The balance of opposites… Is perhaps the most fitting description of what went down at Lower Point this past weekend (13 – 15 June) during the RVCA Junior Challenge. Sure, it’s RVCA’s slogan and this was their event, but don’t read any kind of marketing, PR fluff into that. From the eyes of an independent observer (wishing at most times to rather be in the surf than in the media booth) there was a fine balance between groms being groms and fierce competition going on.
On the beach (and point’s famous grass bank) it was all about treasure hunts, table tennis, board art and the Spraymate Paint Jam – where the groms inevitably turned the cans from the designated wall onto themselves. All the while in the water it was about hustling way up the point, scratching for set waves and grinding out the last 0.50 of every wave onto the shelf. Mates on the beach, enemies in the water.
What made the competition even more fierce (but heartening to watch, as I mentioned in 6 Things you may have missed at the RVCA Junior Challenge) was the amount of groms challenging surfers in divisions above their own.
Kai Woolf was one of the standouts, making both the Under 16 and Under 20 Girls final
This was optimised by the revelation that was Luke Malherbe, who got knocked out of his own division (U16) but made the final of a division above (U20 Boys). The likes of Ford van Jaarsveldt, Joshe Faulkner, Sebastian Williams, Danica Stockigt, Olivia Izzard and Kai Woolf – who ran out of steam in the U20 Girls final after and exhausting day – all put up their hands in multiple divisions. And what about that mini grom Daniel Emslie! He lead a nail-biter of an U12 Boys final (with an impressive 8.83 in the bank) until right near the end when he was overtaken by Mitch Du Preez with a 7.4.
I was quietly rooting for Bevan Willis in the U20 Boys final. Partly because I was looking forward to telling some kind of an underdog story and partly because the KZN powerhouse deserves a big result. He took down favourites Dylan Lightfoot and Shane Sykes in the semi final and was rather collected on the beach after. “I just surfed my own heat. I sat a bit wider to create some space and find the sets. I knew I had to give it everything against those guys,” he said.
Under 20 finalist, Bevan Willis almost backed-up his Under 16 title he claimed in 2014.
He (along with Jordy Maree and said Luke Malherbe) all fell however, to the oh-so-clinical sword of local Matt McGillivray in the final. Matt showed very few kinks in his armour on the way to an impressive victory. He put the full repertoire on s- high speed hacks; smooth, functional cutties; and – today’s must have – the air reverse. His heat score of 17.26 (out of a possible 20) was the second highest total heat score of the event. The highest was his semi final score of 18.00, which included a 9.50.
“I did think I might have peaked in my semi final but I was hoping to keep it up in the final. So I just focussed on my wave selection to get the right waves which would offer the big scoring potential,” he said. “Local knowledge helped for sure. I tried to hustle and get on the inside and on the high tide the waves run a bit faster along the shelf,” he said.
Matt McGillivray was stoked to win another RVCA Junior Challenge title.
Read the official press release from the final day of the RVCA Junior Challenge below.
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EPIC ACTION AT BUSINESS END OF THE RVCA JUNIOR CHALLENGE
Lower Point, Jeffreys Bay – Local favourite Matt McGillivray won the U20 Boys division of the RVCA Junior Challenge in Jeffreys Bay today (Monday 15 June). The premier division carries a 2A PST rating and McGillivray outclassed Cape Town’s Jordy Maree, Bevan Willis and 16-year-old goofyfooter Luke Malherbe to claim the title. McGillivray, fittingly, rode the last wave of the event putting together a consummate performance of smooth power surfing and progressive aerial manoeuvres for a score of 8.83 (out of a possible 10) to back-up his 8.43 from earlier in the final. His score of total of 17.26 (out of a possible 20) was the second highest total heat score of the event. The highest was his semi final score of 18.00, which included a 9.50.
Matt McGillivray in winning form in the U20 Boys division.
