The clever peeps at Surfagram.com have worked out the various permutations to the World Title race at Pipe:

As it stands, three surfers are still on the hunt for the 2014 ASP World Championship Tour title

Gabriel Medina (BRA) with 56,550 points
Mick Fanning (AUS) with 53,100 points
Kelly Slater (USA) with 50,050 points

Kelly Slater becomes the 2014 World Champion if he wins the 2014 Billabong Pipe Masters, Gabriel Medina doesn’t finish higher than 13th place, and Mick Fanning doesn’t  get into the final.

Mick Fanning’s situation is a little more complicated. There are three scenarios that could crown Mick. He becomes the 2014 World Champion if:

Case 1: He makes at least a semi-final (3rd, 2nd or 1st), and Gabriel Medina doesn’t finish higher than 13th place. And of course, Kelly Slater can’t win the Billabong Pipe Masters

Case 2: He makes at least a final (2nd or 1st), and Gabriel Medina doesn’t finish higher than a 13th place

Case 3: He wins the 2014 Billabong Pipe Masters, Gabriel Medina doesn’t finish higher than a semi-final (3rd, 2nd or 1st).

In all other scenarios, Gabriel Medina becomes the 2014 World Champion. Except one: the Surf Off. If Mick Fanning finishes in quarter-finals (5th) and Gabriel Medina doesn’t finish higher than a 13th place, both surfers end up tied. One last heat, a surf off, determines the 2014 World Champion.

If you were watching the Medina Simpo heat you were left going WTF?! Gabe bailed on the heat 2 minutes from the end, only needing a 5.78 to take the lead back from Simps. Totally achievable in the conditions. Instead, Brett was left out alone in the line-up thinking he'd just won the lotto. Turns out Medina had thought he'd got the score he needed on his last wave, so just proned in. Problem was, it wasn't the score he needed.

He had just handed Slater a golden opportunity. But for some inexplicable reason Kelly choked. Dropped the ball. Didn't get the scores against one of the ASP bottom dwellers, Aritz. No matter how much we strained our necks on that big deep tube Kelly got which would given him the win, we couldn't will him outta it. It shut down on him, and with it Kelly's chance to make things a bit more interesting at Pipe.

OFFICIAL MEDIA RELEASE:
Supertubos delivered major upsets and high drama today as current Tour frontrunners Gabriel Medina (BRA) and 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) were eliminated from the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal by Brett Simpson (USA) and Aritz Aranburu (ESP) respectively in Round 3. The Brazilian’s early exit ends his chances of claiming an historic world surfing crown in Portugal, effectively pushing the title race to the final event of the year in Hawaii. 

The penultimate stop on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour ran through elimination Round 2 and ten heats of Round 3 today in five-to-eight foot barreling waves. In addition to Medina and Slater’s eliminations, current ASP World No. 4 Joel Parkinson (AUS) was also knocked out of the competition in the third round at the hands Adam Melling (AUS), ending the 2012 ASP World Champion’s run at a second title this season.

Huntington Beach’s Simpson took the surprise win over the Medina by less than a point, with a final score of 12.50 to Medina’s 12.06 (both out of a possible 20.00). With just minutes remaining on the clock, Medina had the opportunity to overtake Simpson, but left the water after his final wave before the time had run down, thinking he had the score for the win. Simpson’s victory marks only the second time this year that the American has made it beyond Round 2 and could deliver crucial points in his hunt for requalification.

“For me, after having a pretty bad year, this is a nice heat to win,” said Simpson. “I’m stoked and really happy. I always wanted to surf a lot of heats out here and now that’s finally started happening.”

“I thought I had the score on my last wave, that’s why I came in, but it wasn't enough,” said Medina. “I’m pretty sad with this result, but I got happier when Kelly (Slater) lost. I was ready to win the Title here, but now I’m focused on Hawaii. I’m happy that I'm still in the Title Race and I know it doesn't depend the other title contenders, it depends on me. I don't know yet what I need to do, but I will prepare and train and be ready.”

Heat 7 of Round 3 witnessed another shock defeat when Aranburu eliminated Slater, who will leave Portugal with his second 13th place finish of the year. Aranburu opened his account with confidence, leading the current World No. 2 with 10 minutes off the clock courtesy of two clean barrel rides for a 12.00 heat total. Slater was left hunting a seven-point ride and was unable to get in rhythm with the unruly barrels or find the scores he needed. While Slater couldn’t capitalize on Medina’s loss in Peniche, he remains in contention to claim his 12th World Title in Hawaii, and will look to regroup before moving into one of his favorite events on the WCT schedule.

“It’s so hard to compete against Kelly (Slater), he’s the best of all time,” Aranburu said. “I always take it as an opportunity and this time it worked out. I’m so stoked right now. I think both of us had a lot of pressure, him for the World Title and me for the requalification, and it was such an important heat. I’ve really enjoyed this year on Tour and I’m taking it heat-by-heat and hoping to make a good result.”

“It’s hard to pick the right waves out here,” said Slater. “I knew Aritz (Aranburu) was a tough guy to draw, he went out there yesterday when no one else went out and he got an eight-foot bomb and got barreled all the way across the beach. He is dangerous in barrels and I didn't underestimate him at all. The wave he got was the wave of the heat and it would have been mine if I hadn't chosen the way I did. This is probably one of my most frustrating Title Races ever because I keep feeling that I have the opportunity and each time I keep dropping the ball.”

