BELLS BEACH, Victoria/AUS (Sunday, March 31, 2013) – The ASP Top 34 returned to Bells Beach today, taking on solid six-to-eight foot (2 – 2.5 metre) surf for Round 2 and the opening three heats of Round 3 at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford.

The second stop on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach embarked on another solid day of competition this morning with the world’s best surfers doing battle in the well-overhead surf in the Bells Bowl.

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 25, long considered a threat to the ASP World Title, was in sensational form this morning, nailing a near-perfect 19.14 heat total out of a possible 20 for unmatched power and precision in the big Bells righthanders.

“I have really good equipment under my feet right now,” Smith said. “The boards feel really solid and I think big Bells Bowl waves really suit my surfing. I love having big walls to carve up. Hopefully the conditions stay solid and clean for the rest of the event.”

At 6’2″, 190 lbs, Smith cuts one of the more imposing figures amongst the world’s elite and his dominant physicality is a huge asset at Bells Beach.

“I didn’t have the best start to the season with a 13th at Snapper but it’s a long year ahead,” Smith said. “I’m healthy, I feel like I’m surfing my best and I’m just focusing on put it together in heats. Bells is an opportunity for me to gain some early traction this season and that’s my goal.”

Taj Burrow (AUS), 34, former event winner (2007), survived a hard-fought Round 3 heat this afternoon against an in-form Dusty Payne (HAW), 24, this afternoon. Payne, who is coming off a major ASP Prime victory in Western Australia, dispatched of the dangerous Owen Wright (AUS), 23, in his morning Round 2 heat and posted a 9.37 mid-heat against Burrow. Payne was unable to secure a solid backup, however, and Burrow’s early heat excellent ride coupled with a solid backup advanced the Western Australian into Round 4 of the event.

“Starting with a huge score is sometimes scary because you have to back it up,” Burrow said. “I wanted to get a backup quickly but couldn’t find one. Dusty (Payne) couldn’t find one either until late in the heat when he got a smoker. He’s in a really good rhythm and coming off a win out West so he was always going to be a danger if he got the waves.”

Despite relatively lackluster showings at Bells Beach in recent years, Burrow has reset his focus for this season’s event and has high aims.

“I’ve had a few shockers here over the past few years but I’m taking it on as a challenge, changed a few things up and I’m here to ring the Bell 100%,” Burrow said. “This event is hugely prestigious and can really set a pace for the rest of the season. A win here is the goal.”

Nat Young (USA), 21, 2013 ASP Dream Tour rookie, continued his impressive run at Bells Beach this afternoon. Taking on current ASP WCT No. 5 and ASP World Title threat Julian Wilson (AUS), 24, in the final heat of the afternoon, Young’s dominant backhand was enough to stave off at late charge from the Australian, advancing him into Round 4.

“That was huge for me,” Young said. “I lost in this round at Snapper so my goal was to improve from there. The waves weren’t pretty, but I knew if I could find a few, I could maybe get a few scores on my backhand. Julian (Wilson) is so polished and so good – it was always going to be a difficult heat. Stoked to get through though and we’ll just see what tomorrow brings.”

When competition resumes, up first will be Josh Kerr (AUS), 29, up against Sebastian Zietz (HAW), 25, in Heat 7 of Round 3.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow at 7:30am to assess conditions for a possible 7:45am start.

The 2013 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach will be webcast LIVE via www.live.ripcurl.com and broadcast live on Fuel TV in Australia and Portugal, ESPN in Brazil and MCS Extreme in France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Switzerland and Africa. You can also watch the event live via the Rip Curl Pro iPhone app, available free in the iTunes App Store.

