Yewee, our lighties rock! The EP team did fantastically well, and hooked a second spot at the Hurley SA Junior Champs held at Point, Jbay - just getting pipped by Western Province by a few points. Their were some standout individual performances from the team, with Matt McGillivray taking the u17 boys title, and a double whammy in the u13's, with wins from both Kai Woolf and Angelo Faulkner. Kai also walked away with the highest heat score of the contest, and won the All Aboard Travel Surfer of the Contest award too! Keep an eye on this mini-grom!!

Robyn van der Merwe got 2nd in the u17 girls, and Crystal Hulett 3rd in the u15's.  But every single one of our team surfed outta their socks and did us proud. Special mention to all the groms that paddled out into massive conditions on Saturday, you all really stepped up your game.

Big thanks to the great management team, Annie and Willem, as well as legend coaches Graham Hynes & Etienne Venter. You guys provided such a solid stable foundation for our lighties to just go  out there and rip!

The official wrap:

Western Province claim Freedom Cup and Kai Woolf crowned ‘Surfer of the Contest’ at Hurley SA Junior Champs in Jeffreys Bay

Western Province claimed the coveted Freedom Cup for the provincial team accumulating the highest points at the 2013 Hurley SA Junior Champs which was completed in idyllic one to 1.5 metre waves at the Lower Point today (Sunday).

WP, who last won the team title in Durban in 2011, also clinched two of the six individual titles at stake and provided seven of the 24 finalists, earning 29 670 points to dethrone hosts Eastern Province who totalled 27 770. KwaZulu-Natal Central placed third followed by Boland, Border, Southern KSN, Southern Cape, Zululand and the SA Development Academy team.

Kai Woolf (EP) was crowned the Hurley Surfer of the Contest presented by All Aboard Travel and a trip to Bali valued at R20 000. The 11 year-old Jeffreys Bay local was in outstanding form throughout the event and captured the SA U13 Girls title for the second time along with the Oakley Highest Heat Score award and R3 000 for posting a heat total of 18.75 out of 20 that included a near-perfect 9.75 out of 10 plus a 9.0 in her quarter-final heat earlier today.

After the giant surf and strong winds that produced legendary performances yesterday, the final day of the Hurley SA Junior Champs dawned sunny and still with the classic waves that Jeffreys Bay is renowned for peeling down the rocky point, setting the scene for a historic finale to an event that will be remembered forever.

The remaining heats of the U17, U15 and U13 Girls divisions were run before the U13 Girls final took the pulsing overhead waves with Kai Woolf just holding off the challenge of 2012 champion Sophie Bell (KZNC) to reclaim the title she won as nine year-old in Durban in 2011.

Angelo Faulkner made it two titles in a row for EP when he produced a determined performance in his home surf to narrowly outscore Koby Oberholzer (KZNC) by 14.75 points to 14.15 and clinch the SA U13 Boys crown.

The 2013 SA U15 Girls champion is Ruth Armstrong (WP) who triumphed in a see-saw battle where just 0.50 of a point separated the winner from runner-up Cana Foster (KZNC) and 2012 champion Crystal Hulett (EP) in third place.

Supergrom Ethan Fletcher surfed an incredible U15 Boys final, posting a perfect 10 point ride and backing that up with an excellent 8.50 to mount the victory dias ahead of WP teammates Jordy Maree and Jake Elkington.

The U17 Girls title went to Teal Hogg (KZNC) who delivered a come from behind victory with a great ride in the dying seconds to overtake Robyn van der Merwe (EP) by just 0.35 of a point.

Matt McGillivray (EP), last year’s U15 Boys champ and Surfer of the Contest, was the standout performer in the U17 Boys division this year and duly clinched the title when he finished ahead of Dylan Wichmann (WP), Steff Burrows (Boland) and Max Armstrong (WP).

Max Armstrong won the Red Bull Best Air award and the R5 000 that went with it for his perfectly executed air reverse on the opening day of the event while Koby Oberholzer (KZNC) was awarded the Zigzag Blowing Up prize-purse of R3 000 for charging throughout the event.

The Skullcandy Team Spirit Award went to \Southern KZN who were always the first team on the beach and supported their teammates vocally from the shoreline and Wayne Monk took out the My Dad’s Shred Sesh presented by Firewire Surfboards and Country Felling Surfshop with Llewellyn Whittaker and Frankie Oberholzer the closest challengers.

Go to http://www.sajuniorchamps.co.za/videos.php for video highlights of each day’s action at the event.

