Billabong Junior Series J-Bay

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

Seeds stay on track for honours in Billabong Junior Series at Jeffreys Bay

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 22 September, 2007 : - - Consistent one metre waves and offshore winds on Saturday provided ideal conditions as the seeded surfers stayed on track for honours in the fifth and final event of Billabong Junior Series at Jeffreys Bay.

In the Grade One internationally rated Pro Junior boys event, Nick Godfrey (Cape St Francis) and Casey Grant (Scottburgh) both advanced to match ups against the top 16 seeds who enter the event in the Round of 32, even though Grant placed second behind U14 star Michael February (Kommetjie)

Lungani Memani (Port Alfred) was joined in the next round by fellow heat winners Dominique Abersalie, Joske de Beer, Lourens van Zyl, (all Cape Town) and Chad Schwab (Bluff) while J-Bay local Bertie Stuurman continued his charge at his home break.

The Pro Junior girls started their campaign with series champion elect Tarryn Chudleigh (Kommetjie) progressing comfortably along with third and fourth ranked Chantelle Rautenbach (Melbos) and Sarah Baum (Athlone Park).

The biggest upset of the day came when 13 year-old Bianca Buitendag (George), second in the rankings going into this event, placed third in her opening encounter behind Michelle Imeson (Warner Beach) and Faye Zoetmulder (Port Elizabeth). Buitendag, who won the last event at her home break of Victoria Bay, simply could not find waves that offered scoring potential and was eliminated from the event.

Reigning series champion Nikita Robb (East London) showed the benefits of her experience on the ASP World Qualifying Series, racking up 8.5 and 7.0 point rides to leave her opponents in a combination situation. Alice McGregor (East London), Heidi Palmboom (Bluff) and Tanika Hoffman (Kommetjie) also impressed as the shoulder high waves peeled down the point.

The opening round of the U14 boys division threw up few surprises with the top seeds winning every heat but one where Steven Sawyer upset the formbook. A ride in which the J-Bay standout blasted the lip at every opportunity and was rewarded with 9.0 points out of 10, the highest score of the event to date, saw Sawyer take the heat victory ahead of Brendon Fijac.

February, who will be crowned U14 series champ for the second successive year no matter what happens in this event, second ranked Dane Staples (St Francis Bay), Jarred Veldhuis (Kommetjie), Daniel Wilson (Tokai), Mikey Venter (Warner Beach), Jean du Plessis (East London) and David van Zyl (Glenashley) all recorded heat victories.

Two of the three girls in this division also advanced to the last 16 when Sarah Baum (Athlone Park) and Bianca Buitendag placed second in their respective while Heidi Palmboom (Bluff), the only girl to have reached a final against the boys, was relegated to third place in her heat.

Predictions of a rise in swell and continued offshore winds bode well for great action from the country’s best 20 year-old and younger surfers over the last two days of the event, which ends on Monday.

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).

First National Bank is a division of FirstRand Bank Limited

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 : Bromley blows up Billabong Pro Jr. Series Jefferys Bay
# 4 : Coming soon  

www.billabong.com/africa

More African Surfing News available here
Check the latest Africa Surf Reports and Forecasts

New! B2B News ASBE-Surf   |  Receive News-Alerts

Life's a Beach Communications

Junior Contests - Surfersvillage