CoastalWatch, official forecasters for the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, have called for: A strong increase in long period SW groundswell arrives over the Easter long weekend, peaking on Sunday morning under moderate to strong WSW winds before gradually easing throughout Monday.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.50 def. Jacob Willcox (AUS) 12.16
Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.90 def. Jack Perry (AUS) 12.17
Heat 3: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.73 def. Oney Anwar (IDN) 7.43
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.10 def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 13.90
Heat 5: Tiago Pires (PRT) 17.57 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 17.27
Heat 6: Dusty Payne (HAW) 17.10 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 9.50
Heat 7: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 19.14 def. Glenn Hall (IRL) 11.77
Heat 8: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 18.10 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 11.33
Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.60 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 14.23
Heat 10: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 16.33 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 15.43
Heat 11: Damien Hobgood (USA) 15.07 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 14.60
Heat 12: Kai Otton (AUS) 15.43 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 13.43

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.33 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 10.27
Heat 2: Kai Otton (AUS) 14.67 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.23
Heat 3: Nat Young (USA) 12.50 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 10.50

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH REMAINING ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 4: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Sebastian Zietz (HAW)
Heat 5: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Bede Durbidge (AUS)
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Willian Cardoso (BRA)
Heat 7: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 8: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Damien Hobgood (USA)
Heat 9: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Kolohe Andino (USA)
Heat 10: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Filipe Toledo (BRA)
Heat 11: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 12: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)

Who do YOU think is gonna win? Enter the ML Fantasy Surfer comp and win BIG! Click the link on the right.

BELLS BEACH, Victoria/AUS (Friday, March 29, 2013) – The ASP Top 34 returned to battle today as the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford completed Round 1 of competition in clean three-to-four foot (1 metre) waves at Bells Beach.

Stop No. 2 of 10 on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach recommences the hunt for this year’s world surfing crown and the perennial threats were in blistering form on opening day.

Kelly Slater (USA), 41, 11-time ASP World Champion, posted an emphatic victory over a lethal Adam Melling(AUS), 28, and wildcard Jacob Willcox (AUS), 15, in Round 1 of competition this afternoon. Slater’s commanding display at Rincon point netted him the day’s high heat total of an 18.07 out of a possible 20, including a near-perfect 9.70 on his final wave of the heat.

“I switched my equipment back to the Weirdo Ripper which I rode in the early rounds on the Gold Coast and it seemed to work really well in those slopey Rincon waves,” Slater said. “I drifted in towards the end of the heat and that wave (9.70) wasn’t very big, but it looked like it was going to run a bit better and it just allowed for a good amount of turns.”

Following a Runner-Up finish in 2012, Slater is back with a vengeance this season, collecting a win at the opening event on the Gold Coast and announcing his intentions for the year ahead.

“I’m committed to the tour this year,” Slater said. “I think in the past, I’ve been of two minds – wanting to compete but also wanting to chase swells around the world and that’s why I’ve been hesitant to commit before. This year though, I’m committed and focused on the tour. When I stop competing in a few years, I can chase the swells then.”

Joel Parkinson (AUS), 31, reigning ASP World Champion, has collected three Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach victories (2004, 2009, 2011) throughout his storied career and the stylish natural-footer continued his impressive run at the iconic break in Round 1 this morning.

“Bells is comfortable place for me,” Parkinson said. “It has so much history and I’ve been surfing the waves, Rincon and the Bowl and Winki, my whole life. I love coming back here to compete and feel very at home. Kelly (Slater) set the pace at the first stop on the Goldy, but there are a lot of crew right in the mix.”

Parkinson was joined by Gold Coast stablemate and two-time ASP World Champion (2007, 2009) Mick Fanning (AUS), 31, today as back-to-back Round 1 victors with Fanning slicing through the morning conditions and directly into Round 3.

Julian Wilson (AUS), 24, current ASP WCT No. 5, survived a hard-fought battle with Kai Otton (AUS), 33, and Patrick Gudauskas (USA), 27, to punctuate this morning’s action.

“Very happy to get through a heat out at Bells,” Wilson said. “I had a bit of success here in my junior career, but lost in Round 2 the last few years. So yeah, I’m into Round 3 and that’s already the best result of my professional career here.”

Long considered one of the premiere surfers on the planet, Wilson’s start to the 2013 season has positioned the young Sunshine Coaster in the hunt for the 2013 ASP World Title.