2013 Hurley SA Junior Champs (Lower Point, Jeffreys Bay)

Results

Freedom Cup (Provincial team points)

1. WESTERN PROVINCE 29 670 points
2. EASTERN PROVINCE 27 770
3. KZN CENTRAL 26 290
4. BOLAND 21 300
5. BORDER 19 010
6. SOUTHERN KZN 17 931
7. SOUTHERN CAPE 15 855
8. ZULULAND 13 546
9. SA DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY 13 045

The day boys became men. Geez, the surf was huge. Like proper huge. And the lighties just manned up and paddled out into the craziness and got the waves of their young lives. Massive props to all the kids who surfed yesterday, it musta been heart-in-mouth kinda stuff out there for sure.

JBay lightie Matt McGillivray showed that local knowledge sure does help, when he snagged an absolute bomb that was pretty much triple overhead for him. Got himself properly shacked and racked up a heat win for his efforts.

Tim and Paul made it to the quarters, with Matt & Jerry going on to make it through to the semi's of the boys u17. Rewaldo, Jose, Jono & Alex made it to the quarters, but only Rewaldo got through to the semi's in the u15's, and Angelo & Yannik made the quarters. 

Robyn & Tahra are in the semi's of the girls u17. Crystal, Kia & Ashleigh are in the quarters of the u15's. Kai, Kirsty and Zoe are in the semi's of the u13's.

So plenty at stake on the final day, Sunday.

Day 3 of the Hurley SA Junior Champs dawned with some lekker lil waves wrapping into the Point. Things got a bit more hectic in the arvo, as the SW buster picked up steam. Luckily the Point is pretty protected by the kink in the headland which means it doesn't get to face nature's full fury....and the lighties didn't get blown to Gamtoos.

It was another excellent day for the EP Team as the kids really lifted their game. EP have only lost only 3 out of their 23 surfers after 3 days of competition. So looking good! 
The U17 Boys relished the bigger surf with Matt McGillivray and Eastern Province teammates Paul van Rijswick and Tim Baard posting heat victories to advance to Round 4 along with fellow heat winners Max Armstrong and Dylan Wichmann (both WP), Bryce Burness (KZNC), Michael Monk (Border) and Steff Burrows (Boland).

Not to be outdone, the U15 Boys also raised their performance levels with standouts including Rewaldo Abersalie and Jono Coffey (both EP), the WP pair of Jordy Maree and Ford van Jaarsveldt, Boland’s Adin Masenkamp and Tristan Lev, Keagan Wallace (KZNC) and Dane Olsen from Southern Cape.


Tahra and Robyn are into the u17 girls semis on Sunday. So a big day Saturday to see who else can make it through to the finals.

SEIGNOSSE Le Penon, France (Friday, September 27, 2013) – The Quiksilver Pro France re-started this morning in clean 3Ft surf at the back-up location of Le Penon in Seignosse, South-West France. The remaining seven heats of Round 2 were completed in playful rights and lefts for the pleasure of the capacity crowds who witnessed excellent performances from the World’s Best.

Gabriel Medina (BRA) 19, past winner of the Quiksilver Pro France in 2011 punctuated today’s action with an incredible performance, posting the first perfect 10-point ride of the event, for a stratospheric full-rotation aerial on his backhand. The Brazilian prodigy who won the King of the Groms division in 2009 with a perfect heat total of 20, found similarities in the lineup and let his talent show on a fast-running righthander.

“I feel good, I’ve had a couple fun waves,” Medina stated. “Travis was surfing really good so I decided to concentrate on the air cause it’s fun in those small waves, I’m stoked to make it through. It’s cool to watch the King of the groms too now, those guys are ripping and I can relate, I won here a few years ago t’s really cool to see.”

Kai Otton (AUS) 33, was another goofy-footer to advance into the third round today. The experienced Australian exploded on his backhand and surfed a beautiful righthander to perfection netting a 9.17 which he quickly backed up with another excellent score of 8.40. Otton is surfing one of his most consistent season on the World Championship Tour, currently occupating the 12th spot which he hadn’t reached since 2007.

“It was a little bit slow out there, inconsistent conditions on the top of the tide,” Otton said. “I wanted to get busy and I almost made a mistake going on the first wave but it was a two-wave set and I got the better of it, so I’m pretty lucky to start with that 9 point ride. Adam is one of my best buddies I travel with him all year so it’s unfortunate to have a heat with him, but he fought back and got a 9 and I was still really nervous right up until the end he’s realy capable of getting an 8.5. The waves just let him down and it went my way so I’m pretty relieved.”