John John Florence (HAW) delivered the performance of the day in his Round 3 heat against Dion Atkinson (AUS), building momentum from his earlier win against wildcard Nic Von Rupp (PRT). Florence scored the day’s highest two-wave heat total (18.77) and the first perfect 10 of the event after he air-dropped into a bomb and slid under the thick lip to get spat out further down the sand-bank.

“I’ve been nervous all day for some reason,” said Florence. “These last couple of days I’ve been surfing a lot, the waves have been so much fun and yesterday was my birthday so we surfed all day long. That 10 was really cool. I was paddling into it telling myself to not fall on the drop, I got up and in the end it was a round and perfect wave and I was super stoked.” 

Florence has had phenomenal momentum in recent events, finishing 3rd in Tahiti, Runner-Up at Trestles and claiming victory in France. The young Hawaiian is mathematically in the title hunt for this year’s crown and today’s surprise eliminations of Medina and Slater help his cause.

Adam Melling (AUS) was given a free pass into Round 3 following the unfortunate withdrawal of C.J. Hobgood (USA), who suffered a foot injury in a free surf this morning. With a deep cut spreading from heel to toe Hobgood was forced to pull out of the event before his Round 2 match-up.

“I’ve been through this stuff before so I know I’m in God’s hands, I know I’ll be fine” Hobgood reflected. “It’s not even a question if I can surf, I like to think I can endure some pain and make things happen but this can’t be done. It’s a cut from the top to the bottom and you could fit you whole hand in there.”

Melling went on to eliminate Parkinson in the opening heat of Round 3, ending his hopes of a second World Title. Melling capitalized early with an average score and kept trying to build his lead, while the former World Champion scoured the lineup in the hunt for a high seven. Melling secured the upset with another good righthander and Parkinson leaves with an uncharacteristic 25th place, his first of the season.

“I was pretty happy to get through Round 3,” said Melling. “It was a bummer for C.J. Hobgood, it sucks getting injured so that’s really bad and unfortunate for him. It’s in to a no-loser round next, so I can just go for it. Hopefully we get some really good waves, and it looks like we’re going to, and we can get some good barrels.”

“I’m excited to see if Gabriel (Medina) will be the next World Champion,” Parkinson said. “For him, what he could do for Brazil and surfing in his country, it would just be amazing. Brazilians are so passionate about surfing and it would be awesome to see Gabriel take it. He is probably the most talented surfer I’ve ever seen since Kelly (Slater) and he deserves to be World Champ.”

Current ASP World No. 3 Mick Fanning (AUS) remains in the competition after defeating wildcard Jacob Willcox (AUS) in Round 2. An in-form Fanning wasted no time and found a clean barrel on his forehand to post an 8.50 and take the lead. The reigning three-time ASP World Champion backed it up with a near-perfect 9.43 and the win sees him move on to the third round where he will face Alejo Muniz (BRA) when competition resumes. Willcox will look to reset and focus before the ASP World Junior Championships next week in Portugal.

“I’m pretty excited to compete in these conditions this morning,” said Fanning. “I got down here and it was still so dark so I couldn't see anything. I just threw my wetsuit on and went out and when I got out there I saw some crazy ones, it was pretty exciting. I had to come in before my heat, regroup and go back out there, and I’m stoked that I got a couple of good waves.”

Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal Round 2 Results (1st to Round 3, 2nd finishes equal 25th):
Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.93 def. Jacob Willcox (AUS) 7.43
Heat 2: John John Florence (HAW) 11.67 def. Nic Von Rupp (PRT) 9.66
Heat 3: Michel Bourez (PYF) 5.80 def. Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 5.27
Heat 4: Kolohe Andino (USA) 10.77 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 8.83
Heat 5: Brett Simpson (USA) 13.87 def. Nat Young (USA) 13.43
Heat 6: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 8.74 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 2.67
Heat 7: Aritz Aranburu (ESP) 9.17 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 1.70
Heat 8: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 8.23 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 7.83
Heat 9: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 9.33 def. Mitch Crews (AUS) 5.87
Heat 10: Adam Melling (AUS) advances to Round 3, C.J. Hobgood (USA) injured
Heat 11: Dion Atkinson (AUS) 13.20 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 11.00
Heat 12: Kai Otton (AUS) 12.50 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 6.90

Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal Round 3 Results (1st to Round 4, 2nd finishes equal 13th):
Heat 1: Adam Melling (AUS) 11.66 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 7.93
Heat 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.83 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 8.83 
Heat 3: John John Florence (HAW) 18.77 def. Dion Atkinson (AUS) 13.27
Heat 4: Adriano De Souza (BRA) 11.07 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 6.67
Heat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 10.90 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 2.83
Heat 6: Brett Simpson (USA) 12.50 def. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 12.06
Heat 7: Aritz Aranburu (ESP) 12.00 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 6.30
Heat 8: Josh Kerr (AUS) 13.27 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 13.07
Heat 9: Michel Bourez (PYF) 15.10 def. Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 11.50 
Heat 10: Kai Otton (AUS) 18.20 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 6.00

