Andy Irons & John John Florences on the podium : photo ASP/Covered Images

Billabong Pro

ASP WCT Mens Event
Supertubes, Jeffreys Bay, South Africa
12 – 22 July 2006

Live Webcast  |  Scores/Results/Photos/Videos etc 

John John Florence wins Billabong International Junior Showdown

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 15 July, 2006 : - - John John Florence, 13, from Hawaii demonstrated exactly why he was voted the world’s most talented grom surfer by Surfer magazine when he won the impromptu Billabong International Junior Showdown at Supertubes in Jeffreys Bay on Saturday afternoon. 

The informal event was arranged on the spur of the moment to entertain the thousands of people flocking to the fabled surf break when organisers decided not to run the crucial second round of the R2 million Billabong Pro event. Ideal one metre (3 foot) waves and windless, sunny conditions provided a fitting setting for the contest which featured 28 surfers aged 16 and younger who grabbed the opportunity to showcase their skills for the large crowd. 

While many of the country’s top young surfers were in attendance, “Two Johns”, as Florence been dubbed, was the standout and he won a custom Billabong surfboard shaped by Graham Smith when he finished ahead of Shaun Joubert, 15, from Mossel Bay, Kolohe Andino, 12, from California, who was the runner-up to Florence in the Surfer magazines ‘Hot 100 Groms’ poll, and Durban’s Chad du Toit, 16, in the final. 

The second to fourth placed surfers earned Billabong gift vouchers valued at R1 000, R500 and R250 respectively. The prizes were handed to the winners by three time world champ Andy Irons (Haw) and 1999 world champ Mark Occhilupo (Aus) at the awards ceremony at the event site. 

Florence, from Pupukea on the North Shore of Oahu, and his family have been in Jeffreys Bay for a week shooting a surf movie on their life being filmed by iconic cinematographer Sonny Miller and scripted by former Surfer magazine editor Jamie Brisick. Ryan Klynsmith (Warner Beach), Daniel Mace and Davy Brand, both from Kommetjie, placed fifth to seventh in the final after advancing from their respective first round heats. 

The action continues in Jeffreys Bay this evening with the finale of the massive J-Bay Music Festival presented by Malibu showcases the music talents of Sevenstone, Bed on Bricks, Australian outfit Beeva Feeva and Farryl Purkiss starting at 7pm in Jeffreys Bay. 

The highlight could well be veteran surf / rock musos Steve Walsh and legendary saxophonist Gary Horn who, along with PE local Joe van der Linden on bass and the exceptional Vance Burrow (father of Taj) on guitar, are likely to bring the house down when the top surfer / musicians on the world tour join them on stage for renditions of their favourite covers. 

The next call on when to start the second round of the Billabong Pro will be made at first light on Sunday. While small surf and onshore winds are predicted, forecasts look good for excellent surf and conditions in the early days of next week. 

Members of the public can dial the event Hotline on 086 000 2006 for a recorded message on the conditions and the status of the event. This will be updated twice daily throughout the event from 12-22 July. 

Stay tuned to www.billabongpro.com or www.aspworldtour.com for all the LIVE action and event updates.

Round Two Heat Draw:
Heat 1: Kelly Slater (USA) vs Stirling Spencer (USA)
Heat 2: Andy Irons (HAW) vs Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs Pedro Henrique (BRA)\
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs Toby Martin (AUS)
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs Jarrad Howse (AUS)
Heat 6: Bruce Irons (HAW) vs David Weare (ZAF)
Heat 7: CJ Hobgood (USA) vs Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 8: Tim Reyes (USA) vs Marcelo Nunes (BRA)
Heat 9: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs Victor Ribas (BRA)
Heat 10: Cory Lopez (USA) vs Adriano de Souza (BRA)
Heat 11: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 12: Fred Patacchia (HAW) vs Pancho Sullivan (HAW)
Heat 13: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs Michael Lowe (AUS)
Heat 14: Mark Occhilupo (AUS) vs Chris Ward (USA)
Heat 15: Greg Emslie (ZAF) vs Jake Paterson (AUS)
Heat 16: Trent Munro (AUS) vs Troy Brooks (AUS)

www.billabongpro.com

Previous reports:
# 1 : Surf & music extravaganza at Billabong Pro J-Bay in July
# 2 : Billabong Pro J-Bay next stop on ASP Men's World Tour
# 3 : Irons/Slater ratings battle resumes with Billabong Pro
# 4 : VZ wildcard trials give Africans chance in Billabong Pro  

# 5 : Excellent swell forecast for Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay
# 6 : Day 2 of Billabong Pro J-Bay plagued by nasty weather
# 7 : Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay: Day of upsets in Round One
# 8 : Billabong Pro is off: Irons & Whitaker win Fosters titles 

# 9 :   Coming soon
# 10 : Coming soon
# 11 : Coming soon
# 12 : Coming soon  

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Life's a Beach Communications
lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

Simon Barratt
sbarratt@billabong.com.au

Mandy McKinnon (Australia)
mandy.mckinnon@bigpond.com

ASP Media: Wayne Dart
darty@aspworldtour.com

Images: Pierre Tostee
tostee@tostee.com

Karen Wilson
karenw@tostee.com

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