Michel Bourez (PYF) 27, current World No.10 and the crowd’s favourite today in Seignosse, escaped a tricky Round 2 situation finding two nice waves right from the start and keeping a very short lead over Damien Hobgood (USA) 34, until the final countdown.

“It’s really tough out there, waves are small and inconsistent this morning,” Bourez said. “But we’re lucky to still have waves today, it looks like it’s going to be flat for a few days now. I really want to do good in France, it’s where it all started for me, I beat Kelly and made the quarters as a wildcard here. It’s good to see Marc and Ramzi coming up and surfing great too, I hope they make it soon I need more friends on tour. Leo too, who’s just won the Junior European title I’m stoked for him and I hope he continues to do great.”

Brett Simpson (USA) 28, drew first blood against fellow Californian Nat Young (USA) 22, starting on a beautiful righthander in the opening minutes of their exchange, to perform critical vertical snaps and carves which earned him an excellent 9.10 out of 10.

“Nat’s been on a tear this season, I knew it was going to be tough but I like these little waves, it’s kind of what I surf a lot at home,” Simpson said. “I was able to sneak that first one, we were battling for position and I wanted to get started. Luckily I did and I surfed it well and I finally got in that coveted 9 club, it’s hard on this tour !”

Sebastien Zietz (HAW) 25, survived day 2 of competition at the Quiksilver Pro France, opposed to perennial threat Bede Durbidge (AUS) 30. In his rookie season amongst the Elite, Zietz already locked in two excellent 5th place results and is looking to post another big result to solidify his spot within the Top22 towards requalification for next year’s tour.

“I was definitely scared when I saw him going for the air, but yeah I’m just stoked to get some good waves,” Zietz said. “This is amazing, anyone complaining with the waves today is kind of crazy, this is by far the best QS I’ve ever surfed, I’m just looking at it that way ! Every single contest on the WCT is better, I’m stoked to be on the tour and stoked on my performance, as long as I don’t get last I’m happy.”

The Quiksilver Pro France is scheduled from September 26 – October 6 and will be webcast LIVE via http://quiksilverlive.com/profrance/2013

UPCOMING QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 3 MATCHUPS:
Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 2: Kai Otton (AUS) vs Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
Heat 3: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 4: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs Kolohe Andino (USA)
Heat 5: John John Florence (HAW) vs Sebastien Zietz (HAW)
Heat 6: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR)
Heat 7: Kelly Slater (USA) vs Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 8: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs Filipe Toledo (BRA)
Heat 9: Adriano De Souza (BRA) vs Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 10: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs Gabriel Medina (BRA)
Heat 12: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs Kieren Perrow (AUS)

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 6: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 16.80 def. C.J Hobgood (USA) 16.17
Heat 7: Michel Bourez (PYF) 14.03 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.50
Heat 8: Brett Simpson (USA) 15.77 def. Nat Young (USA) 13.33
Heat 9: Kai Otton (AUS) 17.57 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 14.83
Heat 10: John John Florence (HAW) 14.77 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 12.93
Heat 11: Sebastien Zietz (HAW) 17.60 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 15.43
Heat 12: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 18.17 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 17.37

SEIGNOSSE Le Penon, France (Thursday, September 26, 2013) – The ASP World Title Race resumed this morning on the opening day of the Quiksilver Pro France, with the world’s best surfers taking on clean 3-4Ft A-frames at the back-up location of Seignosse Le Penon.

Event No.8 of 10 on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour, the Quiksilver Pro France showcases professional surfing’s heroes in some of the best beachbreaks on the planet. With only two more events left this year, both World Title contenders and surfers outside the Top22 consider the Quiksilver Pro France with the utmost importance.

Jordy Smith (ZAF) 25, came exploding out of the gates in his second round bout, to dominate Dane Reynolds (USA) 28, in a one-way heat which Smith led from start to finish. Netting a 9.70 and a 9.20, the talented South-African racked up the highest total of the event so far, an incredible 18.90 out of 20.

“Dane can do anything at any given time, you don’t just beat Dane with excellence, you got to go out there with a strategy,” Smith stated. “That’s kind of what I did, I waited for the best waves, I’ve been watching them a lot before the heat. Luckily I made the most of the waves that I had.”

Filipe Toledo (BRA) 18, took top honors scoring one of the strongest heat totals of the first round, an impressive 17.67 out of 20 for a collection of powerful backside vertical hacks punctuated on his last ride by a huge full rotation air.

