The country’s top groms couldn’t have asked for better waves on the opening day of the Billabong SA Junior Champs presented by Bos, as they were blessed with firing Lower Point in clean, offshore, overhead (especially the younger divisions) conditions. Check out some of the photos from Day 1 as well as the official press release below for details.

Luke Slijpen, going full tilt on Day 1 of the Billabong SA Junior Champs presented by Bos.

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MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATON
Wednesday 30 September 2015

Billabong SA Junior Champs presented by BOS
Lower Point, Jeffreys Bay
September 30 – 4 October, 2015

Perfect Waves at Jeffreys Bay for Opening Day of Billabong SA Junior Champs
SA’s Top Juniors Blow Up on Reeling Liquid Runways

South Africa’s top young surfers demonstrated that the future of competitive surfing is in good hands by producing stellar performances in the perfect waves at the Lower Point in Jeffreys Bay on the opening day of the Billabong SA Junior Champs presented by BOS.

The Under 17 boy’s division got the country’s premier junior event underway in clean offshore conditions. Straight up Bevan Willis, the top seed in the eThekweni district team, laid down a marker with powerful manoeuvres that saw him win his heat and advance directly to Round 3 along with runner-up David Burrows (Cape Winelands).

Liam de Villiers (Uthungulu) and Luke Malherbe (Buffalo City) delivered standout performances before Adin Masencamp (Cape Winelands), last year’s U15 champ, made it clear that he is going to be a strong contender for the U17 title this year.

Last year’s Under 15 champ, Adin Masencamp (Cape Winelands), will be aiming for another win this year.

Jordy Maree, Jake Elkington and Ethan Fletcher clinched three successive Round 1 heat wins for the Cape Town team, with Maree’s trademark vertical backhand attack earning the highest heat total of the day, 17.83 out of 20, and the early lead in the race for the BOS Highest Heat Score award.

“It went well but I could have done better waves selection wise,” said Maree modestly after his devastating showing. “I think I got two 8’s and a 9 so it was a good heat for me.”

Jordy Maree came out firing with his trademark vertical backhand attack.

The U15 boy’s division was next up and occasional rain did nothing to dampen the spirits of the excited youngsters. Calvin Goor, Saxton Randall, Jaime Irvine and Karl Steen (all from eThekweni) were all over the pristine waves, winning their heats convincingly.

Jeffreys Bay local Angelo Faulkner and Sebastian Williams, both members of the host Nelson Mandela Bay district team, showed their command of the Lower Point break while Max Elkington (Cape Town), competing in the final heat of the division, was arguably the outstanding U15 performer of the opening day.

eThekweni’s Calvin Goor won his Round 1 heat of the Under 15 boy’s division, advancing straight to Round 3.

The U17 girls then took to the waves that continued to peel down the rocky point. Chrystal Hulett’s carving manoeuvres earned high points from the judges and she and her Nelson Mandela Bay teammate Kia Fenton both posted heat wins. Taghiti Gericke (Eden) enhanced her growing reputation with another strong showing and Pippa Jones (Cape Town) and Natasha van Greunen (Cape Winelands) were the other round 1 heat winners.

The Billabong SA Junior Champs presented by BOS runs until Sunday when the winners in the U17, U15 and U13 boy’s and girl’s divisions will be crowned the 2015 SA Junior Champions. The district team accumulating the highest point tally across all divisions will be awarded the highly prized Freedom Cup and the winners of the U17 and U15 divisions will be awarded national team blazers.

Crystal Hullet (Nelson Mandela Bay) carved her way to a heat victory in Round 1 along with fellow NMB team mate, Kai Fenton, in the U17 girl’s division.

The event also offers specialty awards totalling more than R20 000 for both surfers and their teams. These include the Billabong / Bad Billy’s Tag Team Paddle Battle, BOS Highest Heat Score, VonZipper Airshow, DaKine Most Progressive Manoeuvre, Skull Candy Stay Loud Team Spirit and the Zigzag Blowing Up awards.

As part of Surfing South Africa’s commitment to transformation, the South African Development Academy team is participating thanks to a grant from Sport and Recreation South Africa.

The surfers perspective of Lower Point during the opening day.

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
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www.facebook.com/BillabongWomens

Twitter:
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twitter.com/@billabongsa
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twitter.com/@bbwomens_za

Instagram:
Billabong South Africa  – @BillabongSA
Billabong Women’s South Africa – @Billabongwomens_za

Website:
Contest format and results will be posted daily on www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za

Adin Masencamp (Cape Winelands) carves a powerful turn off the lip at Jeffreys Bay on the opening day of the Billabong SA Junior Champs. Photo: (c) Alan van Gysen

The Billabong SA Junior Champs presented by BOS is proudly supported by DaKine, VonZipper, Skull Candy, Neff and Zigzag Surfing Magazine.

Surfing South Africa is the recognised governing body for surfing in South Africa. SSA is a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA)