A tragedy that would keep many out of the water indefinitely, Avo has used to motivate him to surf even harder, and his hard graft paid off with a big win in last weekend’s Future Stars division at the Quiksilver Pro Junior. We had a few words with the champ to hear his thoughts.

Howzit Avo, you put on a great performance to win the Future Stars division at the Quik Pro Junior. Tell us what this win means for you?
I got a second last year, so I’m really stoked to take it this year. Honestly, I would have loved to make semis or finals in the main event, but winning the Future Stars gave me a lot confidence to rip harder and make more heats. I also enjoyed some cool support and a lot of love from the boys and my main man Linx Logie.

From the beach it looked an inspired performance. What motivated you to victory?
My board has this huge ding in the tail and really bogs and stalls every time I do a turn – which gave me two things to worry about; My first worry was the crazy Papi and Nicholas backhand, and number two was myself, just the fact that I had my board to work against. But the memories of when I was a little kid shredding Second Beach on a board that had been snapped twice and had its middle plug missing, that motivated me. I was also saying to myself slowly, “Listen Avo, you’ve been in worse conditions than this and today you are here. If you want this board to go, then make it go!” Then just like that, boom, I got blessed with two sick waves and scored high sixes for each of the waves. Before the damage it was a really great board from Vudu Surf.

In 2011 you moved from Port St Johns to East London. What’s been happening there?
I was in matric last year, so I’m now working as a surf instructor for Jonginenge Eco Aventure and Environment Appreciation. I also work for Sugar Shack backpackers. I’m loving being an Eastern Beach local. There’s also some cool waves around the coast and the Reef is crazy – Slummies is spoilt with surf.

Avuyile and his brother Zama proudly display their surfboards for photographer Richard Johnson before the fatal attack in 2011.

You tragically lost your brother, Zama, to a shark in your hometown of Port St Johns. How did his death affect your surfing, and how long was it before you were back in the water?
I pretty much moved straight to Slummies after that, and almost right away I was out at backline at Eastern Beach. The tragedy made me want to rip harder and do it for both Zama and myself.

Who encouraged you to start surfing?
When I moved to Second Beach in 2002 I made friends with a guy named Pitso Maza, who is two years older than me. Back then Pitso surfed anything from bodyboard to Malibu, and he got a lot of respect from the lifeguards and the locals. That made me want to be were he was. Once Pitso showed me how it all goes down, it wasn’t too hard, and the ecstacy I felt was too great – that’s when I got my first love, surfing, and it has never stopped.

That’s when surfing started to become popular in Port St Johns?
Yes, a year after I started Mike Gatke opened a surf school in P.S.J when he saw the stoke in us. He pretty much got us organised and influenced a number of kids, which included myself, Pitso and my brother. Mike helped with teaching kids and also put together a brotherhood called Iliza Surfing Academy – which sadly closed down in 2008 after we lost Luyolo Mangele to a shark. Most of the kids never surfed again and only a handful of us kept surfing. That was till Zama’s attack, after that surfing in P.S.J never worked out.

Avuyile smashes a fun New Pier right to victory in the Future Stars division at the Quik Pro Junior.

You’ve finished Matric, and you’ve also told us you’re currently working in Slummies. Can you tell us your plans beyond that?
Now I’m just working to make money for the next contest. I would love to get good sponsors and a good job overseas and do the WQS and see where that would take the Ndamase bros’ dream of being like the Hobgoods.

Let’s pretend you won the Lottery. Where is the first place you would book a surf trip?
I would go to the next 2 or 3 Star WQS event, wherever it is around the world. I’ll do that because of the drive and the dream in me every day when I wake up.

We wish you all the best with that dream, Avo.
Thanks, and shot for the interview.

Come rain or shine, Avo’s out there ripping at Nahoon Reef.

Seals and other marine life find swimming in between the shark barrier to be no problem at all.

Prof Conrad Matthee, Head of the Department of Botany and Zoology and member of the research group that has developed Sharksafe, says that because of existing shark nets shark populations are declining drastically. “It is estimated that the numbers of certain shark species have decreased by up to 90% over the past 20 years – particularly the number of great white sharks. Sharks are top predators and if they were to be taken out of the ecosystem, the latter will be disrupted. It is for instance speculated that there is a direct relation between the decline in shark numbers and the decline in other bony fish species.”

The problem, he says, is that shark nets also result in the death of many other sea animals, such as dolphins and sea turtles. “Great pressure is currently being put on countries that are using shark nets, to do away with these – among others Australia, USA, Japan, Argentina and South Africa. In addition to destroying the sea life, shark nets are also not 100% safe for humans since they are not placed right down to the seabed and there are also overlapping gap areas where sharks can swim through. So, even though you are safer in an area with shark nets, you are not 100% safe.”

He explains that certain shark species, such as the Zambezi shark found in KwaZulu-Natal, are sensitive to strong permanent magnetic fields, while others, like the great white shark in the Cape waters, do not like kelp at all. “Members of the team saw how seals chased by sharks swam into kelp and how the sharks time and time again turned away, not entering the kelp areas.

“Using these concepts we then developed a patent consisting of a rigid upright pipe which resembles kelp when it floats in the water. The structure also contains magnets to make it more effective for various shark species. The pipes are anchored to the seabed and stand upright up to the height of the water level during high tide. Our structure can resist waves of up to seven metres.”