“I just got a really good left with four or five turns, it was a pretty long wave and I’m so tired,” Toledo described. “I’m feeling good after Lowers where I had a great heat with Julian, I come here with confidence and the waves were really fun and long !”

Kelly Slater (USA) 41, eleven-time ASP World Champion, had his back against the ropes in his Round 1 encounter with Adam Melling (AUS) and Dane Reynolds (USA) and failed to find excellent scoring opportunities for most of the 30-minute exchange. With only seconds on the clock, Slater found a cleaner, longer left with more verticality and dismantled every section of the wave to earn a near-perfect 9.23 out of a possible 10.

“Jeez it was a slow one, in all the rotation Adam had priority,” Slater stated. “There only was one good wave on the sets and he kept picking them. That last one I got was actually a little funny cause he could have caught the wave, but there was kind of a flatness and a wedge in between him and I and he would have been behind the foamball where I was taking off. I couldn’t believe it when I saw him stop paddling, I looked down the line and it had such a clean face, it was fun !”

Jeremy Flores (FRA) 25, pleased the massive French crowds assembled on the water’s edge this afternoon, when he won his first heat collecting a two-wave total of 16.23. Suffering from an ankle injury sustained only a few days ago, Flores battled the pain and selected the best opportunities out in the lineup taking full advantage of his extensive local knowledge.

“It’s pretty painful but the heat is only 30 minute so I could deal with the pain for half an hour I guess,” Flores said. “Now It looks like there won’t be any swell for a little while so this is great for me, I can have some time off and try to heal quicker. I seriously wasn’t expecting to surf like that, it’s funny what the brain is capable of, like dealing with this pain. I’m really happy and feel realy lucky.”

Taj Burrow (AUS) 35, current World No.4 was the first surfer to exploit the Northern end of the competition area and chase the long running lefthanders. Burrows then applied his usual powerful backhand on the clean faces to net three scores in the excellent range and logically advance into the third round.

“There’s lots of waves out there, I even had a left to myself which is pretty awesome,” Burrow said. “I was very happy with that, I got to catch a couple fun lefts and do some backhand turns. The other boys were on the right and they got some good scores too, Marc got an 8 and Bede got an 8.9 which was the best wave of the heat, so it ended up being pretty close but I was pretty happy to win.”

The biggest surprise today came at the hands of up-and-coming Moroccan Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 20, who relegated current World No.3 Jordy Smith (ZAF) to the second round of competition. Boukhiam, a former invitee at the Quiksilver Pro France who eliminated Joel Parkinson (AUS) in the second round in 2011 made great use of his replacement spot in the event again and will look to lock-in another strong heat in the third round.

“I’m super happy I had a lot of fun !” Boukhiam commented. “I had a last-minute call from Micky Picon who told me I had a spot in the event, so I came here on the first plane from Bali. I was against some of the best surfers in the world, but no pressure. I’m just going to try and keep going like this, I’ve been looking up to those guys since I’m super young and now that I’m getting older I want to try and beat them !”

Event organizers and surfers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7:30am local time to re-assess conditions. Up first when competition recommences will be C.J Hobgood (USA) against Alejo Muniz (BRA).

The Quiksilver Pro France is scheduled from September 26 – October 6 and will be webcast LIVE via http://quiksilverlive.com/profrance/2013

REMAINING QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 2 MATCHUPS:
Heat 6: C.J Hobgood (USA) vs Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 7: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs Damien Hobgood (USA)
Heat 8: Nat Young (USA) vs Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 9: Kai Otton (AUS) vs Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 10: John John Florence (HAW) vs Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 11: Sebastien Zietz (HAW) vs Bede Durbidge (AUS)
Heat 12: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs Travis Logie (ZAF)

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.43 def. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 8.00
Heat 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 18.90 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 12.00
Heat 3: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.50 def. Marc Lacomare (FRA) 15.90
Heat 4: Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 15.50 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 14.47
Heat 5: Adriano De Souza (BRA) 17.66 def. Yadin Nicol (AUS) 15.06

