Hurley SA Junior Champs

Excitement is building amongst the country’s best young surfers for the start of the Hurley SA Junior Champs which gets underway in the iconic waves of Jeffreys Bay on Wednesday and runs until Sunday.

Outstanding conditions forecast for the opening days and a powerful new swell predicted for the final day has the cream of SA’s 17-and-under surfers frothing to compete at J-Bay for the first time in the history of the event.

“The Hurley SA Junior Championships is the most important junior tournament on the South African calendar and Hurley’s support and commitment has turned it into a five star event.” Robin de Kock, GM of Surfing South Africa (SSA) said.

“This is where our next generation of surfing stars get to strut their stuff and the fact that it will take place in Jeffreys Bay for the first time in its 16 year history adds to the stature and excitement for this special event.”

Competitors selected by nine provincial associations will be competing for individual SA junior titles in Under 17, U15 and U13 categories for boys and girls and the team accumulating the highest points tally will take home the coveted Freedom Cup.

Adding further prestige to the event are five special awards headed by the Hurley Surfer of the Contest title which, in association with All Aboard Travel, earns the winner a R20 000 travel voucher that can be used to visit any destination in the world.

Progressive aerial manoeuvres will be rewarded with the competitor successfully landing the best technical aerial pocketing R5 000 in the Red Bull Air Show.  Citroën Port Elizabeth have stepped in to recognise the surfer who posts the biggest heat tally across all divisions throughout the entire five day event with the Citroën Highest Heat Score title and a substantial R3 000 payout..

The Zigzag Blowing Up Award and R3 000 goes to the surfer who racks up the most impressive performances during the event and the provincial team that collectively displays the best camaraderie and support for their teammates walks off with the Skullcandy Team Spirit award.

Daily blogs, interviews, video uploads, images, event schedule and results from the Hurley SA Junior Champs will be posted on www.sajuniorchamps.co.za with results and info also found at www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za.

Follow the event via the Hurley Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/Hurley.ZA, on Twitter @HurleyZA and on Instagram HURLEY_ZA, both using the hashtag #sajuniorchamps.

The South African Development Team is supported by a grant from Sport and Recreation South Africa.

Surfing South Africa (SSA) is recognised as the national governing body for surfriding by the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and Sport and Recreation SA. SSA is a member of the International Surfing Association (ISA), the world’s governing body for surfing.

The 2012 Hurley SA Junior Champs is supported by Citroën Port Elizabeth, Skullcandy, Red Bull, Zigzag and All Aboard Travel.