The first test phase of Sharksafe was erected at Gansbaai and is currently redeployed by Mike Rutzen and Craig O’Connell – both part of the research team. “In our research we put bait behind the barrier to attract sharks, but no sharks swam through the barrier,” claims Matthee. “In addition to the fact that the barrier looks like kelp to them, they are also being deterred by the magnetic fields. If correctly deployed our barrier forms a ‘cage’ consisting of loose pipes without a net, resulting in no sea animals being caught while sharks are kept out effectively.”

A diver fitting the “Sharksafe” barrier that resembles kelp into the seabed.

Matthee envisages that if the right material is used, the barriers will be able to remain in the water for at least 20 years with little maintenance required. “We are already establishing that marine life grows on the cement blocks which anchor the barriers to the seabed, which now forms an artificial reef.”

The research team intends to get permission to fence in the Muizenberg and Fish Hoek swimming beaches at an estimated cost of approximately R10 million each. The current patent consists of three rows of overlapping pipes, but in the deployment phase the idea is to employ five rows of pipes. They would like to implement this in collaboration with the developers of the so-called “mesh nets” which are currently being considered as alternative for shark nets – a finer woven net than the traditional shark nets.

“We hope our green alternative will be supported by the City of Cape Town as it is environmentally friendly and also much safer for humans. It will be wonderful if the Cape beaches which currently enjoy blue flag status, all rather opt for the green alternative as a preferred choice.

“We call our barrier ‘Sharksafe because it keeps people safe from sharks while simultaneously protecting the sharks. For our team it is all about shark research and the protection of sharks. That is the driving force behind this research.”

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Sounds pretty good, right? Share your thoughts below.

Current ASP World No. 2 Jordy Smith is the firm local favourite at this year’s Mr Price Pro Ballito

Mr Price Pro Ballito
ASP Prime event
Ballito, KwaDukuza, South Africa
Monday-Sunday, 1-7 July 2013

Monday May 20, 2013, Ballito, South Africa - South Africa’s premier surfing event the ASP Prime Mr Price Pro Ballito has once again attracted the crème of international professional surfing, with eight of the Top 32 surfers in the world confirming their entries into the event that offers a R2,2 million prize purse.

In its five years in KwaDukuza on the KwaZulu Natal North Coast, the Mr Price Pro Ballito (July 1 – 7, 2013) has witnessed some of the best surf ever seen on this pristine coastline. It’s no wonder then, that it attracts an elite calibre of surfer one expects to see competing at this year’s event.

South African surfing superstar and former Mr Price Pro Champion Jordy Smith (2010) heads the star studded line-up and is expected to draw record crowds as the firm local favourite in Ballito.

The current World No. 2 has enjoyed a stellar start to the 2013 season. Fresh off a victory at the Billabong Rio Pro in Brazil this week, Smith notably earned Gold at the X Games in Brazil in April and placed equal third at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, Australia over Easter.

Smith’s prowess in everything from thundering Ballito barrels to punchy, wind affected ramps makes him among the best in the world and he will relish the opportunity to turn it on for his home crowd.

“It is in my home city and I would love to win in front of a home crowd, to be doing a contest at home for once is great and gets me really excited!” Smith said.

Defending Mr Price Pro Champion and fellow ASP World Championship Tour campaigner World No. 23 Glenn Hall (IR) has confirmed he will be back to defend his Mr Price Pro Ballito title this year.

A former eight-year veteran of the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS), Hall’s victory at the Mr Price Pro Ballito 2012 was the catalyst that saw him leap to elite status as a fully-fledged campaigner on the ASP World Championship Tour in 2013.

“It’s a long way to travel but South Africa is truly one of the places that I look forward to going back to each year. My victory last year was the highlight of my career but I would be going back whether I was defending champ or not.”

World No. 19 and the only other South African surfer currently competing on the elite WCT, Travis Logie, will add might to the South African camp. A former runner up at the Mr Price Pro Ballito, Logie has gained an international reputation for taking down some of the toughest heats in pro surfing history.

With a number of stellar results over the past few seasons, the powerful goofy footer has shown signs it is time for a win.

“When Ballito is turning it on or even when it’s average, it’s still a world class wave and I’ve definitely had some of the best waves of my life out there,” Logie said. “The Mr Price Pro is an important event for both tours (WQS and WCT) because it counts towards your overall rating and it’s one event I’ve always wanted to win.”

South American surfers have enjoyed a history of success at the Mr Price Pro Ballito over the years with a total of four of the last 12 winners hailing from Brazil.

It is no surprise then that the event has attracted the likes of ASP World Tour rookie and aerial master World No. 7 Felipe Toledo (BRA), World No. 26 Alejo Muniz (BRA), World No. 29 Miguel Pupo (BRA) and former ASP World Junior Champion Caio Ibelli (2011).

2013 World Tour rookie Sebastian Zietz (HAW), currently rated World No. 12, will bring his extensive experience in the powerful waves of Hawaii to the South African surf. The 2012 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Champion proved his expertise in waves of consequence this Hawaiian winter and is expected to be a standout should Ballito turn it on with a big swell this year.

