Billabong Junior Series Africa #3

Surfing South Africa
Big Bay Cape Town
9 - 11 May 2008

Chad du Toit defeats Rudy Palmboom to win the third event of the Billabong Pro Junior Series 2008

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 12 May, 2008 : - - Chad du Toit put on a brilliant display of surfing to take a well deserved win in the premier Under 20 division in the slightly cross-shore but still very workable one to one and a half metre waves at Big Bay in Cape Town today. The victory earned the young surfer R3500 and 1000 points to add to his series total.

Du Toit, who hails from Berea in Durban, scored an excellent 9 points after a ride which saw a number of critical turns followed by a radical grab-rail aerial to finish off. Backed up by a 5.25, du Toit left fellow finalist Rudy Palmboom (Bluff) in a combination situation by the end of their man-on-man match up. Palmboom, who had been on fire in the earlier rounds, seemed a little out of sorts in the final and failed to lock in anything higher than a score in the 4-point range.

“I went into that heat feeling very confident because I won every heat I’d surfed in this event,” said Du Toit after the prize-giving, “I took my time and my aim in this one was just to have fun, because when I’m not enjoying myself I come in second! My overall goal for the Series is just to finish the year in the top three, then I’ll be stoked.”

The Under 16 final was a lesson in patience for all present, with Beyrick De Vries (Umhlanga Rocks) taking the win after surfing only two waves. He opened up early with a 4 point ride, and then sat waiting in the same position for over ten minutes before catching an excellent wave which he worked to impress the judges for a score of 7 points.

While his opponents were chasing the shifting peaks trying desperately to get scores under their belts, De Vries’ patience paid off, claiming the R2000 first prize in a final stacked with talent. Davey Brand (Kommetjie), who had been a standout performer throughout the event, took second spot ahead of Devin Lane (Umhlanga Rocks) in third, while Dane Staples (St Francis Bay) struggled to find anything to let him open up on, finishing in fourth position.

In the Under 14 final, Jeffreys Bay goofy footer Steven Sawyer took the win from Slade Prestwich (Park Rynie) in the closest heat of the event. Needing a 6.51 with only two minutes remaining, Prestwich took off on a decent wave and worked it for all it was worth, only to come up just one hundredth of a point shy of his requirement with a 6.50. 

It was Sawyer’s experience with the wally rights of his home town that saw him seal the win with an 8.75 after a long right hander allowed him to fit in a series of great maneuvers to impress both the judges and the crowd on the beach. Sawyer is going from strength to strength at the moment, having just won the Boys’ division of the  South African Longboard Championships last week.

Local surfer Diran Zakarian, who was very impressive throughout the event, ended up taking third place, with Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay) in fourth.

The Under 12 division saw a repeat of the previous event at Bay of Plenty in Durban when Benji Brand, who is based both in Hawaii and in Kommetjie, took the win ahead of Max Armstrong (Kommetjie) in second. Brand’s radical backhand surfing had scored him a 7 and an excellent 8.25 by only the thirteenth minute of the final, and he then simply held on to the lead while his opponents fought it out for second place.

Armstrong’s two six point rides were enough to put himself ahead of Jason Harris (Scottburgh) and Jordan Maree (Tokai, Cape Town) who finished in third and fourth respectively.

In the 30 minute, winner-take-all Von Zipper Air Show, Kyle Lane claimed the R2000 prize after an impressive off the top double-grab aerial, sliding down the wave before straightening out again. Shawn Dennis (Glenwood, Durban) and Michael February (Kommetjie) also landed some impressive airs in the 12 man heat, but could not better Lane’s performance.

The next Billabong Pro Junior Series event will be held at the consistent right hand pointbreak of Victoria Bay from the 7th to the 10th of August.

Billabong Junior Series Event # 3 (of 5), Big Bay, Cape Town Results

Pro Junior (U/20) Boys
1.  Chad du Toit (Berea, Durban)                           
2.  Rudy Palmboom (Bluff, Durban)                       
=3rd   Kyle Beach (Umhlanga Rocks)                     
=3rd   Dale Staples (St Francis Bay)                      
=5th   Klee Strachan (Winkelspruit)            
=5th   Brendon Gibbens (Kommetjie)                      
=5th   JC Susan (Melkbosstrand)                            
=5th   Beyrick De Vries (Umhlanga Rocks)             

U/16 Boys
1.  Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga)                             
2.  Davey Brand (Kommetjie)                                  
3.  Devin Lane (Umhlanga)                                      
4.  Dane Staples (St Francis Bay)                          

U/14 Boys
1.  Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay)                         
2.  Slade Prestwich (Park Rynie)                            
3.  Diran Zakarian (Melkbosstrand)                        
4.  Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay)                           

U/12 Boys
1.  Benji Brand (Kommetjie)                                    
2.  Max Armstrong (Kommetjie)                              
3.  Jason Harris (Scottburgh)                                  
4.  Jordan Maree (Tokai, Cape Town)                   

Von Zipper Air Show
Kyle Lane (Umhlanga Rocks)                                  

The Billabong Junior Series is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa (SSA), the national controlling body for the sport, and the ratings points earned in each event also count towards the annual SSA Pro Surf Tour (PST) rankings. The series is proudly supported by First National Bank, Palmers, Kustom and Von Zipper.

The 2008 Billabong Junior Series started at St Mikes (21-23 February) before moving to Durban (25-27 April). After Cape Town (9-11 May) the series moves to Victoria Bay in the Southern Cape (7-10 August) before concluding in Jeffreys Bay (18-21 September) where the series champions will be crowned for the 12th successive year.

The final event is highlighted by a Grade 1 rated, R40 000 Pro Junior International event sanctioned by ASP Africa. The top four on the yearend ASP Africa Pro Junior ratings receive coveted invitations to the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships in Australia in January 2009.

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www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za

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