Billabong Junior Series

Surfing South Africa
Golden Mile Durban South Africa
29 March - 1 April 2007

Youth overcomes experience at Billabong Junior Series in Durban

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 31 March, 2007 : - - South Africa’s emerging crop of future world-beating surf stars claimed the honours on the third day of the Billabong Junior Series event in Durban on Saturday with a pair of 13 year-olds reaching the U20 girls final, a 14 year-old top scoring for the day and two U16’s still in contention for the Pro Junior (U20) boys title.

As the swell dropped and the onshore NE winds turned the Bay of Plenty into a choppy playing field, it was the young guns who impressed the judges by ripping, tearing and lacerating the bumpy one metre waves. Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga) was the standout of the day, wisely selecting a spot halfway down the beach from his opponents where the waves enabled him to perform his new-school manoeuvres in his U16 quarter-final.  

Showing the benefits of his first overseas campaign in Australia over Xmas, the 14 year-old recorded the day’s highest single ride score of 9.25 out of 10 and then added a 7.25 for the top heat tally of 16.50. At 16, top seed Tarryn Chudleigh (Kommetjie) will be the most experienced competitors in the Pro Junior girl’s final on Sunday as the rising stars cut a swathe through their older peers.

The Capetonian will face diminutive Sarah Baum (Athlone Park), winner of all three of her heats to date, fellow 13 year-old Bianca Buitendag (George), who defeated Chudleigh in their quarter-final and Alice McGregor (EL), 15, in her first final at this level.  

The Pro Junior boys enjoyed the best of the early morning conditions with U16 stars Matthew Bromley (Kommetjie) and Dale Staples (St Francis Bay), both of whom spent the Xmas holidays in Hawaii, advancing to the last eight in the event where the format changes from four-man heats to man-on-man encounters.

Clinton Gravett was another to demonstrate the benefits international competition. Returning from Australia where he competed in a number of Pro Junior and WQS events the East Londoner blitzed the waves with his powerful backhand attack to set up a last eight clash with Kyle Lane (Umhlanga).

Bromley takes on fellow Billabong team rider Rudy Palmboom (Bluff), the highest seed remaining in the event after yesterday’s shock elimination of Brandon Jackson, and the 15 year-old will take over the ratings lead in the premier division if he advances to the semis.

The other two quarters that will start Sunday’s schedule see fourth seed Brandon Roberts (Cape Town) against eighth seed Josh Redman (Umdloti) and Staples pitted against third seed Brett Shearer (Kommetjie).

The U16 boys quarters were outstanding with Nic Godfrey (Cape St Francis) staying in contention for a second successive victory, de Vries advancing with Bromley while Staples and reigning series champ Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay) both won their heats by waiting in the same section of the lineup as de Vries.