Ceara Knight Photo: © Kody McGregor
Competitors from all over the South African coastline were greeted with small and blustery surf which did little to deter their high spirits on the opening day of the 2017 Billabong SA Junior Champs presented by BOS at Lower Point in Jeffreys Bay on Wednesday, especially with an excellent forecast on the horizon.
As the various District teams staked their territory on the beach, the U14 boys division kicked off proceedings with Kye Macgregor (Nelson Mandela Bay) announcing himself as a threat by earning a heat total of 15.33 (out of 20) in the first heat of the event. Daniel Emslie (Buffalo City) put himself on the map when he delivered a 9-point ride and Nate Spalding (eThekweni) was another to rack up a heat total above 15 points.
Zoe Steyn clearly took notes from her teammate Daniel Emslie, as she also posted an impressive 9 point ride with her flowing backhand attack in the U14 girls. Kayla Nogueira (eThekweni), who has just returned from competing in the ISA World Junior Champs in Japan, also advanced directly to Round 3 and will no doubt be fighting to claim another SA title. And Ceara Knight (Cape Winelands) has shown massive improvement and will be hot on her heels.
The U16 boys division produced some explosive surfing despite the SA team members being jetlagged after returning from Japan just yesterday. Angelo Faulkner (Nelson Mandela Bay) displayed his local knowledge with a heat win in testing conditions brought on by the high tide. Teammates Ryan Lightfoot and Dellin Hendricks showed that they were right at home by clinching heat wins while Eli Beukes (Cape Town Surfriders) looked powerful and smooth in the small surf.
The U12 boys hit the surf to finish off the day and made the waves look bigger but is was just the competitors getting smaller as they surfed well beyond their years. Kyra Bennie (Cape Winelands) caught the attention of the judges and spectators after a near perfect ride earned a 9.6 and Ethan Currin (Buffalo City) and Joel Dace (Nelson Mandela Bay) were also top performers.
Tomorrow sees the start of premier U18 boys and girls divisions in what are predicted to be excellent conditions with a rising swell and light winds.
Alongside the coveted Freedom Cup and individual titles at stake, there are a number of specialty awards up for grabs including the BOS Highest Heat Score, VonZipper Airshow and the Wazoogles Surfer of the Event for Boys and Girls. The teams have also been making even more noise than usual supporting their teammates as they look to take home the prized Spirit Cup.
As part of Surfing South Africa’s commitment to transformation, the South African Development Academy team is participating thanks to support from Sea Harvest and a grant from Sport and Recreation South Africa.
All the action from the Billabong SA Junior Champs presented by BOS can be followed via:
Hashtag: #SAJuniorChamps
Facebook: Billabong South Africa: www.facebook.com/Billabong | Billabong Women’s South Africa: www.facebook.com/BillabongWomens
Kyra Bennie Photo: © Kody McGregor
Eli Buekes Photo: © Ian Thurtell
Website: Contest schedule and results will be posted daily on www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za
Simikile Rooi Photo: © Ian Thurtell
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