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South Africa’s top junior surfers are all heading to Australia to compete in the Billabong World Junior Championships in January.

Representing us will be Klee Strachan from Winkelspruit, ASP Africa Pro Junior champion Chad du Toit from Durban, Casey Grant from Scottburgh, Beyrick de Vries from Umhlanga and another Durbanite, Kyle Lane.

This will be Klee’s third appearance at the event. “Last year I made round three but got knocked out by Julian Wilson (Australia) who is an unbelievable surfer, so I was not too bummed,” Klee said. “It’s an awesome event and all the surfers in the contest surf really well. I am definitely looking to do well this year. I’ve had three years to see how the standard is so I’ve been training to do well.”

Among the women who will represent South Africa are Sarah Baum from Athlone Park and Bianca Buitendag from George. They will try to beat defending champion, Pauline Ado from France.

The event will kick off at Sydney’s Narrabeen beach on January 9, 2010.

Tags: Australia, Beyrick de Vries, Bianca Buitendag, Billabong World Junior Surfing Championships, Casey Grant, Chad du Toit, Julian Wilson, Klee Strachan, Kyle Lane, Narrabeen beach, Pauline Ado, Sarah Baum, South African Junior Surfing Champions, Sydney
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South Africa’s hottest under 20 surfers are going to convene at Victoria Bay in the Southern Cape next week (23 – 26 September) to battle it out during the 13th annual Billabong Junior Series championships.

Apart from determining winners in the U20 category, there will also be U16, U14 and U12 categories. The event will also determine the ASP Africa Pro Junior champions for 2009 and who will be selected for the ASP Africa squad that will be taking part at the Billabong ASP World Championships in Sydney in January – which is THE top event in junior surfing.

Surfers who will be taking part include Casey Grant (20) of Scottburgh, Shaun Joubert of Mossel Bay, Matt Bromley of Kommetjie, Brendon Gibbens (also of Kommetjie), Klee Strachan of Winkelspruit, Chad du Toit of Durban, Dale Staples and Nick Godfrey of Cape St Francis, Kyle Lane of Umhlanga and another Scottburgh surfer, Haydn MacNicol.

The girls include Victoria Bay’s Bianca Buitendag, Tarryn Chudleigh of Kommetjie, Sarah Baum of Athlone Park, Heidi Palmboom of the Bluff, Chantelle Rautenbach of Melkbosstrand, Tanika Hoffman of Kommetjie, Alice McGregor of East London and Faye Zoetmulder of Port Elizabeth.

The U16 boys event will see the likes of Michael February of Kommetjie, Dane Staples of St Francis Bay, Steven Sawyer of Jeffrey’s Bay, David van Zyl of Glenashley and Capetonians Jarred Veldhuis and Daniel Wilson in action.

The U14 boys are Daniel Buitendag of Vic Bay, Benji Brand of Kommetjie, Slade Prestwich of Park Rynie, Diran Zakarian of Melkbosstrand, Max Armstrong of Scarborough and Dylan Lightfood of Jeffrey’s Bay.

The U12 boys will include Shane Sykes of Salt Rock, Donovan of Marina da Gama, Jody Maree of Kalk Bay, Ethan Fletcher and Jonah Paarman – both from Kommetjie – Matthew McGillivray of Port Elizabeth, and Steffen Burrows of the Strand.

The event will coincide with the Von Zipper Air Show, where selected surfers will show off and be rewarded for their skill at performing aerial manoeuvres.

Tags: Alice McGregor, Benji Brand, Bianca Buitendag, Billabong Pro Junior Series Championships, Brendon Gibbens, Casey Grant, Chad du Toit, Chantelle Rautenbach, Dale Staples, Dane Staples, Daniel Buitendag, Daniel Wilson, David van Zyl, Diran Zakarian, Donovan, Dylan Lightfood, Ethan Fletcher, Faye Zoetmulder, Haydn MacNicol, Heidi Palmboom, Jarred Veldhuis, Jody Maree, Jonah Paarman, Klee Strachan, Kyle Lane, Matt Bromley, Matthew McGillivray, Max Armstrong, Michael February, Nick Godfrey, Sarah Baum, Shane Sykes, Shaun Joubert, Slade Prestwich, Steffen Burrows, Steven Sawyer, Surfing South Africa, Tanika Hoffman, Tarryn Chudleigh, Victoria Bay, Von Zipper Air Show
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The Mr Price WP Open surfing championships took place at Long Beach in Kommetjie last weekend (6 and 7 June).

Despite coming fourth in the U20 Boys Division, Durbanite Chad du Toit made a comeback so spectacular, it was enough to earn him first place during the final Men’s division event. With that victory, he managed to earn himself R6 000 and 1 000 PST points. Local Long Beacher Brendon Gibbens came second, Shaun Joubert of Mossel Bay came third and the South African Men’s champion Gavin Roberrts of Scottburgh came fourth.