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 15.27, Travis Logie (ZAF) 13.00, Josh Kerr (AUS) 9.43
Heat 2: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 14.77, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.80, Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 9.83
Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.80, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 15.17, Marc Lacomare (FRA) 13.60
Heat 4: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 13.67, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 13.50, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 7.50
Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.76, Adam Melling (AUS) 15.40, Dane Reynolds (USA) 8.50
Heat 6: Kolohe Andino (USA) 17.40, Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.86, Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 13.67
Heat 7: Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.23, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.07, Yadin Nicol (AUS) 10.10
Heat 8: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 17.67, Adriano De Souza (BRA) 15.16, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 11.70
Heat 9: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 16.17, C.J Hobgood (USA) 15.33, Sebastien Zietz (HAW) 15.26
Heat 10: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 15.34, John John Florence (HAW) 13.47, Michel Bourez (PYF) 11.43
Heat 11: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 16.23, Nat Young (USA) 12.20, Damien Hobgood (USA) 12.13
Heat 12: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 15.90, Kai Otton (AUS) 13.67, Brett Simpson (USA) 12.06

Enter the ML Fantasy Surfer comp <here>

Lekker - so far all the EP lighties are still in the comp at the end of Day 2. Day 2 saw the girls hitting the water for the first time, and our chicks absolutely ripped. Mini-grom Kai Woolfe surfed a blistering heat - racking up the highest heat total of the event so far. 17.00 points for an u13 is flipping impressive. You go girl!

The boys who were relegated to the 2nd round picked up their game and came back strong, all getting themselves into Rd 3.

Lekker to see good old fashioned initiation still happening in our team...had heard rumours that SA Surfing had disallowed it, which is pretty flipping lame. Anyone who's ever played a team sport has been initiated - it's a right of passage and it's rather pathetic to want to ban it. Kids aren't some fragile lil fairies, they're tough lil critters and being chucked in a dustbin or getting a siff haircut never killed anyone. Tis all part of the fun. Good on ya Dylan Lightfoot for getting loose with a razor on those kids.

Two days before the Quiksilver Pro France kicks off in Les Landes, the event’s draw has changed due to the withdrawal of several surfers : Raoni Monteiro (missing the event for his second child’s birth) and the injuries of Dusty Payne, Owen Wright, Glenn Hall and Tiago Pires.

As one man's loss is another man's gain, 5 surfers have been invited at the very last minute for the Quiksilver Pro France: America’s Patrick Gudauskas, Australian surfer Yadin Nicol invited by ASP along with French local surfer Marc Lacomare, Italian prodigy Leonardo Fioravanti and Morocco’s Ramzi Boukhiam invited by the organizer Quiksilver.

Because of that, the European crew is massively boosted. Beside top European CT surfers Jeremy Flores and Michel Bourez, the Euroforce will count in its ranks Euskadi surfer Aritz Aranburu, the new ASP Junior European Champion Leonardo Fioravanti (Ita) and the local charger Marc Lacomare with his good friend Ramzi Boukhiam riding for Morocco but settled in France. Remind that Ramzi made a sensational performance in 2011 when he defeated Joel Parkinson in Hossegor.




2013 Quiksilver Pro France heat draw:

Heat 1: Josh Kerr (AUS), Travis Logie (ZAF), Kieren Perrow (AUS)

Heat 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Aritz Aranburu (EUK)

Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS), Bede Durbidge (AUS), Marc Lacomare (FRA)

Heat 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR)

Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA), Adam Melling (AUS), Dane Reynolds (USA)

Heat 6: Mick Fanning (AUS), Kolohe Andino (USA), Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)

Heat 7: Julian Wilson (AUS), Gabriel Medina (BRA), Yadin Nicol (AUS)

Heat 8: Adriano De Souza (BRA), Filipe Toledo (BRA), Alejo Muniz (BRA)

Heat 9: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Sebastian Zietz (HAW), Patrick Gudauskas (USA)

Heat 10: Michel Bourez (PYF), John John Florence (HAW), Miguel Pupo (BRA)

Heat 11: Nat Young (USA), Jeremy Flores (FRA), Damien Hobgood (USA)

Heat 12: Kai Otton (AUS), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Brett Simpson (USA)

Nice lil waves at Point for the lighties to get their feet into the wax and warm up. Cos the charts show that Friday & Saturday could see some serious swell. Mini-groms on maxi-waves. Bring it on.

Only the boys were in the water today. In the u17's Matt McGillivray, Tim and Jerry got straight through to Rd 3, with Paul & Peter still having to fight through Rd 2 heats to stay in the hunt. The u15's saw Jose, Jono, Rewaldo, & Alex making it into Rd 3, and Matt McLou having to get through his Rd 2 heat still to continue onwards in the comp. In the u13's Angelo & Arnold are into Rd 3, with Jarrick and Ryan facing a Rd 2 heat.