“A Top 5 finish this year would be great but the World Title is the goal,” Wilson said. “I had a pretty good start on the Gold Coast and hopefully I can back it up at Bells and keep the momentum up. The waves are pretty fun and I think today may be the smallest we get it through the window so hopefully we get to finish up in the Bells Bowl.”

While the top seeds dominated the opening day proceedings, rookies Nat Young (USA), 21, and Filipe Toledo (BRA), 17, collected dynamic Round 1 victories of their own with Young posting a dramatic last-minute win with his searing backhand surfing and Toledo flying across and over the rippable Rincon righthanders to advance directly into Round 3.

Kolohe Andino (USA), 19, ASP Dream Tour sophomore, punctuated the day’s affairs with a high-flying exhibition against Jordy Smith (ZAF), 25, andC.J. Hobgood (USA), 33. Andino opened up the heat with a full-rotation aerial for a 9.57 and took a commanding 17.14 heat total to finish out the day.

“It’s a weird dynamic on this tour as they’re all your favorite surfers and you want to beat them,” Andino said. “Jordy (Smith) is one of my favorite surfers and CJ (Hobgood) is so deadly. I’m having fun though. I feel like my surfing has improved a lot from last year. Hopefully we get good waves for the rest of the event.”

When men’s competition resumes, up first will be Taj Burrow (AUS), 34, up against Jacob Willcox (AUS), 15, in the opening heat of Round 2.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow at 7:30am to assess conditions for a possible 8am start.

The 2013 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach will be webcast LIVE via www.live.ripcurl.com and broadcast live on Fuel TV in Australia and Portugal, ESPN in Brazil and MCS Extreme in France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Switzerland and Africa. You can also watch the event live via the Rip Curl Pro iPhone app, available free in the iTunes App Store.

CoastalWatch, official forecasters for the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, have called for: A mid period SW swell maintains three foot surf at Bells on Friday and eases into Saturday. A stronger increase in long period SW groundswell arrives over the Easter long weekend. This is likely to be followed by another strong SSW groundswell around Wednesday 4 April.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 13.60, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 13.33, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 11.17
Heat 2: Julian Wilson (AUS) 14.64, Kai Otton (AUS) 14.43, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 12.83
Heat 3: Willian Cardoso (BRA) 15.06, Taj Burrow (AUS) 11.33, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 8.16
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.83, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 12.34, Oney Anwar (IDN) 7.60
Heat 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.20, Brett Simpson (USA) 10.20, Jack Perry (AUS) 8.87
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) 18.03, Adam Melling (AUS) 15.50, Jacob Willcox (AUS) 10.17
Heat 7: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 16.33, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.60, Tiago Pires (PRT) 11.10
Heat 8: Josh Kerr (AUS) 15.06, Dusty Payne (HAW) 14.20, Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.87
Heat 9: Nat Young (USA) 16.43, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 15.90, Travis Logie (ZAF) 12.20
Heat 10: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 15.47, Michel Bourez (PYF) 13.67, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.23
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 17.26, Glenn Hall (IRL) 13.77, Owen Wright (AUS) 13.73
Heat 12: Kolohe Andino (USA) 17.14, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.90, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.76

Listen up kid, you wanna learn something about Oz’s first contest zone? Mick Fanning’s major sponsor, Rip Curl, was founded in Torquay and is still based there. The year before he rolled onto tour, he rang the bell as a wildcard, then did it again 11 years later (last year!). He was also in the final in 2010 and 2011. Reckon he knows a thing or two about the place? Stab lit up the airwaves with Mick to find out how to surf the wave and who you don’t wanna draw out there.

Photos by ASP/Kirstin

Stab: Where else in the world do Bells boards work?
Mick: Well, I ride the same boards as I’d ride at home on the Gold Coast. If it works at home, it works anywhere. In the past I’ve tried different tails and little things, but I always end up on the same thing as I’d ride at home. It’s always worked, so why change it?