Current World No. 12 Kai Otton of Sydney, Australia, and World No. 26 Kolohe Andino of California are the remaining WCT surfers on the current entry list. While Otton brings with him a wealth of elite level experience, Andino represents the innovation and flair of the new school generation.

Former event champion Patrick Gudauskas will bring the confidence of a former champion to this year’s line-up and, as the first alternate on the WCT, this year will be placing significant emphasis on the Mr Price Pro Ballito in the hope of rejoining his fellow WCT campaigners in 2013.

The entry list is peppered with talent including the likes of ASP World Junior Champions Jack Freestone (AUS), 2012 and 2010, and Maxime Huscenot (FRA), 2009, while South African World Qualifying Series campaigners including Beyrick De Vries, Steven Sawyer, Dylan Lightfoot and David Van Zyl will be equally tough competitors.

The Mr Price Pro Ballito Beach Festival will once again boast an array of impressive entertainment including the popular Free Music Concerts taking place at Salt Rock, featuring twenty bands over three days from July 4-6, 2013.

With numerous beach sports, soccer leagues, fun days and extreme sports demonstrations including wakeskate, breakdance, parkour and BMX all on offer, this year’s festival offers something for the whole family.

And if that weren’t enough, this year’s extravaganza will see the addition of a three day Food and Wine festival running from July 2 to 4, enabling crowds to experience new tastes and ensure that absolutely all of their senses are satisfied.

For more information log on to www.mrpricepro.com.

While Lightfoot and Van Zyl battled to get going in the very tricky conditions and it was the Capetonian Zakarian who emerged victorious earning himself a first place cheque of R18 000. “I had no idea that I was even leading the final, the wind was pumping and it was difficult out there. I have no words at this time I am just over the moon,” said a very happy Zakarian. Prestwich pocketed a healthy R8 000 for his efforts.

In the younger ‘king of the groms ‘divisions it was young Adin Masencamp from Strand, Cape Town who stole the show cleaning up in both the boys under sixteen division and boys under fourteen division. Masencamp impressed the judges scoring some big scores ending the day with 9.5 point ride in his under sixteen final. Other surfers to shine in the wild conditions were Koby Oberholzer (Warner Beach), Jordy Maree (Cape Town) and Ethan Fletcher (Cape Town), however, none of the them could catch an on-form Masencamp.

Max Elkington (Cape Town) proved in a very competitive under twelve division that local knowledge does not always pay off, Elkington was unstoppable winning the under twelve boys division ahead off Angelo Faulkner (Jeffreys Bay), Karl Steen (Durban) and York van Jaarsveld (Cape Town). “I love coming to Durban, the waves were fun this weekend even though the onshore wind was blowing, I just want to thank mu sponsors and my coach for everything,” said Elkington on stage while wearing his kings crown.

Check out the gallery featuring the best moments from the Quiksilver Pro Junior, HERE>>

The Quiksilver Pro Junior 2013 was presented by the City of Durban and boasted a massive R75 000 in prize money. The event was sanctioned by ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) and SSA (South African Surfing). Sponsors included the City of Durban, Skullcandy, Independent on Saturday and Red Bull.

Full Results:

U20 Pro Junior Division:
1 – Diran Zakarian
2 – Slade Prestwhich
3 – Dylan Lightfoot
4 – David Van Zyl

U16 Division
1 – Adin Masencamp
2 – Jordan Maree
3 – Ethan Fletcher
4 – Nthando Msibi

U14 Division
1 – Adin Masencamp
2 – Koby Oberholzer
3 – Ethan Fletcher
4 – Jose Faulkner

U12 Division
1 – Max Elkington
2 – Angelo Faulkner
3 – Karl Steen
4 – York Van Jaarsveld

A near perfect performance on the final day of the Billabong Rio Pro saw Jordy Smith scoop the title in front of over 20 000 amped Brazilian surf fans lining the shore at Barra Da Tijuca.

That Jordy beat the local favourite Adriano De Souza in the final did little to dampen their spirits, as he put on an entertaining performance for the gathered crowd – which included bows, claims that mirrored the iconic statue overlooking the city of Rio, and a repertoire of aerial manoeuvres which in the end were the difference between the powerful South African and the in-form Adriano when the final turned into a punt-for-punt showdown.

Jordy was playing with the crowd throughout the event, wearing the same big grin.

It’s Jordy’s first WCT win outside of home waters, last capturing the Billabong Pro J-Bay in 2011, and the smile Jordy wore broadly across his face throughout the event just goes to prove that old saying – the best surfer out there is the one having the most fun. The victory also moves him up into second in the ASP World Tour rankings, just 250 points behind Adriano De Souza who claimed the ratings lead with this result.

The win also puts Jordy back where he belongs amongst the world’s elite after a poor 2012 by his own standards. The man is the most in-form surfer in the world at the moment – but you all knew that. Ripping at Snapper, unlucky at Bells, and unstoppable in Rio. He’ll look to keep that form going at Cloudbreak for the Volcom Fiji Pro, the next stop on the 2013 ASP World Tour.

For all the photos, heat reviews and results go to: http://wctbrasil.com/rio13

Check out the official press release below.

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JORDY SMITH WINS BILLABONG RIO PRO, ADRIANO DE SOUZA TAKES ASP WCT RATINGS LEAD

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 25, wins the 2013 Billabong Rio Pro over Adiano de Souza (BRA), 26.

