girls age divisions but also determines the winning provincial team each year.

The Final results are available on www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za

FULL RESULTS

U18 BOYS
1. MATTHEW BROMLEY (WP)
2. BEYRICK DE VRIES (KZN)
3. NICK GODFREY (EP)
4. DEVIN LANE (KZN)

U18 GIRLS
1. ALICE MACGREGOR (BOR)
2. KIRSTY DELPORT (KZN)
3. HOLLY ARMSTRONG (WP)
4. LAURIE MACGREGOR (BOR)

U16 BOYS
1. DAVID VAN ZYL (KZN)
2. MICHAEL FEBRUARY (WP)
3. JEAN DU PLESSIS (BOR)
4. RUBEN LAMMERS (SCAPE)

U16 GIRLS
1. BIANCA BUITENDAG (S/CAPE)
2. SARAH BAUM (KZN)
3. CARA MACDONALD (BOR)
4. SABRINA SCOTT (WP)

U14 BOYS
1. DIRAN ZAKARIAN (BOL)
2. SLADE PRESTWICH (KZN)
3. BENJI BRAND (WP)
4. NIC NOTTEN (WP)

U14 GIRLS
1. CARRYN MACNICOL (KZN)
2. INGE MCLAREN (BOR)
3. NINA WOERMANN (WP)
4. NICOLE PALLET (KZN)

U12 BOYS
1. MATTHEW MCGILLIVRAY (EP)
2. JORDY MAREE (WP)
3. STEFFEN BURROWS (BOL)
4. ADIN MASENCAMP (BOL)

U12 GIRLS
1. CHANELLE BOTHA (SKZN)
2. ANOUSH ZAKARIAN (BOL)
3. TEAL HOGG (KZN)
4. KIM VAN GREUNEN (EP)

FREEDOM CUP
1. KZN  40,826
2. WESTERN PROVINCE 40,350
3. EASTERN PROVINCE 35,506
4. BORDER 31,662
5. BOLAND  30,482
6. KZN SOUTH 30,312
7. SOUTHERN CAPE 23,740
8. DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY TEAM 19,982

SURFER OF THE CONTEST
JORDY MAREE (WP)

MOST IMPROVED SURFER
NIC NOTTEN (WP)

SPORTSMANSHIP TROPHY
JARRED CHARLTON (KZN SOUTH)

TEAM SPIRIT AWARD
KWAZULU-NATAL

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

Ends

Compiled by:

Robin de Kock
Surfing South Africa
All media enquiries to 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

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