Rookies: Sea Bass, Micro, Nat Young and Filipe Toledo. Who’s gonna shine? Nat, having grown up at Steamer Lane, has a strong backhand. Then Sea Bass has massive turns, we all saw that at Haleiwa last year. He’ll be great out there. Micro’s got a super solid backhand on him too, even though he’s only a little fella, he can hold his rail for a long time.

Which of the young guys has turned himself into a Bells surfer? John John was really impressive last year. Jeremy surfed it well, too. And Jordy, as soon as he got on tour he was one of the best guys out at Bells. There hasn’t been a major standout recently, other than John John and Jordy. Last year, John John was doing big carves all the way from top to bottom, which you get from growing up surfing a place like Sunset or Haleiwa.

Who would you least like to draw outta Jordy or Joel? With Joel’s record here over the last 10 years, he’s been the most lethal guy. So, I’d say Joel.

Is it one of the places where you’re advantaged over Kelly? I wouldn’t say advantage, you don’t ever get an advantage over that guy. The years that he’s gone on about the wave, he’s ended up winning. He’s been coming here for so long he definitely knows how to surf the wave. He’s probably just telling people he doesn’t like it, but he surfs it really well.

What’s the toughest turn out there? I was really surprised everyone was doing airs last year, actually. I think the hardest thing about Bells is that bouncy inside bit. You’ve gotta leave your decision about your last turn right ’til the very last second. If you can do a good turn on that inside section, (like Yadin Nicol’s air reverse last year), you’re doing something right.

What’s the best turn to do out there? When you take off on a six-footer and you can just see the wall start going, and you take the high line and you get set up for your bottom turn, and you just have this perfect canvas and go, “Shit, what can I do here?” The excitement and anticipation of what you can do on a wave is the best feeling you get out there. – Elliot Struck

2013 Billabong SA Grommet Games celebrates its 21st at Pollock Beach in Port Elizabeth from Wednesday to Sunday

Surfing history will be made in Port Elizabeth from Wednesday to Sunday this week when close on 180 surfers representing eight provinces arrive to participate in the 21st edition of the Billabong South African Grommet Games. Officials and families from up and down the coast of South Africa will join the surfers as they celebrate the journey South Africa surfing has made since unification back in 1991.

The tournament, which is supported by Sport and Recreation SA, will officially get under way on Wednesday evening when the teams, officials, families and friends gather at 6.30pm in the Victoria Park Grey Primary School Hall in Walmer for the official opening function.

The proud hosts of the SA Grommet Games are the Eastern Province Surfing Council who have hosted all but one of the tournaments since the first one was held over Easter in 1992.

Former South African Junior team captain, former National team member, multiple South African and Western Province champion and fearless big wave exponent Matthew Bromley will be the guest speaker at the opening function. Bromley, who began his competitive career at the Grommet Games is an established Billabong Team rider.

From humble beginnings back in 1992 the annual SA Grommet Games is now a blue ribbon event on the Surfing South Africa calendar. Not only does it feature surfers representing teams from all eight provinces but it also features surfers and officials from every surfing community in South Africa.

Introduced into South African surfing culture after unification, the Grommet Games is a transformation and development tournament that gives young surfers from around the country an opportunity to compete for their various provinces in a major surfing contest for the first time. 

Many South African surfers who began their competitive surfing careers in the Grommet Games have gone on to compete in National Championships and elite tournaments and a number have represented South Africa in International competitions.

Port Elizabeth has remained the venue for this important and significant championship for all but one of its 21 years due to the fact that it is situated midway between Durban and Cape Town. This means that most teams have to travel the same distance to participate. 

In addition, the Pipe at Pollock Beach produces consistent, contestable conditions for surfers who are representing their provincial teams in their first ever national contest. 

The Billabong SA Grommet Games is regarded by Surfing South Africa as a vital and important tournament and certainly takes its place with distinction alongside other major National events. As it celebrates 21 years it can now claim to be one of the defining tournaments on the Surfing South Africa calendar. 