BARRA DA TIJUCA, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil (Sunday, May 19, 2013) – Jordy Smith (ZAF), 25, has won the Billabong Rio Pro in a hard-fought final over national favorite Adriano de Souza (BRA), 26, by a score of 17.80 to 16.34 in clean two-to-four foot (1 metre) waves at Barra Da Tijuca.

Stop No. 3 of 10 on the ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), the Billabong Rio Pro utilized the entirety of the event waiting period, culminating in a high-performance showdown from the ASP Top 34 amidst a bevy of barrels and ramps of Barra Da Tijuca.

Smith showed an incredible variety of technical airs and turns in the Final against De Souza, launching a massive straight frontside air for a 9.33 and a stailfish air-reverse for an 8.50 to top De Souza for the win. The Billabong Rio Pro victory marks the third career ASP WCT event win for Smith and his first away from South African soil.

“This win feels unbelievable,” Smith said. “It’s another dream come true. I knew I could win a World Tour event, but I had to prove to myself that I could do it away from South Africa. Thanks to crowd and Adriano (de Souza). He’s been ripping the whole event. Thanks to all of my friends and family for all of the amazing support.”

Smith’s run to the final was nothing short of amazing as the South African powerhouse defeated dangerous rookie Filipe Toledo (BRA), 18, and two-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), 31, en route to the Final. Smith attributed today’s success to his ability to adapt to both his competitors and the ever-changing conditions of Barra Da Tijuca.

“I knew it was going to be tough,” Smith said. “I was really nervous in the first heat against Filipe (Toledo). Luckily I got through that one and when I came up against Mick I waited for better waves. When the swell dropped against Adriano and he took to the sky, I knew I was going to have to do the same, but luckily I got a couple of scores.”

Smith now sits at No. 2 on the ASP WCT Rankings.

De Souza, 2011 Billabong Rio Pro winner, went on a rampage to advance to his second career Billabong Rio Pro Final, eliminating 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 41, and goofy-footer Gabriel Medina (BRA), 19, but was unable to top Smith’s devastating form in the Final.

“I did my best out there and thanks to the crowd for being behind me 100 percent,” De Souza said. “Congrats to Jordy (Smith). He beat me in the final from start to finish. I’m so happy to be here representing Brazil. Jordy was the best out there today and congrats to him.”

De Souza’s win at Bells Beach combined with his Runner-Up effort today at the Billabong Rio Pro vaults the hard-working Brazilian to the No.1 position over then rankings leader Kelly Slater, highlighting his chances to be the first-ever Brazilian ASP World Champion.

Gabriel Medina (BRA), 19, was incredible on the final day of competition, earning a perfect 10-point ride for a lengthy barrel-to-air combination in the Quarterfinals. The high-flying Brazilian was equally dangerous in his Semifinals bout against fellow countryman Adriano de Souza with a stout 17.50 out of 20 heat total, but fell just short of a final appearance despite a valiant last-second effort, finishing equal 3rd.

“It’s so hard to get that close to the final and lose, but it was a good event for me,” Medina said. “My ankle injury has finally healed so that’s good progress for my season and congratulations to Adriano on the heat win. Hopefully I can do better in Fiji.”

Mick Fanning (AUS), 31, matched his Billabong Rio Pro result from 2012 with a Semifinals finish. Fanning looked deadly in his Quarterfinals victory over ASP WCT rookie Sebastian Zietz (HAW), 24, but was unable to find a rhythm against Jordy Smith in their Semifinals clash.

“It would have been good to go one better, but the semis is good,” Fanning said. “This whole week was so tricky and it was one where you had your heart in your mouth whole time. I think I went out there and over-thought it. I got way too excited watching Jordy, Filipe, Adriano and Medina and tried airs and embarrassed myself. The waves I had at the start didn’t really allow turns so I thought I’d go for airs and find waves that allowed turns at the end and it didn’t work out. Congrats to Jordy. He’s been surfing great this whole event.”

Fanning, current No. 3 on the ASP WCT Rankings following his Semifinals finish, has been incredibly consistent throughout the opening events of 2013, is now hoping to carry the momentum from Brazil to the next event in Fiji.

“We saw upsets go down early and you come to this event and can’t expect anything,” Fanning said. “Last year we watched Gabe (Medina) go down in the first heat, so a Semifinals result here is good and I have three out of three keepers for the season. I’ve had a couple of good weeks.”

Kelly Slater (USA), 41, 11-time ASP World Champion and current ASP WCT No. 4, was near-flawless in yesterday’s action but was out of rhythm in the opening Quarterfinal of the morning against De Souza.

“I thought there were a lot more waves than there ended up being and didn’t make the adjustment during the heat,” Slater said. “Adriano (de Souza) did and that made all the difference. Quarterfinals is not the worst resul – it’s better than I went last year. It was a long wait this window and if I had waited that whole time and lost yesterday, I would have been bummed. I’ll take a 5th and look ahead to Fiji.”

Highlights from the Billabong Rio Pro will be available via http://wctbrasil.com/rio13

The next stop on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) will be the Volcom Fiji Pro from June 2 – 14, 2013.