Upcoming Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal Round 3 Match-Ups (1st to Round 4, 2nd finishes equal 13th):
Heat 11: Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 
Heat 12: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 

Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal Round 4 Match-Ups (1st to Quarterfinals, 2nd and 3rd to Round 5):
Heat 1: Adam Melling (AUS), Jordy Smith (ZAF), John John Florence (HAW)
Heat 2: Adriano De Souza (BRA), Bede Durbidge (AUS), Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 3: Aritz Aranburu (ESP), Josh Kerr (AUS), Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 4: Kai Otton (AUS), TBD, TBD

Mick Fanning (AUS) has won the 2014 Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal, defeating Jordy Smith (ZAF) in clean 3-to-5-foot barrels at the iconic Supertubos in Peniche. Fanning’s third event victory this season, after wins at Bells Beach and Jeffreys Bay, moves him up to World No. 2 on the Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) rankings.

Following the event in Portugal, only reigning three-time ASP World Champion Fanning, 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) and current World No. 1 Gabriel Medina (BRA) remain in contention for the World Title heading into the final event of the season in Hawaii. 

Fanning looked in form throughout the contest, winning all but his Round 1 heat. The Australian surfed five separate heats on the final day, dispatching Alejo Muniz (BRA), Filipe Toledo (BRA) and Kai Otton (AUS), en route to the Final, where he faced Jordy Smith (ZAF). Fanning overtakes Kelly Slater (USA) on the WCT Rankings, claiming the second spot going into the last event of the season, the Billabong Pipeline Masters.

Fanning built his scoreboard early in this afternoon’s Final before locking into a deep backhand barrel for a nine-point ride and the heat lead. The reigning champ backed it up with another barrel to net a 6.50 and seal the deal, winning a second event in Peniche, after his 2009 victory at the Rip Curl Search event.

“I am just so stoked,” said Fanning. “I didn't really think about a win to tell you the truth, it just happened. Jordy (Smith) surfed amazing, John John (Florence) surfed amazing, Kai (Otton) too. Everyone has been ripping this whole Euro leg and I’m just stoked I got to get a result out of it. It feels so good to get a win, it’s been five years since I won here, so I am very stoked. Going into Hawaii with a title on the line is so stressful, but I guess I will just deal with that when I get there. For now I’ll just enjoy the win here.”

A runner-up finish in Portugal is Jordy Smith’s (ZAF) second best result of the year, after a win in Lower Trestles, and sees the South African move up to seventh place on the WCT Rankings. Smith’s runner-up finish in Peniche and a previous quarterfinal berth in the ASP Prime Cascais Billabong Pro solidified his position at the top of the Portuguese Waves Series and earned him the Cascais Trophy and the coveted bonus of $50,000 in prize money.

In the Final today Smith answered Fanning’s 9 with a good wave of his own, punctuating a smaller barrel with a powerful gauge for a 7.67. Unfortunately for Smith, a slow lineup didn’t deliver many other opportunities, and the talented regular-footer was left chasing a second-score for the remainder of the final.

“That’s incredible taking out the Cascais Trophy and the $50,000,” said Smith. “I’m definitely coming back next year. I am so excited and stoked. I didn't realize it until I came in after my Semifinal and a friend of mine said to me that I’d just won the Cascais Trophy. I was like, “are you kidding me”, I was pretty pumped. I like this place, I really like the waves around here and I love Portugal and the people here. It’s a really great place and I always love surfing here.”

Smith previously defeated one standouts of the event, John John Florence (HAW), in the Semifinal today. Despite posting the only two perfect 10-point rides of the event Florence lost his momentum and was eliminated after Smith posted two excellent scores, which were too much for the young surfer from Hawaii to overcome. Florence leaves Portugal in equal third place and the loss is the end of his 2014 World Title hopes.

“I’m super bummed, but at the same time I’m stoked to have made the Semifinals,” Florence said. “I’ve been on a fun, good run for these last few events. Jordy (Smith) got the good ones, so congratulations to him. I’m definitely excited to go into Hawaii as a possible spoiler to the World Title, I want to win Pipeline no matter what. The World Title is now out of my hands, so there’s no pressure on. I just can’t wait to go home and surf Pipe.”

Defending event champion Kai Otton (AUS) was on the verge of a second consecutive Final in Peniche, but with only minutes remaining in his Semifinal heat Fanning the came back with two consecutive fast barrels to turn the heat and steal the win. Otton’s excellent campaign in Portugal marks a season’s best and will take the Australian up six places to 18th on the rankings.

“I just got bumped off on a lot of my waves,” Otton explained. “I think that one wave I had would have been a really high score, then I might have been in control of the heat. Mick (Fanning) fought his way back like a champion with that 7.17 score. It’s beautiful having the family here, and it’s great coming in from each heat, win or lose, and they’re there to cheer me up.” 

Heading into the final event of the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour, the Billabong Pipeline Masters, three surfers remain in contention for this year’s world surfing crown: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Mick Fanning (AUS) and Kelly Slater (USA):

If Medina finishes 2nd or better at the Billabong Pipeline Masters, he will clinch the 2014 ASP World Title.
If Medina finishes 3rd at the Billabong Pipeline Masters, Fanning will need to win the event and Slater will be out of contention.
If Medina finishes 5th at the Billabong Pipeline Masters, Fanning will need to win the event and Slater will be out of contention.
If Medina finishes 9th at the Billabong Pipeline Masters, Fanning will need to finish 2nd or better and Slater will be out of contention.
If Medina finishes 13th or 25th at the Billabong Pipeline Masters, Fanning will need to finish 3rd to win or 5th to send the title race into a one-heat “surf-off” between himself and Medina. If Medina finishes 13th or 25th at the Billabong Pipeline Masters, Slater will need to win the event.

The next and final stop on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour is the Billabong Pipe Masters from December 8 - 20, 2014.

Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal Final Results:
Winner: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.50
Runner-Up: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 7.67

Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal Semifinal Results (1st to Final, 2nd finishes equal 3rd):
SF 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.64 def. John John Florence (HAW) 7.27
SF 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.17 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 8.40

Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal Quarterfinal Results (1st to Semifinals, 2nd finishes equal 5th):
QF 1: John John Florence (HAW) 17.83 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 11.83
QF 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.27 def. Adriano De Souza (BRA) 12.23
QF 3: Kai Otton (AUS) 14.80 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 13.17
QF 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.07 def. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 10.10

Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal Round 5 Results (1st to Quarterfinals, 2nd finishes equal 9th):
Heat 1: Adam Melling (AUS) 7.50 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 5.90
Heat 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 13.60 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 9.63
Heat 3: Kai Otton (AUS) 13.83 def. Aritz Aranburu (ESP) 8.33
Heat 4: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 14.23 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 7.30

Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal Round 4 Results (1st to Quarterfinals, 2nd and 3rd to Round 5):
Heat 1: John John Florence (HAW) 17.27, Adam Melling (AUS) 13.96, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.03
Heat 2: Adriano De Souza (BRA) 17.26, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 10.66, Brett Simpson (USA) 9.00
Heat 3: Josh Kerr (AUS) 13.10, Aritz Aranburu (ESP) 6.66, Michel Bourez (PYF) 2.03
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.74, Filipe Toledo (BRA) 7.76, Kai Otton (AUS) 3.60Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal Round 3 Results (1st to Round 4, 2nd finishes equal 13th):
Heat 1: Adam Melling (AUS) 11.66 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 7.93
Heat 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.83 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 8.83 
Heat 3: John John Florence (HAW) 18.77 def. Dion Atkinson (AUS) 13.27
Heat 4: Adriano De Souza (BRA) 11.07 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 6.67
Heat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 10.90 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 2.83
Heat 6: Brett Simpson (USA) 12.50 def. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 12.06
Heat 7: Aritz Aranburu (ESP) 12.00 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 6.30
Heat 8: Josh Kerr (AUS) 13.27 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 13.07
Heat 9: Michel Bourez (PYF) 15.10 def. Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 11.50 
Heat 10: Kai Otton (AUS) 18.20 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 6.00
Heat 11: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 15.00 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 13.17
Heat 12: Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.10 def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 13.33

Current ASP WCT Top 10 (following the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal):
1. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 56,550 pts
2. Mick Fanning (AUS) 53,100 pts
3. Kelly Slater (USA) 50,050 pts
4. John John Florence (HAW) 47,950 pts
5. Michel Bourez (PYF) 43,750 pts
6. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 43,100 pts
7. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 42,900 pts
8. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 42,250 pts
9. Taj Burrow (AUS) 41,700 pts
10. Kolohe Andino (USA) 35,900 pts

KwaZulu-Natal Central claimed the coveted Freedom Cup for the provincial team accumulating the highest points at the 2014 Hurley SA Junior Champs which was completed in 3 to 4 foot (one metre) picture perfect offshore waves at the Lower Point in Jeffreys Bay today (Sunday).

The KZNC team also clinched two of the six individual titles at stake and provided eight of the 24 finalists, earning 29 450 points to finish well ahead of hosts Eastern Province (26 612) and third placed Western Province (26 202), last year’s champion team. Boland ended the event in fourth place followed by Border, Southern KZN, Southern Cape, SA Development Academy and Zululand.

Teal Hogg (KZNC) and Kai Woolf (EP) successfully defended their respective U17 and U13 Girls national titles while Michael Monk (Border) clinched the U17 Boys crown, Adin Masencamp (Boland) added the U15 Boys title to his U13 win last year, Sophie Bell (KZNC) took the U15 Girls crown and Max Elkington (WP) is the 2014 SA champion in the U13 Boys division.

The U17 Girls final started with Anoush Zakarian (Bol) posting an excellent score of 8.50 out of 10, leaving her three opponents needing to play catch up. Hogg steadily built her two wave heat total with long rides, eventually overtaking Zakarian with less than 10 minutes remaining and holding onto the lead for back-to-back titles.

“I’m so stoked to be able to defend my title,” said Teal Hogg. “I heard Anoush’s (Zakarian) first score so I thought I would need two good waves to get ahead of her, and then sit on her, which I did. It was kind of hard, as she is a good friend of mine, but I had to use the tactical approach at the end.”

Ntando Msibi from the SA Development Academy team was first out of the blocks in the see-saw U17 Boys final, but defending champion and Jeffreys Bay local Matthew McGillivray (EP) took the lead with a series of massive manoeuvres on his first ride. Monk weighed in with two great waves to overtake McGillivray who attempted a huge, high risk aerial that he did not ride out of and Monk clinched the title to the enthusiastic delight of his Border teammates on the beach.

