2015 Cobbles Classic – Presented by RVCA & VANS

OPEN For Entries!

The 3rd annual Cobbles Classic is set for the 24th - 27th September this year and is sure to be bigger and better than previous editions! 

Situated at Cobbles Point, in the Cape Recife Nature Reserve of Port Elizabeth, this long rolling point wave is truly a Loggers paradise! 

The 4-day event kicks off at 2pm on the 24th September with the “Hog a Log” single-fin board demo & social logging session, followed by the opening function at Pine Lodge Resort.

Friday 25th sees the official competition start, which will run till the 27th, when a new “Cobbles King” will be crowned! 

The Cobbles Classic coincides with the Cape Recife Spring Festival, which features a number of other events over the long weekend. 

Hosted by the Loggers Union and presented by RVCA and Vans, this Single-fin only logging event attracts loggers from across the country as well as a few international surfers. 

This contest is for loggers run by loggers. If you want to up your cool, come join the celebration of style, soul and community!

The rules are simple: 
- Single fin logs only
- No leashes! 
- Good Vibes

Entries are limited and with a closing date on the 31 August, so booking your book your spot in the event early is key!

For more info see: https://www.facebook.com/LoggersUnion or contact [email protected]

Richards Bay bracing itself for a surfing invasion.

Alkantstrand in Richards Bay is bracing itself for the arrival of over 200 surfers and officials who will be participating in the 2015 Citroën SA National Surfing Championships which gets under way with an Opening Function at the Zululand Multisports Club at 7pm on Sunday August 2nd and ends with all eleven finals on Sunday August 9th..
 
A major national surfing contest has never been held at this venue but this year the honour of hosting the 50th edition of the South African Championships and the 10th edition of the South African Masters Championships falls to Richards Bay and the uThungulu Surfriders.
 
Citroën South Africa are the headline sponsor of the tournament and the new Citroën C4 Cactus will be showcased at the event along with spectacular surfing action from World Champions, South African Champions, national team members and provincial and district surfing stars.

Not only is the Citroën National Surfing Championships the biggest surfing event ever to take place in Richards Bay but the seven daylong event is also a landmark tournament for Surfing South Africa.
 
Surfers representing Districts from along the South African coast will contest 11 divisions from Under 20 to Over 60 and will compete in a total of 140 heats.
The 57 hours of competition will not only determine the 2015 South African Champions but will also decide which teams will win the Presidents Cup, the Masters Cup and the Celebration Shield.
 
The winning District in the Open and Under 20 Divisions will be awarded the 40 year old Presidents Cup, which is currently held by the Nelson Mandela Bay Surfriders, while the holders of the Masters Cup, which goes to the team whose surfers score the highest points in the Over 30 Women and Over 35 to Over 60 Men’s Division, is Buffalo City Surfriders.
 
To commemorate the 50th year of organised surfing in South Africa, the team that scores the highest combined points overall will be presented with a specially commissioned Celebration Shield, which will be kept in uMhlatuze Mayors chambers. The Championship Team will take home a replica.
 
The 50th Citroen South African Surfing Championships are supported by Sport and Recreation SA, the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, Reef Wetsuits. Zigzag, the  Zululand Observer, the uMhlatuze Community Tourism Organisation, the City of uMhlatuze and Monster.
 
The heats and contest schedule for the 2016 Citroën SA National Championships are posted on www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za

The J-Bay Open, Stop No. 6 on the 2015 Samsung Galaxy World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), has been called off following a dramatic incident that involved three-time WSL Champion and defending event winner Mick Fanning (AUS) being attacked by a shark in the opening minutes of the Final against Julian Wilson (AUS).

 The scene unfolded live on WorldSurfLeague.com as the Australian essentially fought off the two animals before the Water Safety Team quickly arrived and pulled both Fanning and compatriot Julian Wilson into the safety boat. Despite a severed leash, Fanning remained physically unscathed by the incident.