For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com

BILLABONG RIO PRO FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Jordy Smith (ZAF) 17.80
2 – Adriano de Souza (BRA) 16.34

BILLABONG RIO PRO SEMIFINALS RESULTS:
SF 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 17.64 def. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17.50
SF 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.83 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 8.26

BILLABONG RIO PRO QUARTERFINALS RESULTS:
QF 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.33 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 12.30
QF 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 16.43 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.93
QF 3: Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.50 def. Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 12.37
QF 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 17.76 def. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 14.07

ASP WCT TOP 5 SURFERS (Following Billabong Rio Pro);
1. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 18,500 pts
2. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 18,250 pts
3. Mick Fanning (AUS) 18,200 pts
4. Kelly Slater (USA) 16,950 pts
5. Taj Burrow (AUS) 15,700 pts

Jordy, punting his way to the Quarter Finals.

To claim the Billabong Rio Pro and put himself solidly in the world title race Jordy will have to see off a challenge from a trio of Brazilians; Gabriel Medina, Felipe Toledo and of course Adriano De Souza, along with King Kelly, Sebastian Zietz, Mick Fanning and Ace Buchan. But if the Saffa superstar continues to have as much fun as he has been in his heats in Rio, then he’s going to be a hard man to beat. Big smiling claims show that he’s having a ball, and Jordy is a dangerous competitor when he’s having fun.

Here are the highlights from the second last day of the Billabong Rio Pro:

Check out the official press release below.

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BILLABONG RIO PRO QUARTER FINALISTS DECIDED IN BARRELING BARRA DA TIJUCA

Filipe Toledo advanced to the quarterfinals of the Billabong Rio Pro. Photo: ASP/ Smorigo

BARRA DA TIJUCA, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil (Saturday, May 18, 2013) - The Billabong Rio Pro returned to Barra Da Tijuca for the second consecutive day and saw flawless performances from the ASP Top 34 as they battled through Rounds 3, 4 and 5, deciding the event’s Quarterfinalists in improved three-to-five foot (1.5 metre) barrels.

Filipe Toledo (BRA), 18, 2013 ASP Dream Tour rookie, put together an immaculate alley-oop to air-reverse combination, securing a perfect 10-point ride for the effort. While fellow competitor Jordy Smith (ZAF), 25, went on to earn a perfect 10 of his own in the amazing Round 4 affair, Toledo’s back-up score of 8.43 was enough to secure a spot directly in to the Quarterfinals over Smith and two-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), 31.

“That was my first perfect 10 on the tour and I’m at a loss for words right now,” Toledo said. “I can’t even describe how I’m feeling. I’m just so stoked to compete against Jordy (Smith) and Mick (Fanning). I competed with them in the same round at Bells and to win this heat in Brazil is amazing. When I saw the sets coming, Jordy had priority and he was paddling for the one behind me. I knew it was going to be good. I went for the first big air and I was so happy that I made it, I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’m going to do another one.’ I had that other section and I made the second air. I’m so excited right now, I don’t know what to say.”

Hometown hero Adriano de Souza entertain his fans. Photo: ASP/ Kirstin

Adriano de Souza (BRA), 26, put in a strong performance in his Round 4 match-up against Taj Burrow (AUS), 34, and Nat Young (USA), 21, earning a spot directly in to the Quarterfinals following a priority interference by Burrow. While Burrow posted two near-perfect scores, de Souza earned two excellent rides of his own, posting a 15.90 out of 20 heat total to secure the Quarterfinals berth.

“Before the heat started I was really focused,” De Souza said. “I knew Taj (Burrow) was going to be dangerous and I have a lot of respect of Nat young, but Nat was in the middle of us and I knew it’d be hard for him. Taj was on fire during the whole heat and I just focused on my waves. 5 minutes before the heat ended I heard Taj got an amazing wave, but then later I heard Taj got the interference. I was happy to make it, but it’s too bad for Taj. He’s an idol of mine and an amazing surfer.”

Adrian Buchan (AUS), 30, took a massive Round 4 victory to secure his best result of the season, relegating local talent Gabriel Medina (BRA), 19, and 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 41, to Round 5. Buchan placed his bets on a bank down the beach and the choice paid off, as the Avoca Beach native was the lone surfer in the heat to find a rhythm while securing his position in the Quarterfinals.

Gabe was able to bounce back from a Round 4 loss and secure his spot in the quarterfinals. Photo: ASP/ Kirstin

“I feel good,” Buchan said. “I saw waves down the beach and was watching free surfers half and hour before I surfed and saw a few. You’ve got to take a gamble sometimes and I think it’ll pay off. I didn’t really think it was that big of a gamble and was able to find a really good one. I’m stoked because that’s a good round to get out of. I always try and win that heat when I get in it. I see it more as a one-winner round rather than a no-losers round. I knew it’d be a big heat against Gabriel (Medina) and Kelly (Slater) and knew most of the crowd’s focus would be on them, so I could do my own thing. I knew it’d be hard for Kelly to repeat his performance from earlier today and I’m happy to get past those guys in that heat.”

Sebastian Zietz (HAW), 24, ASP WCT Rookie, has put together a breakthrough result at the Billabong Rio Pro to match the best result of his budding career. The Kauai native navigated the challenging Barra Da Tijuca lineup with ease, donating incredible performances in both Rounds 3 and 4 to advance to the Quarterfinals compliments of some of the day’s most exciting barrels.