Sophie Bell (KZNC) dominated the U15 Girls final by catching the best waves and performing better manoeuvres than her peers to finish well ahead of runner-up Anna Jellema-Butler (WP).

The lead changed hands between the final four competitors in the tightly contested U15 Boys with Adin Masencamp narrowly securing the title with just two minutes remaining and less than one point separating first place from fourth.

Kai Woolf (EP) was the standout throughout the U13 Girls division and finished well clear of Gabi Lailvaux (KZNC) who displayed huge improvement to grab second place.

Saxton Randall (KZNC) started the U13 Boys final with a great ride but was hauled in, first by J-Bay local Angelo Faulkner (EP) and then by eventual 2014 champion Max Elkington (WP), who rode to victory on the biggest set waves.

Shane Sykes (KZNC), who was eliminated in a major upset in the U17 Boys semifinals, was the most impressive surfer at the event and was crowned the Surfer of the Contest, winning the All Aboard Travel / Zigzag Mag award of a free air ticket to join a surf trip where he will be featured in a photo editorial article in the magazine.

Sykes also earned the Oakley Highest Heat Score award for the 16.50 out of 20 he posted in Round 4 on Friday.

Sebastian Williams collected the Red Bull Best Air award, Max Elkington took the Island Tribe Best Tube award and the two Mayhem surfboards shaped by the legendary Matt Biolos went to Dylan Hendricks (EP) and Anna Jellema Butler (WP).

The highly prized Skullcandy Team Spirit award justifiably went to KwaZulu-Natal Central whose plans to win the team title and the team spirit award started in January. The whole team stayed together during the event and were motivated by Zulu warrior Bonginkosi Ntuli who collected both the trophies on behalf of the team at the awards ceremony.

The winners of the U17 and U15 titles are automatically included the in Surfing South Africa National Junior Team which will compete in the 2015 ISA World Junior Surfing Championships. Michael Monk (Border), Teal Hogg (KZNC), Adin Masencamp (Boland) and Sophie Bell (KZNC) were presented with their green team blazers at the conclusion of the event

The 2014 Hurley SA Junior Champs at Jeffreys Bay were a huge success for the third successive year and the teams from the entire length of the coastline left with indelible memories of competing, meeting and mingling with their peers at the Mecca of South African surfing.

2014 HURLEY SA JUNIOR CHAMPS FINAL RESULTS:

Freedom Cup (Provincial team points)
1. KWA-ZULU NATAL CENTRAL 29 450 points
2. EASTERN PROVINCE 26 612
3. WESTERN PROVINCE 26 202
4. BOLAND 20 781
5. BORDER 20 648
6. SOUTHERN KZN 20 123
7. SOUTHERN CAPE 16 702
8. SA DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY 14 144
9. ZULULAND 11 746

BOYS UNDER 17
1. Michael Monk (BOR)
2. Matt McGillivray (EP)
3. Ntando Msibi (DEV)
4. Bevan Willis (KZNC)

GIRLS UNDER 17
1. Teal Hogg (KZNC)
2. Anoush Zakarian (BOL)
3. Chanelle Botha (SKZN)
4. Jade Mets (KZNC)

BOYS UNDER 15
1. Adin Masencamp (BOL)
2. Koby Oberholzer (KZNC)
3. Joshe Faulkner (EP)
4. Sebastian Williams (EP)

GIRLS UNDER 15
1. Sophie Bell (KZNC)
2. Anna Jellema-Butler (WP)
3. Ashleigh Vaughan (EP)
4. Natasha van Greunen (WP)

BOYS UNDER 13
1. Max Elkington (WP)
2. Angelo Faulkner (EP)
3. Saxton Randall (KZNC)
4. Eli Beukes (WP)

GIRLS UNDER 13
1. Kai Woolf (EP)
2. Gabi Lailvaux (KZNC)
3. Julia Ploughman (WP)
4. Olivia Izzard (KZNC)


All images below Sandy Coffey

The penultimate stop on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) could see a conclusion to this year’s exciting title race and will play a crucial role in the battle for requalification. 

Current ASP World No. 1 Gabriel Medina (BRA) has the chance to claim his maiden World Title at the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal and become the first Brazilian ever to secure the surfing crown. 

“It’s such a great wave here, which I really like to surf,” said Medina. “I’m excited to be here because I like to compete in Portugal but I definitely have some nerves coming into the event.”

After strong winds blasted the shores of Peniche yesterday the contest has been put on standby for a second consecutive lay day.

“Even though the winds have abated it's still out of the south and the swell is barely at the 1 foot mark”, said ASP Men's Tour Manager Renato Hickel. “We have called the competition off for the day and we'll come back tomorrow.”

11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) is still in contention for the World Title and a win in Portugal will ensure that the title goes to Hawaii.

“It’s going to be a tough year here – both with the conditions and the competition,” said Slater. “I think it will be big this year though, which really suits me but we’ll have to wait and see. Supertubos can change really drastically depending on conditions.”