Official wrap of Day 1:

Classic conditions with sunshine, light offshore winds and small but consistent and very rippable waves greeted the cream of South Africa’s junior surfers for the opening day of the Hurley SA Junior Champs at the Lower Point in Jeffreys Bay today (Wednesday).

Last night’s opening ceremony saw competitors in nine provincial teams from everywhere on the SA coastline pack the marquee on the beach where Hurley SA head honcho Jevon le Roux told them ‘You’re the actors, and this is your stage.’ He then handed over a cheque for R50 000 to the Supertubes Surfing Foundation in appreciation of the great work they do in keeping the beaches of the Mecca of SA surfing pristine.

Dawn saw the line-up packed with frothing groms and the contest swung into motion with the opening round of the Under 17, U15 and U13 Boys taking to the surf and strutting their stuff on the long walls of one metre waves peeling down the point.

KwaZulu-Natal Central (KZNC) U17 second seed Bryce Burness had the honour of catching the first wave of 2013 edition of the country’s premier event for surfers aged 17-and-under.Bryce, the son of former ASP World No. 7 Mike Burness, fittingly went on to clinch the heat victory and advance directly to Round 3 along with runner-up Jerry van Wyk, the top seed for the hosts and defending team champions, Eastern Province (EP).

One fiercely contested heat after another was fought out with most coming down to the wire and the lead changing hands in the dying seconds as the competitors milked every bit of power in the waves with combinations of high performance manoeuvres.

Western Province (WP) top seed Max Armstrong displayed a flash of brilliance with a perfectly executed air-reverse that had the crowds on the dunes in the natural amphitheatre lining the point cheering, to take the early lead in the charge for the Red Bull Best Air award and the R5 000 that goes with it.

While the natural footers had the advantage of facing the wave during their rides, several of the top performances came from goofy-footers (ride with right foot in front) and Jordy Maree (WP), Nthando Msibi (KZNC) and Steff Burrows were particularly impressive with their vertical backhand attacks and smooth transitions between manoeuvres.

J-Bay local Matt McGillivray (EP), the 2012 U15 champ and Surfer of the Contest, showed he is going to be hard to beat in his first year in the U17 division with his lightening fast repertoire and intimate knowledge of the best waves to catch and ride.

The tempo didn’t slow down as the U15’s took over and EP’s Jose Faulkner and Rewaldo Abersalie, Boland’s Tristan Lev and Adin Masencamp, WP’s Jordy Maree and Jake Elkington, Luke Malherbe (Border) and Gabriel Fernandez from the SA Development Academy posted great heat winning performances.

Angelo Faulkner (EP), Koby Oberholzer (KZNC), Calvin Goor (Dev Academy) and Julian Zens (Bol) were the standouts in the U13 division as the first day of proceedings drew to a close.

The Hurley SA Junior Champs runs until Sunday 29 September when the provincial team accumulating the most points is awarded the coveted Freedom Trophy and the individual winners in the U17, U15 and U13 Boy’s and Girl’s divisions are crowned the 2013 South African surfing champions.

There is also an array of lucrative special awards at stake, including:

• Hurley Surfer of the Contest presented by All Aboard Travel – R20 000 travel voucher to Bali 
• Red Bull Best Air – R5 000 
• Oakley Highest Heat Score – R3 000 
• Zigzag Blowing Up Award – R3 000 
• Skullcandy Team Spirit Award – R3 000
• Van's Tarp Surf Champ – Product from Vans Off The Wall

All the action and behind the scenes highlights at the 2013 Hurley SA Junior Champs can be followed on the following digital platforms:

• Hurley FB: https://www.facebook.com/Hurley.ZA
• Hurley Twitter: https://twitter.com/HurleyZA
• SA Junior Champs: https://twitter.com/sajuniorchamps (Results Only)
• Twitter account – @HurleyZA and the hashtag #sajuniorchamps
• Hurley Instagram: http://instagram.com/hurley_za
• Daily blogs, interviews, video uploads, images and results will be posted onwww.sajuniorchamps.co.za and results can also be found at www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za

Anticipation is building amongst the country’s top young surfers as they prepare for the 2013 Hurley SA Junior Champs which get underway in the world renowned waves of Jeffreys Bay on Wednesday morning.

The team and individual national titles at stake, a host of lucrative special prizes, the chance to represent the country on the international stage and swell models predicting that the Lower Point will produce legendary overhead waves later in the week have combined to raise the excitement levels to fever-pitch.