“I did think I might have peaked in my semi final but I was hoping to keep it up in the final,” said an elated McGillivray after the event. “So I just focussed on my wave selection to get the right waves which would offer the big scoring potential,” he said. “Local knowledge helped for sure. I tried to hustle and get on the inside and on the high tide the waves run a bit faster along the shelf,” he said.
If McGillivray was the big story of the day, then the tale of the event was optimised by Luke Malherbe, who got knocked out of his own division (U16) but made the final of a division above (U20 Boys). The likes of Ford van Jaarsveldt, Joshe Faulkner, Sebastian Williams, Danica Stockigt, Olivia Izzard and Kai Woolf competed (and performed) in divisions above their own.
Nicole Pallet (La Lucia) won the U20 Girls division in impressive fashion, beating Crystal Hulett, local favourite Kai Woolf and Robyn Van Der Merwe.
Nicole Pallet was in top form to win the U20 Girls Division.
Strand’s Adin Masencamp prevailed in the U16 Boys, scoring a 7.03 in the dying seconds of what was a nail-biting affair. “I kind of just had to go on that last wave. I held back on my first few turns just to get something in the bank and then worked it all the way to the end. So stoked right now.”
Local knowledge shone in the U16 Girls, where Kai Woolf was unmatched throughout the event; and in the U14 Boys where Ryan Lightfoot lead from start to finish for a heat total of 15.93 (out of a possible 20). “So stoked to win in my backyard,” he said afterward.
A nail-biter of an U12 Boys final was Mitch Du Preez getting a 7.4. in the dying seconds to take the win from 10-year old Daniel Emslie who had an impressive 8.83 in the bank.
The U10 Boys final was completed on Saturday and it was Kyra Bennie who took out the win.
There were a few special awards on offer from various other sponsors:
Winner of the Paddle Battle in association with Red Bull: U14: Sam Bennie (R1500 in Stance Socks), Girls: Jade Story (R1500 in Stance Socks), Boys: Sebastian Williams (Rayne action camera)
Most progressive surfing during the event: Matt McGillivray (Firewire Surfboard)
Most impressive female surfer throughout the event: Nina Harmse (Firewire Surfboard)
Most impressive male surfer throughout the event: Luke Malherbe (flight and accommodation for two people to JBay, from JBay Travel and African Perfection).
Final Results:
U10 Boys
1. Kyra Bennie (Vredehoek)
2. Ethan Currin (East London)
3. CJay Posthumous (Port Elizabeth)
4. Noah Whittle (Durban)
U12 Boys
1. Mitch Du Preez (East London)
2. Daniel Emslie (East London)
3. Christian Venter (Mellkbos)
4. Ethan Currin (East London)
U14 Boys
1. Ryan Lightfoot (JBay)
2. Angelo Faulkner (JBay)
3. Eli Beukes (Kommetjie)
4. Luke Slijpen (Hout Bay)
U16 Girls
1. Kai Woolf (JBay)
2. Sophie bell (Umdloti)
3. Anna Jellema Butler (Kalk Bay)
4. Kirsty McGillivray (JBay)
U16 Boys
1. Adin Masencamp (Strand)
2. Ethan Fletcher (Kommetjie)
3. Calvin Goor (Umhlanga)
4. Joshe Faulkner (JBay)
U20 Girls
1. Nicole Pallet (La Lucia)
2. Crystal Hulett (St Francis Bay)
3. Kai Woolf (JBay)
4. Robyn Van Der Merwe (Port Elizabeth)
U20 Boys
1. Matt McGillivray (JBay)
2. Jordy Maree (Kalk Bay)
3. Bevan Willis (Umdloti)
4. Luke Malherbe (East London)
Co-sponsors include Stance, Firewire, Future Fins, Posca, Havaianas, Nixon, Rayne Cameras, Zigzag Magazine, Posca and Red Bull.
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The RVCA Junior Challenge is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa. Surfing South Africa is a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), and recognised by the Dept. of Sport and Recreation as the national controlling body for surfing. Event Social Media RVCA South Africa
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RVCA.South.Africa
Twitter: @RVCA_SA
Event hashtag: #RVCAChallenge
