6 October, 2014 6 October, 2014

Peaking – Musings from the Final Day of the Billabong Junior Series

In complete contrast to days one and two, the waves on the final day of the last event in the 2014 Billabong Pro Junior Series presented by Bos did the occasion no justice. But, as the toothy onshore easterly whipped Seal Point into a frothy mess and sent moms, dads, dogs and crew scuttling for shelter, the groms just went about their business. For the health of South African junior competitive surfing it was heartening to see how they could lift their game to peak when it counted, despite the conditions.

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Shane Sykes stepped it up a gear on the final day at Seal Point.

With smiles and positive vibes all-round, it was the Under 14 Boys semi-finals into the water first. Series leader and event-standout Max Elkington opened with an 8.5 from the back to the bricks. Unfortunately that was his favourite board’s fins – and his day – well, done. He did make it to the final, but had to settle for fourth as Sebastian Williams ran away with it, leaving Koby Oberholzer and Karl Steen trading wave-for-wave in second. In the end it was Koby – who bagged his full complement of 12 waves – who did enough to grab the runner-up spot, also securing himself second place in the series.

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Sebastian Williams was the surfer to beat in the Under 14 Boys division.

The Under 12 Boys final required a real peaking performance as all the finalists had something of a mathematical chance of taking the series. The wave-for-wave battle was dominated throughout by Kommetjie’s favourite mini-grom, York Van Jaarsveldt. J-Bay’s Dylan Hendriks, who had looked sharp the entire event, found a few good ones to stay in contention and it was only a last-minute effort from KZN’s Tide Lee Ireland (which included a little backhand reverse onto dry bricks) that saw him clinch second, with Kye McGregor in fourth.

For Adin Masencamp, the onshore mush represented just another day at his beloved Strand and he surfed four heats on the day for a win in the Under 16 Boys. But that’s where he peaked and had to settle for fourth in the Pro Juniors.

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Adin Masencamp was flying all over the onshore walls on the final day.

Much like Masencamp, Crystal Hulett had to tap her fitness reserves on the day to surf four heats. She was rampant in the Under 16 Girls final, however fell short to Ruth Armstrong who waited patiently for the two best waves. In the Pro Junior girls, Hulett had to contend with a certain Miss Smith and her sister. What is it with that surname and surfing talent?

Dylan Lightfoot combo’d the field in his Pro Junior semi-final with a consummate performance that included three airs, while Shane Sykes got a score in the last minute to advance ahead of Matt McGillivray.

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Dylan Lightfoot was looking like the surfer to beat. Until the final that is…

In the final however, Sykes clicked into a different rhythm and looked every turn a QS competitor, matching Dylan’s speed, precise positioning and variety to drop two nines and walk away with it all. Five awards or something, before the Ballito boy lost count. Not only did he bag the spoils though, but also massive bragging rights and will no doubt take a lot of confidence into next season.

Emma Smith won every Pro Junior Women’s event in the series to pocket the Bos prize for ‘Surfer of the Series’ – how do you like that for a peak?

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Emma Smith was a deserved winner of the Bos Surfer of the Series award.

***

Check out the rad edit below from Day 2 for a taste of the junior surfing talent SA is currently nurturing, plus a look at one of the country’s best points on a fine, fine day from above.

FINAL RESULTS – EVENT 3 (check the official press release below for final series results):

UNDER 12 BOYS
1. York Van Jaarsveldt
2. Tide Lee Ireland
3. Dylan Hendriks
4. Kye McGregor

UNDER 14 GIRLS
1. Kirsty McGillivray
2. Anne Jellema-Butler
3. Zoe Smith
4. Olivia Izzard

UNDER 14 BOYS
1. Sebastian Williams
2. Koby Oberholzer
3. Karl Steen
4. Max Elkington

UNDER 16 GIRLS
1. Ruth Armstrong
2. Crystal Hulett
3. Cana Foster
4. Taghiti Gericke

UNDER 16 BOYS
1. Adin Masencamp
2. Alex Van Rijswick
3. Jake Elkington
4. Joshe Faulkner

PRO JUNIOR WOMENS
1. Emma Smith
2. Gina Smith
3. Teal Hogg
4. Crystal Hulett

PRO JUNIOR MENS
1. Shane Sykes
2. Dylan Lightfoot
3. Josh Smit
4. Adin Masencamp

All the photos from the event can be found on Billabong SA’s Facebook page.