Jeffreys Bay resident Matt McGillivray will be doing battle in the Under 17 Boy’s division this year after helping his Eastern Province team to clinch their first Freedom Cup team title at last year’s Hurly SA Junior Champs by winning the U15 title, the Surfer of the Contest Award and the Red Bull Airshow at the event.

“I am really stoked the event is at Point as I can just walk down and surf there almost every day which is a big advantage,” says Matt. “I’ve been trying to stay fit and healthy and have been surfing lots so I’m feeling good and am very excited for the contest.”

Fellow SA national team member Steff Burrows has a reputation of charging overhead waves in his home breaks in the Boland and is looking forward to solid waves at J-Bay in his quest for the U17 title.

“It’s sick,” says Steff of Lower Point. “I won a comp there earlier this year, so that helps with the confidence, I guess. And yeah, we’ve been getting some big barrels and uncrowded waves at home this winter.”

The Eastern Province team is determined use their home-surf advantage to add their name to the historic Freedom Cup for the second successive year in the 17 year history of the event. Meanwhile 2012 runners-up KwaZulu-Natal Central, 2011 champions Western Province and teams from Southern KZN, Border, Boland, Zululand, Southern Cape and the SA Development Academy will be doing their best to wrest the prestigious team trophy away from the hosts.

In addition to the individual champions being forever recorded in the storied history of South African surfing, the winners of the U17 and U15 boys and girls titles are also automatically included in the SA Junior team that will represent the country at the next ISA World Junior Championships.

The top performers at the event are also in line for an array of lucrative special awards, including:

• · Hurley Surfer of the Contest presented by All Aboard Travel – R20 000 travel voucher to Bali
• · Red Bull Best Air – R5 000
• · Oakley Highest Heat Score – R3 000
• · Zigzag Blowing Up Award – R3 000
• · Skullcandy Team Spirit Award – R3 000
• · Van’s Tarp Surf Champ – Product from Vans Off The Wall

The 2013 Hurley SA Junior Champs gets started with an opening function at the marquee tent at the Lower Point in Jeffreys Bay at 7pm this evening (Tuesday).

Continuing the family-friendly atmosphere created throughout the event by the sponsors, there is also a bring and braai with live music provided by top SA musician Farryl Purkiss at the beach on Thursday evening and the “My Dad’s Shred Sesh” presented by Firewire Surfboards and the Country Feeling Surfshop is scheduled for 4.30 pm Friday as the anticipated new swell kicks in.

See video highlights from the 2012 champs and preview for 2013 at the event website www.sajuniorchamps.co.za

All the action and behind the scenes highlights at the 2013 Hurley SA Junior Champs can be followed on the following digital platforms:

• · Hurley FB: https://www.facebook.com/Hurley.ZA
• · Hurley Twitter: https://twitter.com/HurleyZA
• · SA Junior Champs: https://twitter.com/sajuniorchamps (Results Only)
• · Twitter account – @HurleyZA and the hashtag #sajuniorchamps
• · Hurley Instagram: http://instagram.com/hurley_za
• · Daily blogs, interviews, video uploads, images and results will be posted on www.sajuniorchamps.co.za and results can also be found at www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za

The South African Development Academy team is participating thanks to a grant from Sport and Recreation South Africa.

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

The 2013 Hurley SA Junior Champs is supported by All Aboard Travel, Skullcandy, Red Bull, Zigzag, Oakley, Neff, Vans Off The Wall, FUTURELIFE and Island Tribe in association with Sticky Bumps Wax, Channel Islands and Mayhem surfboards.

Seal Point, Cape St Francis – The final day of the Billabong Junior Series Finale presented by BOS started off with a bang, and it was straight into the U18 Boys final. Jason Harris (Durban) hooked into a long, reeling set wave on the opening siren and successfully executed a high-risk re-entry maneuver, followed by a series of big power hooks to earn a 6.75 out of a possible 10 points to earn the highest score of the heat off the bat. Jason paddled into another good wave later in the heat to win the final decisively ahead of Slade Prestwich (Durban), Dylan Lightfoot (JBay) and Diran Zakarian (Melkbos).

The heat set the mood for the day and it was full speed ahead, with high action and perfect sets rolling through.
A few excellent sets rolled through for the U12 Boys final, and Angelo Faulkner (JBay) caught the bombs to surge ahead and stay there for the duration of the final. He was followed by fellow JBay surfer Ryan Lightfoot in second, Karl Steen (Durban) in third and York Van Jaarsveld (Kom) in fourth. 