Seabass getting deep. Photo: ASP/ Smorigo

“Conditions changed quickly out there,” Zietz said. “I was frothing watching the heat before and thinking I was going to get pitted. I got one barrel, but ended up looking for some ramps. I was just trying to make the Quarters here in Brazil, that was my goal, so I’m happy. Hopefully I can break through to the Semis or even a final.”

Kelly Slater, 11-time ASP World Champion, dominated the Barra Da Tijuca lineup in Round 3, effortlessly driving through draining barrels to secure some of the highest scores of Billabong Rio Pro competition. Slater drove through a deep tube in the opening moments of his Round 3 bout against Patrick Gudauskas (USA), 27, for a near-perfect 9.97 and backed up the ride with a similar score for a 19.67 (out of 20) heat total.

Kelly dropped the highest heat score of the event so far. Photo: ASP/ Kirstin

“I hadn’t surfed in a week,” Slater said. “I thought it was going to be an air game and Pat is deadly with his airs. It was killing me to have such a good heat against Pat (Gudauskas) because I want to see him make heats. It’s a weird thing when you surf against your friends. I had a feeling once that squall passed that it would calm down and get glassy and that’s exactly what it did. I was looking for those ones like I had in the first heat, those ones the knuckle off of the outside reef. You want to get that first one that’s peaky and doesn’t have too much white water in the way.”

While Slater was unable to reproduce the same magic in Round 4, the veteran quickly rebounded to surpass Taj Burrow in a hard-fought Round 5 clash to earn his position in the Quarterfinals.

“Taj (Burrow) definitely brings the best out in me,” Slater said. “I didn’t want to surf, the waves were terrible and the waves ended up getting good out there. Taj just had a couple of heats where he wanted to surf this year and the call didn’t go his way. He was decisive and I didn’t want to surf. They took a poll and the guys wanted to surf, so we went ahead with it.Taj started off with that barrel and I knew I had to do something. Luckily I was able to get that air reverse.”

Big crowds at the beach today, despite the rainy weather. Photo: ASP/ Smorigo

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7:30am local time and will crown a champion by day’s end.

BILLABONG RIO PRO ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.10 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 6.50
Heat 2: Nat Young (USA) 13.13 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 10.17
Heat 3: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.00 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 7.14
Heat 4: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 16.40 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 11.77
Heat 5: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 12.94 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 6.83
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) 19.97 def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 10.01
Heat 7: Glenn Hall (IRL) 12.33 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 10.83
Heat 8: Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.43 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 11.17
Heat 9: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 17.47 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 16.34
Heat 10: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 18.43 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 10.67
Heat 11: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.17 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 9.00
Heat 12: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.53 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 13.33

BILLABONG RIO PRO ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.90, Taj Burrow (AUS) 9.30, Nat Young (USA) 5.57
Heat 2: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 12.77, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 11.41, Kelly Slater (USA) 7.33
Heat 3: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 14.10, Michel Bourez (PYF) 11.84, Glenn Hall (IRL) 6.05
Heat 4: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 18.43, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.83, Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.20

BILLABONG RIO PRO ROUND 5 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.10 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 14.03
Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.20 def. Nat Young (USA) 11.20
Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.83 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 2.86
Heat 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 17.43 def. Glenn Hall (IRL) 13.63

UPCOMING BILLABONG RIO PRO QUARTERFINALS MATCH UPS:
QF 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Kelly Slater (USA)
QF 2: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Gabriel Medina (BRA)
QF 3: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) vs. Mick Fanning (AUS)
QF 4: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)

Avuyile Ndamase shows his skills in the small waves to claim the win in the Future Stars division.

The biggest news from the day was Slummies shredder Avuyile ‘Avo’ Ndamase claiming the Future Stars title ahead of Nicky Njapha (Southport), Papi Makinyane (Kommetjie) and Sfiso Mhlongo (Durban). Avo showed the skills he learnt at his homebreak of Second Beach in Port St Johns (which is sadly also the beach which saw his younger brother Zama Ndamase fatally attacked by a shark in 2011. ). Now living in East London, Avo’s been working hard at his surfing and his win today saw all his hard graft pay off.

Defending Champ Slade Prestwich was looking sharp on Day 1 of the Quiksilver Pro Junior.

Defending champ Slade Prestwich put in a solid performance in the small and weak conditions, punting a few airs and burying enough rail to advance to the final day, and closer to defending the title he clinched from Beyrick De Vries in 2012.

Another surfer looking like a champ on Day 1 was North Coast surfer Shane Sykes, who was burying some serious rail for a young gun in the King of the Groms division. You also can’t count out J-Bay’s Matt Macgillivray, who put on a solid display on the opening day to advance to the final day. Matt’s just recently recovered from a knee injury which kept him out the water for a number of months, but has quickly got into the rhythm that saw him claim the SA title in home waters at the end of 2012.

You can’t really bury more rail than Shane Sykes did in his heat of the King of the Groms division.

There’s a slight bump in swell predicted for Sunday, and the bank at New Pier is as good as it gets, so if you’re in Town, head on down and watch the juniors shred – otherwise you can catch all the highlights and action on www.quikprojunior.co.za.

Here’s the highlights from Day 1:

Check out the official press release below.

