2006 Billabong Junior Series

Surfing South Africa
Victoria Bay
15 - 19 June

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 16 June, 2006 : - - Nikita Robb led from the front as the surfing by the Pro Junior (U20) girls lit up an overcast and grey but warm second day in the Billabong Junior Series watched by hundreds of happy spectators at Victoria Bay in the Southern Cape on Friday. 

In a sparkling display of surfing, the 17 year-old SA national surf team member and winner of two international events last year recorded the highest scoring ride of the day, 8.25 points out of a possible 10, to match the top score of the opening day by visiting Australian Brent Power. 

Robb, from East London, went on to add a six point ride to her tally to secure the highest heat total on a day when some heats enjoyed pumping one metre waves with more than 20 waves being ridden, while others saw no more than half a dozen rides recorded in 20 minutes. 

The Youth Day public holiday seemed to inspire the youngsters and 12 year-old Sarah Baum (Athlone Park, KZN), 13 year-old Heidi Palmboom (Bluff) and 14 year-old Holly Armstrong (Kommetjie) all won the their Round of 32 heats,  as did Scarborough’s Tarryn Chudleigh (15) and top seeds Rosanne Hodge (East London) and Tammy-Lee Smith (Salt Rock, KZN). 

In the U12 boys Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay) put in a really impressive performance after injuring his ankle yesterday, relegating Cape Town event winner Benji Brand to second place in their quarter-final, although both advanced to Sunday’s semis. Others through to the last eight include heat winners Max Armstrong (Kommetjie), Jarred Veldhuis (Sun Valley, CT) and George local Daniel Buitendag. 

David Brand (Kommetjie), who like brother Benji is showing incredible form after sending six months in Hawaii, recorded two heat wins to reach the quarter-finals of the U14 boys, as did Sam Moore (Muizenberg) and talented newcomer Merrick Fairall (Port Elizabeth).  

JC Susan (Melkbosstrand) again displayed the manoeuvres that took him to a career first runner-up spot in the Cape Town event last month, winning his heat and advancing to the last 16 along with second placed Vic Bay local David Kelly, where they will join the other qualifiers in coming up against the top 8 seeds in the division. 

The premier Pro Junior (U20) boys division did not compete on Friday but the U16 boys demonstrated the depth of talent coming through the ranks in SA surfing with Daniel Mace (Kommetjie) the standout of the second round. Mace will be joined by heat winners Kyle Galloway (East London), Nick Godfrey (Cape St Francis), Shawn Dennis (Scottburgh), Brendon Gibbens (Kommetjie) and Tommie Kruger (Grabouw), and the runner-up in each heat in the quarter-finals where the top four seeds await. 

The swell is expected to increase again over the weekend in time for the finals in all divisions, which are scheduled for Sunday, along with the Von Zipper Air Show with its R1 800 winner-takes-all reward for the surfer completing the best aerial manoeuvre. 

The series is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa (SSA), the national controlling body for the sport. The U20 boys and girls’ divisions are also sanctioned by ASP Africa with the ratings points counting towards the yearend Pro Surf Tour (PST) Pro Junior crowns. 

The 2006 Billabong Junior Series is proudly supported by FNB; Red Bull; Capri Sun; Mentos sweets; Mrs Palmers; Drench; Salt Water Girl; Zigzag and Blackfoot Productions. 

For further information on the series and a host of other interesting aspects of South African surfing visit www.billabong.com/africa where top performers are profiled.

www.billabong.com

Previous reports:
# 1 : Damien Fahrenfort leads ratings of Billabong Jr Series
# 2 : Fast facts for event # 4 of Billabong Jr. Series, Vic Bay
# 3 : Great start for Billabong Junior Series at Vic Bay, S.Afr
# 4 : Coming soon  

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