U14 Girls was also blessed with good waves, as the high tide resulted in a bit of a push. Kai Woolf (JBay) showed her supremacy and totally dominated for a clean win. Kirsty McGillivray (JBay) was second, Sophie Bell (Durban) in third and Ashleigh Vaughn (PE) fourth. 

U14 Boys was a two-horse race with Adin Masencamp (Strand) and Jose Faulkner (JBay) neck-and-neck, and in the end there was less than half a point between them. Masencamp took it from Faulkner, with Jake Elkington (Hout Bay) in third and Koby Oberholzer (Durban) in fourth.

In the U16 Boys final Steffen Burrows (Stellenbosch) showed his experience to take the win from a competitive Matt McGillivray (JBay). Michael Monk (EL) was third and Jordan Maree (Kalk Bay) in fourth.

The U18 Girls final was a closely-fought affair, with favourite Chanelle Botha (Durban) emerging victorious, with Britney Linder (PE) a close second. Anoush Zakarian (Melkbos) and Gina Smith (JBay) were third and fourth.
Emma Smith (JBay) surged into the lead in the U20 Girls final, beating favourite Sarah Baum (Durban) into second. Britney Linder (PE) and Anoush Zakarian (Melkbos) were third and fourth respectively. 
In the age old tradition of saving the best for last, the U20 Boys had a blazing final with some fast-paced surfing and high action. Mikey February took the lead, and managed to hold on to it to the end, with Jason Harris scratching his way into second place. Slade Prestwich was third and Davey Brand came in fourth place.

Billabong South Africa Marketing Manager Chad D'Arcy was very happy with the way the final contest and the series as a whole turned out. "We are really stoked with the way the series ran for 2013. Every event just got better and better with the Seal Point finale a perfect conclusion," said D'Arcy. "We are really proud to continue the 16-year legacy of the Billabong Junior Series and will continue to nurture and develop junior surfing in South Africa."

Final Results

U12 Boys
1.Angelo Faulkner (JBay)
2. Ryan Lightfoot (JBay)
3. Karl Steen (Durban)
4. York Van Jaarsveld (Kom)
 U14 Girls
1. Kai Woolf (JBay)
2. Kirsty McGillivray (JBay)
3. Sophie Bell (Durban)
4. Ashleigh Vaughn (PE)
U14 Boys
1. Adin Masencamp (Strand)
2. Jose Faulkner (JBay)
3. Jake Elkington (Hout Bay)
4. Koby Oberholzer (Durban)
 U16 Boys
1.   Steffen Burrows (Stellenbosch)
2.   Matt McGillivray (JBay)
3.   Michael Monk (EL)
4.   Jordan Maree (Kalk Bay)
 U18 Boys
1.   Jason Harris (Durban)
2.   Slade Prestwich (Durban)
3.   Dylan Lightfoot (JBay)
4.   Diran Zakarian (Melkbos)
U18 Girls
1.   Chanelle Botha (Durban)
2.   Britney Linder (PE)
3.   Anoush Zakarian (Melkbos)
4.   Gina Smith (JBay)
 U20 Girls
1. Emma Smith (JBay)
2. Sarah Baum (Durban)
3. Britney Linder (PE)
4. Anoush Zakarian (Melkbos)
U20 Boys
1. Mikey February (Kom)
2. Jason Harris (Durban)
3 Slade Prestwich (Durban)
4. Davey Brand (Kom)

The final event of the series sees the series winners crowned as well a number of specialty awards presented:
       BOS Surfer Of The Series award to the surfer who performed the most consistently across the whole series, consisting of a R20K overall prize consisting of R10K cash, a custom made BOS surf board, special BOS merchandise and a year's supply of BOS Ice Tea went to

 Max Elkington

The All Aboard Travel Sportsmanship Award of a return ticket to Bali with four nights accommodation valued at R20k for the surfer from any division who displayed the best sportsmanship during the series went to Koby Oberholzer from Durban.

The DaKine Youthful Movement Award for the surfer who performed the most innovative or progressive move performed during the competition went to
 Slade Prestwich for a massive carve performed on the first day of competition.

The VonZipper Flair Up Award for the surfer who successfully landed the biggest or most stylish aerial move of the event went to Mikey February for a huge air reverse pulled off in the U20 Boys final.

The Nixon WTA (Winner Takes All) prize of an engraved Nixon watch for the surfer with the highest heat score went to Dylan Lightfoot.

The Nixon limited edition 48-20 All Black / Multi LTD Watch for the winner of the U20 Boys Division went to Mikey February.