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AVUYILE NDAMASE SHINES AT QUIKSILVER PRO JUNIOR 2013

Avuyile Ndamase after winning the final of the Future Stars division at the Quiksilver Pro Junior 2013.

New Pier, Durban – Action was hot on day one of the Quiksilver Pro Junior & King of the Groms 2013 as South Africa’s best junior surfers under the age of twenty years old were greeted with small, clean and contestable surf. Avuyile Ndamase from East London stole the show in the Future Stars division, ousting Nicky Njapha (Southport), Papi Makinyane (Kommetjie) and Sfiso Mhlongo (Durban). Ndamase fought back in the dying minutes of the twenty minute final to pip Njapha to the title. “I am so stoked to be in Durban again, the water is warm and the surfing is good,” said an elated Ndamase. The Future Stars division forms part of the annual Quiksilver Pro Junior and is an initiative put together by Quiksilver and Surfing South Africa’s transformation program.

The top performances of the morning came from Shane Sykes (Salt Rock) and Matt McGillivray (Port Elizabeth) with near-perfect single wave scores.

Sykes stamped his authority on his opening under sixteen heat by posting a massive nine point ride out of a possible ten points, this he backed up with a solid six point ride. “The waves were really fun today and the sandbanks at New Pier are unreal. I am looking forward to the rest of the competition, ” said an excited Sykes.

McGillivray was another standout, he posted two massive scores in his opening heat, scoring a 9.5 and 7.5 out of a possible ten points for his top two rides. Other surfers to impress in the early rounds of the U16 division were Adin Masencamp (Strand) and Steff Burrows (Cape Town). Divisions in the event include the under twelve, under fourteen, under sixteen and the under twenty Pro Junior divisions.

Surfing gets underway at 08h00 tomorrow morning (Sunday) with the under fourteen division quarter finals. Light winds, sunny skies and clean 3 foot surf is expected for the final day of competition. The finals for all four divisions kick off at 14h00 with the awards ceremony and crowning of the kings at 15h15 on the beach at New Pier.

The entire event boasts a total of R75 000 in prize money and is sanctioned by ASP Africa and Surfing South Africa. Sponsors include the City of Durban, Skullcandy, Red Bull and Independent on Saturday.

More information can be found at www.quikprojunior.co.za

Follow the event at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/quiksilver
Twitter: @Quiksilver_SA
Instagram: quiksilver_sa (#quikprojunior)

Of course this weskus local didn’t just disappear, he was simply off the radar of those that follow surfing media or contest results with fervour, instead he was off getting barrelled in places like Nias, or punting big airs in Spain, as well as getting properly shacked and doing big hacks at his home break.

Operating off the radar is just what Surf Ninja’s do, and Jaco Steyn is this week’s featured wave assassin.

NAME: Jaco Steyn
AGE: 23
LOCAL SPOT: Anywhere between Big Bay and Melkbos

BEST THING ABOUT SURFING?
Getting tubed! There is nothing in the world that gets me as amped as to make a mission somewhere and to score good waves and get shacked all day. Best feeling in the world.

WORST THING ABOUT SURFING?
That feeling you get when your friends phones you telling you how good the waves were on the day you had to study for a test.

TO MAKE A LIVING I..?
I am busy finishing my honors in Bcomm Risk Management at Stellenbosch.

THREE TRACKS THAT HELP YOU SHRED?
Bassnectar – Magical World

Riot Squad – The Cove
Rage Against The Machine – Know Your Enemy

BEST SURFER IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW?
John John

DAWNIE OR ARVO SESH?
Dawnie. Offshore winds and less crowded.

WHICH SURF SPOT DO YOU HAVE TO SURF BEFORE YOU DIE?
Skeleton bay.

WHEN YOU ARE NOT SURFING, YOU CAN BE FOUND WHERE?
Probably in Stellenbosch studying, or on the jol with my friends.

BIGGEST FEAR?
Having to live in a place like Joburg or any place far away from the sea because of work.

BEST SURFING MEMORY?
First time I went to Nias in Indo. Myself, Jerome Mosetic, his brother Jeff and my friend Shaun Botha made the mission. We travelled for two days bribing people to get on planes ect, not knowing what to expect or what the swell was going to be like. When we finally got to Nias we arrived to flawless 6-foot surf. I will never forget that first surf thinking to myself that at last I’m surfing those same perfect waves I’d always seen in those surf movies.

THE BUILD-UP:
When does grommethood end and balliehood begin? There’s no line in the sand or magical barrier you reach, just a cold slap in the face once you realise you’ve crossed over. Human beings are resilient when it comes to accepting and then adapting to change, but it’s a long road ahead and full of potholes for some.

A traditional midlife crisis is defined by the awareness of one’s mortality during the latter part of adulthood, and the behaviour this realisation produces. It’s said to hit men and women between the age of 40 and 60, who are preparing for the big transition into retirement. Death is the sneaky transition period lurking in the shadows beyond this, which catalyses all the crazy things people do to manage their midlife anxiety. You know the clichés: men buy themselves a red sports car, take up jujitsu and marry a twenty-three year-old named Pomegranate; women get cosmetic surgery, adopt exotic pets and start dating personal trainers who wear pink shirts and shave their chests.