Girls and boys from a variety of different cultures and communities are represented across the eight divisions and come from all parts of the South African coast. There are surfers from Trafalgar and Umzumbe on the KZN South Coast, Jeffreys Bay, Strandfontein, the Cape Flats, Richards Bay, Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London, the Garden Route, Strand and the Cape Peninsula.

The youngest surfers in the contest will compete in the Under 8 Division with the oldest participants taking part in the competitive Under 16 boys and girls group.

The Grommet Games highlights the transformation process within Surfing South Africa and provinces are set strict criteria when it comes to selecting their teams. 

While much of the focus is on surfing itself, events such as a paddle battle, beach flags and a tag team surfing competition will make up the activities that make this event so special each year.

Sponsors Billabong have added even more to this year’s event in the form of “goodie bags” for each contestant which will include all kinds of items.

The team that displays the most spirit and support during the contest will win the Best Team Trophy and the Team with the highest points total will take home the Mandela Bay Trophy, which is currently held by hosts Eastern Province.

In order to select the appropriate team for this event, provinces have held a series of trials and the result of this process is five wonderful days of social and competitive interaction. The added advantage of holding an event such as this is that Surfing South Africa is able to identify potential national and perhaps even future world champions. 

Western Province narrowly beat the defending champions Eastern Province Surfing Council last year but Eastern Province will be keen to begin 2013 like they ended 2012. Other teams participating are from KZN Central, Border, Boland, Southern Cape, Zululand and Southern KZN.

The Billabong SA Grommet Games is supported by Sport and Recreation South Africa, presented by Surfing South Africa and hosted by the Eastern Province Surfing Council.

Surfing South Africa is the recognized governing body for the sport in South Africa and a member of the South African Confederation of Sport and Olympic Committee and the International Surfing Association.

Kiff longboarding weekend out at St Francis. Saturday saw the EP Longboard Association's annual Golf Day, which was held at the St Francis course. Thankfully the weather held, and a great days golf was enjoyed by all. Michelle Van Kempen made a huge effort with the golf day, and R15 000 was raised towards getting the EP team down to the SA Longboard Champs in Cape Town. All longboarders owe Michelle a wave!!

Sunday saw the 4th and final longboard trials held at Hulett's Reef in St Francis. It's a classic lil longboard wave, and a perfect venue for a comp. Some super fun waves rolled through, picking up as the tide pushed in the afternoon.

Special mention to Pop (Dean Simpson), Greg Clark, Hannah Bing and Margareet Wibbleling who had a few outstanding scores in their heats.

RESULTS

Congratulations to Mr Rowan Nicholls and Mr Ian Strang who took down the first place prize with a superb score of 44 points, Charlie Wells for the nearest the pin prize and Alec Mcdaid for the longest drive.

Michelle, on behalf of EP longboarding, would also like to thank the following people:

·        Garth and Kerry.
·        Fasie and Anita from the Cape St Francis Resort.
·        Johnny Bakker, our president of EP Short boarders and Vice President of SSA, and local PE ripper.
·        Dave Anderson and Cris Opperman from Sherwoods (Engen and Wimpy Humansdorp).
·        Mr Willie Coetzee from Bond Street Financial services and Portfolio management.
·        Neville and Philippa Hulett, Penny Frost from Midas Earthcote in St Francis Bay.
·        Barry Heasley and the team from DPI Signs.
·        Kerwin Allen from Bay View Boating in St Francis Bay.
·        Mark and Greg Christy of Christy’s Catch.
·        Gav and the Team from Impson Logistics.
·        Richard Arderne from Pam Golding St Francis Bay who not only sponsored but had a great heat at the comp
·        Josh Enslin and Billabong.
·        Ryan Anderson and O Neill.
·        Martin and Charmaine Haines.
·        Lettie Rachman from the Butchers Shop in St Francis Bay.
·        Steven Bogish and Commercial Marine.
·        Andre Van Der Putte and SAB Miller.
·        Herbie Hauptfleisch from Roof and Paving Cleaning Services.
·        Lastly to my husband, Len, for all his help sourcing prizes and helping set up both events.

