Billabong Junior Series

St Michaels-on-Sea, KZN South Africa
24 - 25 February 2007

Nikita Robb scores perfect ride as girls star in Billabong Junior Series

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 24 February, 2007 : - - Nikita Robb recorded the first perfect 10 point ride in the 2007 Billabong Junior Series as the girls grabbed the limelight on the third day of the first of five events at St Michaels-on-Sea on Saturday. 

Competing in consistent one metre (3-4 foot) waves with a light onshore breeze that strengthened during the day, the 18 year-old East Londoner smashed three powerful top turns on her backhand as she streaked across a head high wave to claim the perfect score in the morning’s quarter-finals.

Now a full time professional surfer after matriculating last year, Robb went on the produce another stellar performance in the afternoon when she convincingly won her semi-final encounter and will be the favourite to clinch the Pro Junior (U20) girls title on Sunday’s final.

Robb was joined in the spotlight by young guns Heidi Palmboom (Bluff) and Bianca Buitendag (George), who both reached the semi-finals of the U14 boys division, and KZN South coast local Caryn MacNicol (Scottburgh) who clinched a spot in the U12 boy’s semis with a last second ride.

Upsets were the order of the day in the Pro Junior boys’ event with just three of the top 10 seeds through to the last eight where they will contest man-on-man quarter-finals on Sunday.

Top seed Brandon Jackson stayed on track with a comfortable heat win to set up a clash with fourth seeded namesake Brandon Roberts while third seed Brett Shearer produced a strong performance and is pitted against Josch Schmeltzer with the winner advancing to the semis.

But rising talents Matthew Bromley (Kommetjie) and fellow 2006 national junior teammate Jaco Steyn (Bloubergstrand) surprised higher seeds and will meet in the first of the quarters while Shawn Dennis, seeded 11th, and Scottburgh dark horse Casey Grant, 27th, will contest the fourth heat in the round.

The girls semis, held in extremely testing conditions at the end of the day, saw 13 year-old Sarah Baum grab the runner-up spot behind Robb to advance to the final. There they will come up against Tarryn Chudleigh (Kommetjie) whose affinity with the KZN South coast waves has seen her win three successive events at nearby Margate, and Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbos).

The top eight seeds have reached the semis of the U16 boys division with top seed Shaun Joubert posting a comfortable quarter-final victory. Second seed Dale Staples (St Francis Bay) was the standout of the day, showing the benefit of having spent most of the December school holidays in Hawaii while Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga), in his first year at this level, has stepped up gear thanks to his campaign in Australia over the same period.

The U14 division produced fireworks as reigning series champion Michael February (Kommetjie) went ballistic on the St Mikes point, scoring an outstanding near perfect 9.75 point ride and adding an 8.25 to claim the highest heat tally of the event to date – 18.0 out of 20. Despite being combo’ed, runner-up Daniel Wilson (Tokai) showed impressive form on his backhand and looks likely to be contender for series honours this year.

Heidi Palmboom beat a trio of boys to claim the second quarter from runner-up Philip Britz (Grahamstown) while Dane Staples and Jarred Veldhuis (Kommetjie) advanced from the third and David van Zyl (Durban) and Bianca Buitendag complete the semi-final line-up.

Slade Prestwich (Scottburgh) celebrated his 12th birthday with another outstanding performance in the U12 division, reaching the semis where he will again meet defending event and series champ Max Armstrong. They are matched against Nicholas Notten (St James) and Dima Fircks (J-Bay) whose brother Ivan qualified for the second semi against fellow J-Bay star Dylan Lightfoot, a rapidly improving Joshua Smit and Caryn MacNicol.

Sunday’s action at the Billabong Junior Series starts with the quarter-finals of the Pro Junior boys followed by the semis of the other divisions and the spectacular Von Zipper Air Show. The first of the five finals is scheduled for 12 noon and the awards presentation at the event site at St Mikes will be staged at approximately 2pm

The Billabong Junior Series is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa (SSA), the national controlling body for the sport in this country, and proudly supported by First National Bank, Palmers, Kustom, Von Zipper, Red Bull and Silver Bullet Productions 

Previous reports:
# 1 : SA’s top young stars up for Billabong Junior at St Mike's
# 2 : St Mikes produces great waves for start of Billabong Jr.
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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