The surfing mid-life crisis functions in a similar way, but rather than hitting you at 40 it strikes a decade earlier, just as you’re entering the next phase of life. There’s no sports cars or Eat, Pray, Love missions or steroids, but people do lose their minds for a spell.

The hair may be long gone, but Kelly continues to prove that there’s life after a surfing mid-life crisis.

THE SIGNS:
Heading into your thirties is a bit like going through puberty again. It’s ballie puberty. You’re suddenly a grown up and kids are calling you ‘sir’ or ‘madam’ or ‘mister’ or ‘muvrou’. You’ve never worked harder in your life and felt so exhausted at the end of each day. It seems like yesterday that you pawned a guitar and a pair of rollerblades to get to J-Bay for the weekend; now you could pay for you and your mates to go for the whole week, but there’s no time. Unfortunately your priorities lie with targets, payments, commitments and stuff that has nothing to do with surfing or fun.

And there’s no turning back – you’re strapped in for the long haul. Grommethood has ended, but you’ve been too busy to notice it happening. On top of all this, the changes you feel inside are written all over your body: you’ve got a retreating hairline, a growing waistline, piles that feel like hot knives and an extra chin that blends into your neck when you lie down.

I know what you’re going to say: age is just a number, especially today. The ballies are ruling the world at the moment. They’re fitter and stronger than ever. Look at a guy like Wayne Monk – he’s killing it in his forties. Gavin Rudolph still shreds and he must be at least sixty by now. Kelly Slater is potentially going to win another bloody world title and he’s more than double the age of his youngest challenger. What’s the problem with getting older? The thing is: those people are beyond the point where facing balliedom is a harsh reality. They’ve dealt with it and come out the other side happy, stoked and well-adjusted human beings. It’s the thirty year-olds that are on crisis alert.

Thankfully, ballie puberty comes to an end and you realise the ripping can continue till well after your thirties. Just ask Neil Abell, seen here smashing the snot out of a Scottburgh peeler. – Photo: Sean Meets / www.shotbru.co.za

BREAKING POINT:
The symptoms are common: an intense dislike for crowded line-ups (which sadly only gets worse), a crippling fear of sharks and wanting to tear the face off any teenager who opens their mouth in the water. It’s not easy sharing the line-up with kids who are in their prime, when all you want to do is go for a quiet surf with a group of buddies. No hassling or wailing or carrying on like a group of morons.

But besides looking and feeling like a ballie, everyone is surfing circles around you and catching three times your wave quota. Freakishly talented and committed little snots are pulling full rotation airs over your head, carves that bury half their rail and stylish fin wafts, while your turns feel sluggish and your stance just seems to be getting mysteriously wider… You’ve been left behind. With your bald head and your dusty board, you’re fading into the crowd of flappers. And that’s when the crisis behaviour drops a gear and sends people over the edge.

CRISE de la QUARANTAINE:
For the most part, the surfing midlife crisis happens in a few basic ways (with variations that change according to each person and their own set of problems):

Denial: The first is flat-out denial. Rather than facing the truth about your muffin top and the need for a bigger, more buoyant board, you let the old 6’1″ gather dust in the garage, leave your wetsuit on a hanger in the cupboard and make up excuses not to surf. End of story. You still watch surfing clips when the boss is not looking, catch the webcast during ‘CT events and talk shop when the buggers get together for a few cold ones. Everything is normal, except you don’t surf anymore.
Predicted Time Span: 1 – 5 years

Twiggy just started going bigger, later and more committed after turning thirty.

Psychosis: Lying all the way on the other side of the spectrum is the delusional chap who sees his thirties as the last window of opportunity to make a stab at ‘CT qualification, big wave glory or a lifestyle sponsorship. Rather than seeing the newly established physical limits of getting a bit longer in the tooth, this is the soldier who decides to change his stars. He or she quits their job, changes their facebook profile pic to a shot from Matric, orders a ten board quiver and starts a rigorous training schedule. Their days now revolve around running with boulders underwater, sneaking into the shark tank at the Oceanarium to punch the raggies in the face and clocking up as much surf time as humanly possible. One foot to twenty foot, they’re out there trying to prove a point: they’ve still got it.
Predicted Time Span: Depends if they’re married. 1 week – 6 months.

A New Life: Some people think they see the big picture and decide to take a break. They start playing golf, pilates, SUP’ing, Kite Surfing (kite surfing has poached more self-respecting surfers in the windy Eastern Cape than I care to talk about) or casual MMA. Some people move to Joburg or inland, under the guise that money will fill the black hole left by time in the ocean. This is almost the same as denial; it’s closer to displacement, though.
Predicted Time Span: 6 months – life. Dangerous if the money is good.

***

So what happens to these thirty-something prodigal and lost children? They come back and we accept them into the fold with open arms. Surfing has seen some spectacular examples of the midlife crisis. Bobby Martinez’s outburst and Shane Dorian’s acting career immediately spring to mind. Kelly Slater had the presence of mind to quit the tour and lay low while he went bananas for a few years – he was actually at a magician school in Reno during that time.

Bobby Martinez, soul-searching before the outburst at the 2011 Quiksilver Pro New York.

Growing old gracefully takes practice. It’s not funny at first. But the good news is that ballie puberty comes to an end and we’ve all got several decades of good surfing to look forward to after thirty. It may take a while to ride out the shock of growing older, but that’s all it is: a passing phase.