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.

RVCA Junior Surf Series gets underway in ideal conditions at Jeffreys Bay

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

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 19th 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

The Billabong EP trials kicked off this last Sunday in fun 2-3 foot Seal point. The day saw some progressive surfing going down, with the pressure on to make the four man team to represent Eastern Province at the Sa Champs in Durbs later this year. Good to see Hillbilly (aka Michael Hill) get back into competitive mode and take out the win on his new Baron. Another stand out surfer was young 14 year old Billabong team rider Alex Van Rijswijck, who made the u/20 final and placed 3rd.

Get your froth on! Groms are about to rip the Point to pieces. Best you pull in and watch the lighties going off, cos there'll be some crazy good surfing going down. And hey, it's out backyard and there're be plenty of out locals kids in the water. Local is lekker - we want those titles staying in the East Cape. So get down there to hoot & holler for the Juniors.

There's plenty on the go - one of the coolest things I reckon is that RVCA will be putting up 2 giant  boards upon which the supporters and contestants can tag & spray & go mal on. Paint your own designs, use stencils, whatever. Some of the RVCA ANP artists will also be around to add their flair to the mix. Kiff.

RVCA Junior Surf Series launches big in J-Bay

RVCA kicks off their first Junior Series event in their backyard, Jeffreys Bay, with R100 000 in money, prizes and some of South Africa’s best waves. RVCA’s outlook on things is a little different so their events will break from the norm.

RVCA (pronounced “Rooka”) values integrity, as well as balance, and combines the subcultures of art, music, fashion and modern lifestyle in its brand platform. This will be a unique event, where young surfers are encouraged to display creativity, originality and community awareness as well as their sublime moves in the surf.

The three-day contest will be held at Lower Point, J-Bay, home to the rolling right-point waves that make Jeffreys world-famous. The event will begin on Friday 22 March, with registration and a chilled evening of music and movies.

A core part of the RVCA concept is the Artist Network Program (ANP), which showcases inspirational artists pushing creative boundaries. Contemporary artist Fuzzy Slippers is part of the ANP and he’ll be there creating an installation artwork to launch the Instagram art competition that runs in conjunction with the event. 

A graff art wall, with all materials sponsored by Plascon, will be an opportunity for surfers to express themselves by throwing up some stencil art, wildstyle graffiti or an intricate urban art piece.

Art exists to stimulate fresh ideas and community consciousness so surfers will be rewarded not only for launching the most ridiculous airs, but for showing their uniqueness, creativity and community spirit inside and outside the surfing subculture.

Says RVCA’s Robin Kietzmann, “It’s about ripping in the water and also giving back on land. Some of SA’s top videographers and photographers will be snapping the surfers in action as well as the activities on the beach and all photos and videos will be available for free download.”

The surfing event will be contested in boys and girls divisions in five age groups, under-10, under-12, under-14, under-16 and under-20. 

In addition, special awards will be presented in new categories to keep it interesting. Two 'On-Fire' awards will go to the surfers displaying the most radical and expressive approach to surfing. The prize will be a brand new FireWire surfboard for each winner.

The 'Fly Away' award will be for the biggest aerial of the contest and the winner can choose a friend and a swell to surf and will be flown down to J-bay courtesy of J-bay Travel where they will stay at African Perfection B&B.

The highest heat score “scores” an apple iPad and custom-built Nixon accessories and the biggest carve wins a Sector 9 skateboard.

To make sure everyone leaves satisfied, every entrant gets a goodie bag of merchandise including Nixon headphones, RVCA contest tee, Lundun eyewear, stencils with Plascon spraypaint, Sticky Bumps wax and loads more.

The RVCA Junior Series 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 earning points towards their 2013 PST rankings.

This first event in the series has already attracted nearly 100 top competitors from up and down the coast. Entries can be submitted online at www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za and participants must be PST members.

The RVCA Junior Series can be followed on Facebook