The U20 Boys final and the R2 000 first prize were won by South African Junior team captain and Long Beach local Matt Bromley. Fellow Long Beacher Mikey February came second, Shaun (Joubert) was third and Chad (du Toit) came fourth.

The Women’s final was won by Chantelle Rautenbach of Melkbossstrand. She bagged R2 500 for her effort. East London’s Nikita Robb came second. Mr Price team members Stacey Guy of Melkbosstrand and Tammy Lee Smith of Salt Rock came third and fourth.

Well done to them all!

Tags: Brendon Gibbens, Chad du Toit, Chantelle Rautenbach, Gavin Roberts, Matt Bromley, Mikey February, Mr Price WP Open, Nikita Robb, Shaun Joubert, Stacey Guy, Surfing South Africa, Tammy Lee Smith
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He has barely bagged the crown as South Africa’s surfing champion, and already Gavin Roberts is gearing up to participate in this weekend’s Mr Price WP Open.

The event, set to take place in the Cape Peninsula tomorrow and Sunday (6 and 7 June 2009), is also drawing other big-name surfers such as Gavin’s fellow KwaZulu-Natal surfer, Gary van Wieringen.

The Cape’s wild wintry weather  probably won’t deter the 32 guys who will compete in the Men’s Division. That lineup includes surfing talent such as Capetonian Ian Armstrong, Matthew Bromley from Kommetjie and Shaun Joubert of Mossel Bay.

The girls will also be well represented by South Africa’s U20 Women’s Champion Tarryn Chudleigh from Kommetjie, Nikita Robb of East London, Tammy Lee Smith of Salt Rock, and Melkbos surfers Stacey Guy and Chantelle Rautenbach.

Brendon Gibbens, Mikey February and Matthew Bromley from Kommetjie, Jaco Steyn of Melkbos, Shaun Joubert and Somerset Wester Jacob Mellish, Chad du Toit of Durban and Chris Leppan of Umhlanga will surf in the Pro Junior field.

The weather is expected to kick up the swell to an excess of 15 foot this weekened, so these pros should have a lot of fun.

Tags: Brendon Gibbens, Chad du Toit, Chantelle Rautenbach, Chris Leppan, Gary van Wieringen, Ian Armstrong, Jaco Steyn, Jacob Mellish, Matthew Bromley, Mikey February, Mr Price WP Open, Nikita Robb, Shaun Joubert, Stacey Guy, Tammy Lee Smith, Tarryn Chudleigh
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Only three local surfers have advanced to participate in the next round at the 2009 Quiksilver Pro at Durban’s New Pier.

Travis Logie, one of the favourites in the competition, advanced to the next round by winning his heat yesterday morning.

The only other South African surfer to win his heat was Cape Town’s Royden Bryson.

“There were actually some fun waves out there, and I really enjoyed surfing in my heat,” said Logie after leaving the water. “It was quite inconsistent out there and I was in two minds if I should sit and wait for the good ones or just get some scores under my belt. In the end, I decided to just take off on anything half decent and went for the big turn option, and it seemed to pay off.”

The last South African to qualify to the next round yesterday was Durban’s Chad du Toit.  He placed second behind Logie to move in to the next round.

By far the biggest unpleasant surprise of the day was the elimination of reigning champion David Weare of Durban, who lost out to Tahiti’s Alain Riou and Hawaiians Jesse Merle-Jones and Mason Ho.

“I’m really bummed to be out of the event,” a clearly disappointed Weare said. “I really wanted to defend my title and I blew two waves that could have put me one step closer to it. I think I just too the wrong option going for that aerial on the second wave and it cost me. I blew a wave and lost a heat.”

Weare’s bitter disappointment is understandable. This event, which pits 136 of the world’s best surfers against each other, carries the highest possible ASP WQS rating as well as a very generous US$145 000 in prize money, with the winner pocketing US$20 000 as well as wracking up 3 500 ASP WQS ratings points.

Day 3 of the event is underway with the following South Africans surfing their heats today: Greg Emslie, Rudy Palmboom, Brandon Jackson, Manfred Adrio, Haydn Mac Nicol, David Richards, Paul Canning, Ricky Basnett, Daniel Redman, Kyle Lane, Keegan Nel, Shane Thorne, Antonio Bortoletto, Kyle Beach, Beyrick de Vries and Casey Grant.

Good luck, guys!

Tags: 2009 Quiksilver Pro, Alain Riou, Antonio Bortoletto, ASP WQS Rating, Beyrick de Vries, Brandon Jackson, Casey Grant, Chad du Toit, Daniel Redman, David Richards, David Weare, Durban, Greg Emslie, Haydn Mac Nicol, Jesse Merle-Jones, Keegan Nel, Kyle Beach, Kyle Lane, Manfred Adrio, Mason Ho, Paul Canning, Ricky Basnett, Royden Bryson, Rudy Palmboom, Shane Thorne, south africa, South African surfers, Surfing Championships, Travis Logie
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