 "We are incredibly grateful that no one was seriously injured today," Kieren Perrow, WSL Commissioner, said. "Mick's composure and quick acting in the face of a terrifying situation was nothing short of heroic and the rapid response of our Water Safety personnel was commendable - they are truly world class at what they do. The safety of our athletes is a priority for the WSL and, after discussions with both Finalists, we have decided to cancel the remainder of competition at the J-Bay Open. We appreciate the ongoing support we have in South Africa and once again want to express our gratitude to the Water Safety Team."

 “I was just sitting there and I felt something grab or get stuck in my leg rope and I instantly just jumped away,” Fanning said. “It just kept coming at my board and I was kicking and screaming. I just saw fins, I didn’t see any teeth. I was waiting for the teeth to come at me as I was swimming. I punched it in the back. I’m totally fine, I’ve got nothing wrong with me. There’s a small depression in my board and my leg rope got bitten and I’m totally tripping out.”

 “I was just cruising and waiting for my turn, my opportunity and I knew Julian (Wilson) was down the point,” continued Fanning. “I was just about to get moving and start paddling again and all of a sudden I had this instinct that something was behind me. I started getting pulled underwater and then the thing came up and I was on my board and it was right there. I saw the whole thing thrashing around but I was getting dragged under by my leg rope. I felt like it kicked me off but it was still there going and I was still attached to my board. I felt like I punched it a couple of times and then it was dragging me and then my leg rope broke."
"I started swimming and screaming and yelling at Jules (Julian Wilson) to move as well, but he was coming at me," said Fanning. "What a legend, coming after me. I was swimming in and I turned around and I had this thought, what happens if it comes to have another go at me, so I turned around so I could at least see it coming. Before I knew it the boat was there, the jet skis were there and we were in safely. I just can’t believe it. To walk away from that, I’m just so stoked. I want to let all my family and friends know that I’m okay.”

 
“Mick (Fanning) was kind of out in no man’s land so I was really watching him and had my eyes on him,” said Wilson. “Mick (Fanning) was looking down the point and I saw the whole thing pop up behind him. It can up and he was wrestling it. I saw him get knocked off his board and then a wave popped up and I thought, ‘he’s gone’. I felt like I couldn’t get there quick enough. The results don’t mean anything to me, I’m just happy he’s alive. I literally thought when I was paddling for him that I wasn’t going to get there in time, especially when I saw him off his board and swimming away. I thought it was going to grab him and take him under. I’m so happy we’re both on the beach right now, I was so worried about Mick’s life.”
 Both Fanning and Wilson will receive equal second place and 8,000 points on the Jeep Leaderboard. They will split the prize money between them equally, receiving $70,000 each. The result sees Fanning move up two places to second on rankings, Wilson move up to third and Adriano de Souza (BRA) retain the Jeep leader jersey.

 Before the incident occurred the pair were set for an exciting 40-minute all-Australian Final with Wilson searching for his first CT win and Fanning looking to defend his J-Bay Open title and claim his 21st CT victory. The pair has had four previous head-to-head heats with Fanning claiming the win each time.

 Earlier in the day the form goofyfooter of the event, Adrian Buchan (AUS), faced Wilson in an all-Australian clash in the opening Semifinal. Buchan won through each Round of competition before losing out to Wilson in the Semifinals, who won through thanks to his heat-high opening score, sending Buchan home in third place. Previously 30th on the Jeep Leaderboard and in need of a good result after a series of early exits this year the result today sees Buchan jump up ten places to 20th on the Jeep Leaderboard and marks his first Semifinal appearance since the 2014 Billabong Pipe Masters.

“At the moment it doesn’t feel great” said Buchan. “I had an opportunity at the end and didn’t really finish, but like you said I feel really proud that I’ve got my year back on track and I felt like I was doing the surfing here to go all the way. It was great to have a good battle out there with Julian (Wilson) in pumping J-Bay. I feel confident at all the locations coming up, I’ve had big results everywhere and I know I can perform at all the spots left. I’m just going to go there and just surf and rely on my instincts and have fun. That’s what I did here and it really worked.”

 The second Semifinal saw Kelly Slater (AUS) and Fanning, the two most successful surfers at Jeffreys Bay and long time rivals, battle for a place in the Final. The pair have had 15 previous man-on-man heats in CT history, with Slater taking 9 wins to Fanning’s 6 and their last match-up was the Final in Fiji in 2013. Two 8-point rides from Fanning with less than ten minutes gone left the 11-time World Champion in a combination situation. Slater managed to escape with an excellent 9.43 for a long floater, quick barrel and series of carving turns but was left searching for a 7.30. Fanning sealed the deal with a 9.63 in the final minutes and sailed through to the Final. The Semifinal berth for Slater marks his best result of the season sees him move up to 6th place on the rankings.

 
“Now I’ve seen it all,” said Slater of the attack. “I was coming up the beach and I saw all the boats and skis go straight to the lineup. I knew there was only one possible reason that would ever happen in a contest and that’s if someone got attacked by a shark. I ran up the beach trying to get some information. I’m halfway between crying and laughing because he (Fanning) got so lucky. I’m lost for words to be honest. We almost just watched our friend get eaten by a shark and I’m just blown away that there’s no damage at all.”
 World no. 1 Adriano de Souza (BRA) was sent home after the Quarterfinals by Wilson. With only seven waves surfed during the 35-minute clash it was the Australian that held the edge and took the win. De Souza wasn’t able to find the waves or the scores he needed but retains his place at the top of the rankings heading into the next event in Tahiti.

 “Julian (Wilson) is such a good surfer,” De Souza said. “I think I lost that heat for myself, I lost my rhythm on my last wave and that cost me. I’m definitely in the hunt for a good result in Tahiti right now. I started my training early and I’m trying to get strong. I just need to do well and get to the Quarters or Semis at every single contest. That’s my goal. At this stage everyone has a chance and I’m focused on my training and my equipment.”

 Reigning WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) was also eliminated in the Quarterfinals at the hands of Semifinalist Slater. Despite a strong showing from the Brazilian and an impressive 17.23 heat total two nine-point rides from the 11-time World Champion were too much for Medina to overcome. A 5th place finish sees Medina move to 15th place on the Jeep Leaderboard heading into Stop No. 7, the Billabong Pro Tahiti.

 “We both got some sick waves,” said Medina. “It’s hard to beat Kelly (Slater) out here, especially when the waves are like this. He’s the guy out here and I knew that was going to be tough. There isn’t much I can do, but I had fun out there and I’m happy with the end result. I’m excited for Tahiti. Last year I had a great result over there. Now I’m going back home to get prepared.”

 Highlights from the J-Bay Open are available on WorldSurfLeague.com.

J-Bay Open Final Results: 
2 - Mick Fanning (AUS)
2 - Julian Wilson (AUS)
 
J-Bay Open Semifinal Results:
SF 1: Julian Wilson (AUS) 16.40 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 15.20
SF 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.13 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 16.26
 
J-Bay Open Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 18.00 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 15.67
QF 2: Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.53 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.33
QF 3: Kelly Slater (USA) 18.10 def. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17.23
QF 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.17 def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 9.00
 
J-Bay Open Round 5 Results:
Heat 1: Kai Otton (AUS) 16.60 def. Nat Young (USA) 11.34
Heat 2: Julian Wilson (AUS) 18.67 def. Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 13.83
Heat 3: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.53 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 15.00
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.90 def. Keanu Asing (HAW) 14.87

A lekker collection of shots of the world's best taking to the air during the JBay Open.

All images Stan Blumberg Photography. Just click em to see 'em big. Cos bigger is better.

