Billabong Junior Series J-Bay

ASP Pro Junior Men's and Women's Event
Jeffreys Bay South Africa
21 - 24 September 2007

Bromley blows up on opening day of Billabong Junior Series finale in Jeffreys Bay

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 21 September, 2007 : - - Matthew Bromley ‘blew up’ in the long peeling waves at The Point in Jeffreys Bay on Friday, posting the highest single ride score and the top accumulated heat total on the opening day of the fifth and final event in the 2007 Billabong Junior Series.

On a beautiful day with light variable winds and consistent one metre waves, the Kommetjie teenager celebrated his 16th birthday last week by tearing into the waves, utilising every section and staying close to the power pocket with deep bottom turns and committed off-the-top manoeuvres.

The judges rewarded Bromley with an event high 8.5 out of 10 for his best ride and a 7.25 later in the heat gave him a two wave total of 15.75 and passage into the last 16 in the U16 boys’ division. “I started off pretty shaky actually and fell on a couple of waves,” said Bromley. “But a couple of nice waves came through later in the heat and I managed to get some turns in and tried to use every section.”

“I need to win this event to have a chance of grabbing the series title,” explained Bromley of the head to head battle for the U16 series title with Nick Godfrey (Cape St Francis) that will be decided at this event. “If Nick gets fifth or better then I can’t overtake him but I’ll be pushing hard all the way to the final.”

Godfrey did not have the best of starts himself and spent most of his opening heat behind Kommetjie newcomer Bradley van Zyl until a solid ride in the closing minutes saw the current ratings leader snatch victory.

Others to shine in the U16s included Dale Staples (St Francis Bay) and Umhlanga’s Devin Lane and Beyrick de Vries, all of whom are still in contention for second and third place in the yearend series rankings and a share of the R35 000 series prize-pool.

The opening rounds of the premier Pro Junior boys division, which has been upgraded to ASP International status and carries R35 000 in prize-money, produced few fireworks as the out-of-town competitors brushed up their repertoire of manoeuvres and fine-tuned their equipment.

Local Bertie Stuurman was the exception, garnering a 14.15 point heat total with a best score of 7.5 in relegating Muizenberg’s Aran Moore to second spot as the Capetonian battled to overcome the discomfort of a nasty cut in his foot incurred while practicing yesterday.

U14 Champion elect Michael February (Kommetjie) capitalised on an alternate berth in the Pro Juniors by winning his heat and in the process familiarizing himself with the conditions for the U14 division which starts tomorrow.

The U12’s were the only other division to compete on the opening day and the top four in the ratings all progressed to round three. Ratings leader Slade Prestwich (Scottburgh) and defending U12 champ Max Armstrong (Kommetjie) recorded convincing wins while J-Bay local Dylan Lightfoot was overtaken by Diran Zakarian (Melkbos) late in their opening encounter, but both advanced.

Josh Smit was forced to use borrowed equipment after his board bag blew off the top of the car on his way down to J-Bay from Durban. All three surfboards in the bag were destroyed when the following vehicle rode over them but the current No. 3 won his heat anyway on a board he had never surfed on before.

The U12 repecharge rounds saw two of the youngest competitors work their way back into the event with Jordan Maree (Tokai) winning his heat and fellow nine-year-old Jonah Paarman (Kommetjie) suffering no less than three separate interferences from his opponents before placing second and advancing to round 3.

The opening rounds of the Pro Junior girls and U14 boys divisions will get underway on Saturday and the finals of all five divisions will be staged on Monday. Billabong Junior Series champions will be crowned for the 11th successive year at a function in Jeffreys Bay on Monday evening.

And to celebrate official Braaivleis (BBQ) Day on Monday (a public holiday), there will be a Billabong Braai-Off at the event site tomorrow with the fires lit at 4pm and tasting by a panel of experts at 6.30pm. Protagonists include chef extraordinaire Ronnie Veldhuis, who along with Sean Smit and Darryl Staples will be joined by ‘braai-masters’ from other coastal areas in displaying their particular skills in cooking over an open fire.

The Billabong Junior Series is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa (SSA) with the Pro Junior boy’s event also sanctioned by ASP Africa. The series is proudly supported by First National Bank, Palmers, Kustom, Von Zipper, Red Bull and Silver Bullet Productions

The 2007 series started at St Mikes in February followed by Durban (March 29-April 1), Cape Town (May 17-20) and Victoria Bay (August 9-12). The 11th annual series champions will be crowned in the legendary surf venue of Jeffreys Bay (September 21-24).

Previous reports:
# 1 : Billabong Junior Series South Africa scores ASP Jr rating
# 2 : Fifth & final event of 2007 Billabong Jr. Series hits J-Bay
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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