Current ASP World No. 5 John John Florence (HAW) is fresh from his first WCT victory of the year at the Quiksilver Pro France. The young surfer from Hawaii is one of five other surfers that remain in the running to win the title and stop the Brazilian. 

“It feels great to win an event this year, especially after losing to Kelly (Slater) at Trestles,” said Florence. “I had a great rhythm in France and really hope to bring it here. I hope it’s big and barreling.”

Portuguese sensation Tiago Pires is preparing to compete in front of a home crowd after being absent from this competition last year due to injury. The event offers Pires, who is currently at 25th place on the WCT rankings, vital points towards to requalification for 2015.

“Last year I was hurt and I couldn’t compete,” said Pires. “This year I’m really happy to be here. I’m not thinking about the pressure but I’m focusing on support, and I have a lot of that here. At this event you have to be adaptable and ready for any conditions.”

Nic von Rupp (PRT) and Jacob Willcox (AUS) will compete alongside the ASP Top 34 and complete the field for the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal. Von Rupp won the trials to secure his place alongside the world’s best surfers and will face Slater in the first Round.

“This is the fourth year I’ve tried to win the trials and make it into the main event,” said Von Rupp. “I’m so happy to be competing and I hope we get some great conditions here at Supertubos.”

Willcox, the 17-year-old from Margaret River, received the Rip Curl wildcard for the event for the second year in the row. The young Australian defeated Slater in last year’s competition and will look to cause another upset when he faces Medina in Round 1. 

“I definitely hope I can beat Gabriel (Medina) this year, but I’ll just have to wait and see what happens on the day,” said Willcox. “I just hope that the waves are good and there’s a few barrels.”

Event organizers will reconvene at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 14 to assess conditions and make the next call.

Surfline, official forecasters for the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal have called for:

A series of storms will impact the Peniche region over the next several days, bringing generally unfavorable wind for Supertubos and periods of rain. Wind driven, shorter period WSW to WNW swell mix continues on Monday with rebuilding and strong onshore wind at Supertubos. The next shorter to mid period swell mix builds in for Tue/Wed as moderate (Tue) to strong (Wed) onshore flow continues. A very solid WNW groundswell is on track for Thur/Fri with more onshore/southerly wind expected.

The following scenarios breakdown the remaining possibilities for Medina to clinch the 2014 ASP World Title at the upcoming Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal:

• If Medina wins in Portugal, he will clinch the 2014 ASP World Title. 
• If Medina finishes Runner-Up in Portugal, Slater will need to win the event to send the title race to Pipeline.
• If Medina finishes 3rd in Portugal, Fanning or Slater will need to win the event to send the title race to Pipeline.
• If Medina finishes 5th at in Portugal, Fanning will need to win the event and/or Slater will need to finish Runner-Up or better to send the title race to Pipeline.
• If Medina finishes 9th in Portugal, Florence or Parkinson will need to win the event, Fanning will need a Runner-Up or better and/or Slater will need a 3rd or better to send the title race to Pipeline.
• If Medina finishes 13th or 25th in Portugal, the title race will go to Pipeline.

The Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal will be webcast LIVE via aspworldtour.com.

Moche Rip Curl Pro Round 1 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 2: John John Florence (HAW), Jadson Andre (BRA), Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 3: Joel Parkinson (AUS), C.J. Hobgood (USA), Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS), Sebastian Zietz (HAW), Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Nico Von Rupp (PRT)
Heat 6: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Kai Otton (AUS), Jacob Willcox (AUS)
Heat 7: Michel Bourez (PYF), Filipe Toledo (BRA), Aritz Aranburu (ESP)
Heat 8: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Julian Wilson (AUS), Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 9: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Mitch Crews (AUS)
Heat 10: Kolohe Andino (USA), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 11: Josh Kerr (AUS), Bede Durbidge (AUS), Dion Atkinson (AUS)
Heat 12: Owen Wright (AUS), Nat Young (USA), Tiago Pires (PRT)

RESULTS

U13 B

Dylan won his heat, through to round 3
Enrico came second, through to round 3
Ryan came fourth in his heat and sadly, knocked out.

U13 G

Kai won her heat, through to round 3
Kelly Fenton came third in hers, through to round 2 repo

U15 G

All three of our girls, Ashley, Kirsty and Zoe all won their heats and
are now through to round 3.

U17 G

Robyn and Crystal had great heats, both won and are through to round 3.
Kia came third in her heat, went through to surf round 2 repo, and came third in that heat. She was unfortunately knocked out.
Kai Woolf posted the highest heat score of the day, coming in at a 14.5.

Tomorrow, conditions are forecasted bigger than today with a predicted off shore for the morning. It’s going to be a long day – EP are surfing in 19 heats – out of 27.

It’s the weekend (baby). Come and visit us in Jbay.!


Wrap & images Sandy Coffey

Here's the round-up of Day 1 of the Hurley SA Champs by our roving reporter and photographer Sandy Coffey:

"Our EP team is full of optimism and team spirit after a successful first day at the  Hurley SA Champs. Smart and unmissable in bright red, the entire team were  seen cheering from the beach as our surfers showed strength and style in the  water.  The EP Team are so united, not even the KZN Zulu Warrior - flown especially from Durban by the KZN team - could stop our team from being the standout spirit on the beach!