The Billabong Junior Series Presented By BOS Event 1 finished off in excellent style at Magnatubes today. Light offshore conditions and small but fun and contestable waves poured through the whole day, allowing the junior surfers ample opportunty to show their form. The surf improved during the day, as the tide pushed and the lines rolled in. There were some tricky sections at Magna's and wave selection was crucial, but a few surfers stood out. 

In the U12 Boys division it was Nathan Spalding from Gillits who emerged victorious in a tight final from Christian Venter from Melkbos.

Kai Woolf (JBay) turned on the pressure in the U14 Girls division, while Angelo Faulkner was the man of the moment in the U14 Boys division.

In the U16 Girls division Kai Woolf once again came out on top, winning her two divisions, and Sebastian Williams (JBay) edged out For Van Jaarsveldt from Kommetjie in the U16 Boys.

"Winning both divisions is really important to me because of all the hard work I've put in," said Woolf."I caught a lot of waves in the U14 final. but I think I learned from that, and surfing against the older girls I had to focus on getting the best waves only."

JUST OVER TWO WEEKS TO GO……….

• The Citroen SA National Championships will get under way with an Opening Function at 7pm for 7.30pm SHARP on Sunday August 2nd at the Zululand Multisports Club which is situated at Alkantstrand in Richards Bay.
• There will be a Function at this venue every night of the week
• The format has changed slightly. However, as indicated in the previous Info Notice, the O35 Men’s Division will start the Masters Heats off after midday on Wednesday August 5th
• Due to the adjusted formats the Finals on Sunday August 9th  will be over by approximately 1pm and the Award Ceremony will be completed by 2.30pm.
• Trophy winners from 2014 are required to hand their trophies to me prior to the start of the Opening Function so that we can have them on display.

Names of 2014 Trophy winners

PRESIDENTS CUP – Eastern Province
OPEN MEN – Greg Emslie - Border
U20 Boys – Dylan Lightfoot – EP
U20 GIRLS – Emma Smith – EP
SURFER OF THE CONTEST – Nina Woermann – WP
MASTERS CUP – Border
O30 WOMEN – Heather Clark – SKZN
O35 MEN – Greg Emslie – Border
O40 MEN – Gary Van Wieringen – SKZN
O45 MEN – Gareth Sepp – Border
O50 MEN – Fred Le Roux – Zululand
O55 Men – Brian Heathcote – Border

REMEMBER : KEEP THE NAME SPONSOR HAPPY AND KEEN TO SPONSOR FUTURE EVENTS

• Take some team members to your nearest Citroen dealership and have a photo taken next to the C4 Cactus.
• Post the photo on facebook, twitter and on your website.
• Send to #citroenSA, #C4Cactus and #CitroenRB
• Mention the name Citroen SA National Championships when referring to the event on facebook, twitter or on your respective websites.
• Place the attached Championship Poster on your social pages.

Perfect lines greeted the junior surfers at Magnatubes for day 2 of the Billabong Junior Series presented by BOS event. With the slightly smaller surf on tap, the contest organisers decided to run with the U14 Girls round 1. Early standouts in this competitive division were Kai Woolf, Tayla De Coning and Gabi Lailvaux with Kai using her local knowledge to make the most of the conditions on her backhand.

This was followed by the U16 girls round 1 and standouts here included Zoe Smith, Kelly Medley and Kayla Noguiera.

In the improving conditions on the high tide, the U20 Women were sent out for their round 1 heat, and Gina Smith, Nicole Pallet, Olivia Brand and Crystal Hulett were impressive.      

Gina Smith, on her backhand, was a standout as the wind backed off with the low tide. She won the opening U20 heat in fine style scoring an 8.0 right off the bat.

“It was definitely very rippable,” she commented afterward. “There were a few fast ones that would leave you behind, but some really nice runners you just had to be smart with wave selection.”  She believes local knowledge definitely played a part in that first wave. “I know that second peak often works and I had been watching, so I was happy to get that one,” she said, adding however that on days with tricky conditions like today, it’s a pretty level playing field. “On low tide it is so shifty that it is anyone’s game,” she said. 

Crystal Hulett from St Francis also surfed a clever heat to edge out Teal Hogg. “It’s dropped a lot since yesterday,” she said, “but they’re definitely easier to drop in on and there is more of a ride on offer.” Hulett explained how she and Teal Hogg paddled each other quite far up the point to gain the inside position. “I kind of redirected myself back down the point and that helped me get the scores I needed.”

In the Boys U14 round 1, heat winners included Saxton Randall (Durban), Karl Steen (Morningside), Jannik Bouwer (JBay), Angelo Faulkner (JBay), Ryan Lightfoot (JBay) and Eli Beukes (Kommetjie) amongst others. "My strategy was just to impress the judges," said Faulkner on his heat win, adding "So I'm happy with how it went." 

“It was another great day here at Magnatubes,” said Billabong South Africa marketing manager Chad D’Arcy. “The forecast for the rest of the waiting period looks a bit tricky, but we should most likely be surfing tomorrow. We will reconvene here at Magnatubes in the morning to assess the conditions and make a call.”

Video highlights from day 1 can be found here www.youtube.com/watch

Results can be found here surfingsouthafrica.tumblr.com 

The Billabong Junior Series Presented By BOS is part of the JBay Winterfest - www.jbaywinterfest.com - a multi-sports and music festival in Jeffreys Bay. 

Another rookie to upset his more experienced opponent was Keanu Asing (HAW) in Heat 10 who eliminated World No. 8 Josh Kerr (AUS). Asing moves through to Round 4 where he will face Muniz and Michel Bourez (PYF), who defeated Bede Durbidge (AUS) in Heat 11 with a tie break win.

 “It’s so hard, Josh (Kerr) is such a great competitor,” said Asing. “He’s such a good athlete and he’s in the top 10 for a reason, I have so much respect for him. It brings the best out of me to compete against these top guys. It’s tough being a rookie, you’re still learning.”

 “You get more hungry when you’re out,” said Bourez. “You feel like you’re missing something big watching from home. I realized I needed to get back on my feet and I started training. I really wanted to surf in Fiji but I’m happy to be here in J-Bay.”

 
The J-Bay Open is webcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com.

The world's best surfing is also broadcast LIVE on Fox Sports in Australia, MCS Extreme in France, EDGE Sports in China, South Korea, Malaysia and other territories and on Globo TV in Brazil.

The J-Bay Open is the showcase event at the J-Bay Winterfest, a multi-sport and music festival in Jeffreys Bay from July 8 - 19. More details at www.jbaywinterfest.com.

J-Bay Open Round 3 Results:

Heat 1: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 15.50 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 15.40

Heat 2: Kai Otton (AUS) 15.50 def. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 12.83

Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) 17.94 def. Fredrick Patacchia Jr. (HAW) 8.40

Heat 4: Nat Young (USA) 16.87 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 8.03

Heat 5: Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 15.13 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.40

Heat 6: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.17 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 11.90

Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.50 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.83

Heat 8: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 19.07 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 16.07

Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA) 14.16 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 12.27

Heat 10: Keanu Asing (HAW) 14.83 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 12.33

Heat 11: Michel Bourez (PYF) 15.67 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 15.67

Heat 12: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 17.83 def. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 17.23

 J-Bay Open Round 4 Match-Ups:

Heat 1: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), Julian Wilson (AUS)

Heat 2: Nat Young (USA), Wiggolly Dantas (BRA), Adriano de Souza (BRA)

Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS), Gabriel Medina (BRA), Kelly Slater (USA)

Heat 4: Keanu Asing (HAW), Michel Bourez (PYF), Alejo Muniz (BRA)

Here are the Day results from the Boys u16 and u20 divisions at the Billabong Junior Series presented by BOS currently underway at Magna's, JBay.