Conditions at the Point were contestable albeit a bit small– waist high 1-2  foot clean offshore but this didn’t deter. Coach Graham Hynse was happy “I’m  stoked with the team. They were all outstanding today. And that’s because they  are united and focused. But we need to remember that it gets harder from here.  There are no easy rounds”.  

RESULTS 

UNDER 17 BOYS 
Matt and Jono– won their heats and are now through to round 4 
Alex and Jerry came second in their heats and are through to round 3 
Pete came third, but got through to round 3 

UNDER 15 BOYS 
Sebastian, Arnold, Joshe all won their heats, now through to round 4 
Enrico got second place and is now through to round 3 
Rewaldo got a third place and goes to the repo (round 2) 

Sebastian Williams got the highest wave score in the EP Team – a 7.25 ! 

Tomorrow sees the Under 17 Girls, Under 15 Girls and Boys and the Under 13  Boys and Girls in the water. Swell is likely to pick up, and we looking forward to  a great day on the beach again. Will be checking in again tomorrow."

Thanks Sandy, good luck to our team! 

All images Sandy Coffey

The top bodyboarders from around South Africa have all arrived in Port Alfred for the annual South African Bodyboarding Championships taking place from 6-10 October at West Beach. 

Six provinces will battle it out for the coveted Fishman Trophy as well as riders hoping to claim the title of SA Champion in their respective divisions. Good luck to our EP team! Pressure's on ou's, cos the surfers have been bringing home the trophies!

Follow the "South African Bodyboarding Championships 6-10 Oct 2014" Facebook page for details, photos and daily updates.

Shot to all our local groms for surfing their socks off in the BIllabong Junior Series held at Seals this weekend. Some good waves, some challenging days, but the lighties just went for it.

Stand-out performers were JBay grom DYlan Hendricks who got 3rd and PA micro-grom Kye McGregor who took 4th in the Boys u12; JBay's Kirsty McGillivray who won the Girl's u14, and Zoe Smith got 3rd; Sebastian Williams winning the Boys u14; St Francis's Crystal Hulett getting 2nd in Girl's u16; PE's Alex van Rijswijck and JBay's Joshe Faulkner getting 2nd & 4th respectively in the Boys u16; Emma Smith won the Pro Junior Women with her sister Gina 2nd and Crystal 4th. Dylan Lightfoot got 2nd in Pro Junior Men.

Alex van Rijswijck also picked up the KR Fins Free award, and Jono Coffey scored a Dennis Ellis board for the Underground Ripper Award.

Check out the full comp wrap and all the results here:

Seal Point, Cape St Francis - Small and onshore waves didn't deter the best junior surfers in the country as they tore the Seal Point waves apart in their bids for event and series titles. In an exciting finish to the 2014 Billabong Junior Series presented by BOS, the finalists all threw caution to the wind, going for broke in the marginal conditions.

In the U12 Boys final it was young York Van Jaarsveldt who outpointed Tide Lee Ireland for the win, while in the U14 Girls division it was Kirsty McGillivray who took the win from Anne Jellema-Butler. In the fiercely contested U14 Boy Final it was Sebastian Williams who took victory from Koby Oberholzer.

Ruth Armstrong won the U16 Girls division beating Crystal Hulett, while Adin Masencamp took out the U16 Boys division from Alex Van Rijswick. 

The Pro Junior Women's final was a close one, with the two JBay sisters, Emma and Gina Smith, placing first and second, with Teal Hogg and Crystal Hulett in third and fourth.

The Pro Junior Men's heat was an action-packed affair, with the 4 surfers going for broke in the highly contestable high-tide conditions. Adin Masencamp, showing some fatigue after winning his U16 final, placed fourth, and Josh Smit failed to find the connecting waves and came third. JBay surfer Dylan Lightfoot, who was surfing fast and dynamic, wasn't able to beat an on-form Shane Sykes, who totally dominated the final and earned the biggest heat score of the event in the process.

"I'm stoked with the way that final went," said Sykes afterwards. "The waves were so much fun out there, and with the onshore it reminded me a lot of where I surf in Durban, in Ballito. I was feeling confident and have had a pretty good run lately, with a good board, so it was a great event or me."

The BOS Surfer Of The Contest Award went to Adin Masencamp for winning the U16 Boys and making the Pro Junior Men's final.

The Nixon WTA Award for the highest heat score went to Shane Sykes for his massive 18.5 total in the Pro Junior Final

The DaKine Youthful Movement Award went to Shane Sykes for an innovative finsfree move in the Pro Junior Final

The KR Finsfree Award went to Alex Van Rijswijck.

The Dennis Ellis Underground Ripper Awards went to:

Girl - Taghiti Gericke
Boy - Johnathan Coffey

The VonZipper Brainblast Off Airshow was won by Diran Zakarian for a huge backhand air reverse move. 

Nixon Limited Edition 48-20 watches went to the two Pro Junior winners Shane Sykes and Emma Smith.

The BOS Surfer Of The Series Award for the most consistent surfer of the series across all age divisions went to Emma Smith for winning all three Pro Junior Women's events during the year.

Video highlights of Day Two of the contest, with some amazing drone footage, can be viewed here: www.youtube.com/watch

The Billabong Junior Series 2014 has a number of supporting sponsors, including Playstation, Samsung, Techniblock, Nixon, VonZipper, KR Fins, Denis Ellis Surfboards and Future Life.

The Billabong Junior Series presented by BOS is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa. Surfing South Africa is a member of the South African Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and is recognised by the Dept. Of Sport and Recreation as the national governing body for surfing. 

John John Florence (HAW) has claimed the Quiksilver Pro France, navigating the shifting eight-to-10 foot (2.5 - 3 metre) barrels at the primary site of Le Gardian in front of a massive crowd on the beach.
 
Event No. 9 of 11 on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour, the Quiksilver Pro France existed as a crucial stop in the hunt for this year’s world surfing crown as well as a critical opportunity for those looking to requalify for next season’s elite tour.
 
Florence proved the event’s form surfer from the outset, consistently notching up the highest scores of each round and surfing with unparalleled comfort and confidence in the ever-changing conditions. His win over Jadson Andre (BRA) was secured with committed barrel rides as well as power surfing and marks the second WCT victory of his career (the first being in Brazil in 2012).

“It has felt like such a long event and I’m so pumped to get the win in the end,” Florence said. “We’ve had every type of condition for this event and even finishing in barrels was a lot of work. There was a lot of water moving out there and Jadson (Andre) was always going to be a tough opponent. He looked super strong against Jordy (Smith) in the Semi. Pumped on the win here and the support from the crowd was really impressive.”
 
After a sporadic start to the year, the young Hawaiian has been on a roll in recent events, collecting a 3rd in Tahiti and a Runner-Up finish in Trestles before today’s win in the South of France. Florence has moved from 8th to 5th on the ASP WCT rankings and has vaulted himself into contention for the 2014 world surfing crown.
 
“I’m really pumped with my results lately,” Florence said. “I had a few weird things happen for me at the start of the year and I’ve made some adjustments recently. I’ve spoken to a lot of guys about the title and they all say that the title campaign actually starts the year before. I’m hoping for a few more good results this season to really make a run for it in 2015. I guess today’s win puts me in contention for this year, but Gabriel (Medina) is so far ahead that some weird stuff would have to happen.”

Andre’s runner-up finish marks the Brazilian’s first Finals’ berth since 2010, moving him from 29th on the rankings to 20th and currently inside the requalification cutoff.

 “It’s been a long time since I got a result I’m happy with,” Andre said. “I feel like my surfing has been strong all year, but things haven’t gone my way. So stoked to make the Final and hopefully that builds momentum for me for the rest of the season.”

 Josh Kerr (AUS), current ASP World No. 13, quietly worked his way through the event draw before creating a major upset in yesterday’s elimination of tour frontrunner Gabriel Medina (BRA) in their Quarterfinal match. Despite the collection of an impressive barrel in today’s Semifinal, Kerr was unable to overtake eventual winner Florence and finishes France with an Equal 3rd.

 “I always knew John (Florence) was going to be a tough opponent out there,” Kerr said. “He’s been in rhythm with the ocean all event. When everyone else is struggling, he’s out there dropping 10s. I got one good wave, but that was about it. Semifinals feels good though. Breaks the curse somewhat in France for me so that’s good.”

Jordy Smith (ZAF), winner of the previous ASP WCT event in Southern California, was looking to go back-to-back with another victory in France. After eliminating Kelly Slater (USA) from competition in their morning Quarterfinal bout, Smith’s odds looked promising before falling to Andre in the Semifinals. 
 
“Felt like I had a good heat against Kelly (Slater) then couldn’t buy a wave in my Semifinal,” Smith said. “Congrats to Jadson (Andre) though. He’s been surfing well all event and he’s hungry for a result. Looking forward to the next one.”
 
Kelly Slater (USA), 11-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 2, was in position to capitalize on current frontrunner Gabriel Medina’s (BRA) Quarterfinal exit yesterday with a strong result in France. However, the iconic Floridian was unable to best opponent Jordy Smith (ZAF) in their morning match, and heads into the last two events with less opportunity to gain on the Brazilian’s lead.
 
“It was difficult out there today and I just found myself out of position for most of the heat,” Slater said. “I haven’t felt like I’ve been in a rhythm for most of the year. There have been moments, but replicating the feeling where you’re confident things are clicking just hasn’t happened. Still in the race, but today was a missed opportunity. We’ll see what happens in Portugal.”
 
The next stop on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour will be the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal from October 12 - 23, 2014.

Quiksilver Pro France Final Results:
1 - John John Florence (HAW) 16.00
2 - Jadson Andre (BRA) 4.57
 
Quiksilver Pro France Semifinal Results (1st Advances to Finals, 2nd Finishes Equal 3rd):
SF 1: John John Florence (HAW) 15.50 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 8.60
SF 2: Jadson Andre (BRA) 16.67 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 8.84
 
Quiksilver Pro France Remaining Quarterfinal Results (1st Advances to Semifinals, 2nd Finishes Equal 5th):
QF 3: Jadson Andre (BRA) 10.50 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 8.26
QF 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.50 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 10.50
 
ASP WCT Top 5 (after Quiksilver Pro France):
1. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 56,550 pts
2. Kelly Slater (USA) 50,050 pts
3. Mick Fanning (AUS) 43,600 pts
4. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 43,100 pts
5. John John Florence (HAW) 41,950 pts