************

SYKES AND SMITH VICTORIOUS AT THE BILLABONG JUNIOR SERIES PRESENTED BY BOS SERIES FINALE

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Shane Sykes from Salt Rock en route to victory in the Pro Junior men’s division.

Seal Point, Cape St Francis – Small and onshore waves didn’t deter the best junior surfers in the country as they tore the Seal Point waves apart in their bids for event and series titles. In an exciting finish to the 2014 Billabong Junior Series presented by BOS, the finalists all threw caution to the wind, going for broke in the marginal conditions.

In the U12 Boys final it was young York Van Jaarsveldt who outpointed Tide Lee Ireland for the win, while in the U14 Girls division it was Kirsty McGillivray who took the win from Anne Jellema-Butler. In the fiercely contested U14 Boy Final it was Sebastian Williams who took victory from Koby Oberholzer.

Ruth Armstrong won the U16 Girls division beating Crystal Hulett, while Adin Masencamp took out the U16 Boys division from Alex Van Rijswick.

The Pro Junior Women’s final was a close one, with the two JBay sisters, Emma and Gina Smith, placing first and second, with Teal Hogg and Crystal Hulett in third and fourth.

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Emma Smith was on top form throughout the series.

The Pro Junior Men’s heat was an action-packed affair, with the 4 surfers going for broke in the highly contestable high-tide conditions. Adin Masencamp, showing some fatigue after winning his U16 final, placed fourth, and Josh Smit failed to find the connecting waves and came third. JBay surfer Dylan Lightfoot, who was surfing fast and dynamic, wasn’t able to beat an on-form Shane Sykes, who totally dominated the final and earned the biggest heat score of the event in the process.

“I’m stoked with the way that final went,” said Sykes afterwards. “The waves were so much fun out there, and with the onshore it reminded me a lot of where I surf in Durban, in Ballito. I was feeling confident and have had a pretty good run lately, with a good board, so it was a great event or me.”

Final Event Results:

UNDER 12 BOYS
1. York Van Jaarsveldt
2. Tide Lee Ireland
3. Dylan Hendriks
4. Kye McGregor

UNDER 14 GIRLS
1. Kirsty McGillivray
2. Anne Jellema-Butler
3. Zoe Smith
4. Olivia Izzard

UNDER 14 BOYS
1. Sebastian Williams
2. Koby Oberholzer
3. Karl Steen
4. Max Elkington

UNDER 16 GIRLS
1. Ruth Armstrong
2. Crystal Hulett
3. Cana Foster
4. Taghiti Gericke

UNDER 16 BOYS
1. Adin Masencamp
2. Alex Van Rijswick
3. Jake Elkington
4. Joshe Faulkner

PRO JUNIOR WOMENS
1. Emma Smith
2. Gina Smith
3. Teal Hogg
4. Crystal Hulett

PRO JUNIOR MENS
1. Shane Sykes
2. Dylan Lightfoot
3. Josh Smit
4. Adin Masencamp

The BOS Surfer Of The Contest Award went to Adin Masencamp for winning the U16 Boys and making the Pro Junior Men’s final.

The Nixon WTA Award for the highest heat score went to Shane Sykes for his massive 18.5 total in the Pro Junior Final

The DaKine Youthful Movement Award went to Shane Sykes for an innovative finsfree move in the Pro Junior Final

The KR Finsfree Award went to Alex Van Rijswijck.

The Dennis Ellis Underground Ripper Awards went to:
Girl – Taghiti Gericke
Boy – Johnathan Coffey

The VonZipper Brainblast Off Airshow was won by Diran Zakarian for a huge backhand air reverse move.

Billabong Junior Series presented by BOS 2014 Final Results:

UNDER 12 BOYS
1. York Van Jaarsveldt
2. Tide Lee Ireland
3. Dylan Hendriks

UNDER 14 GIRLS
1. Kirsty McGillivray
2. Sophie Bell
3. Olivia Izzard

UNDER 14 BOYS
1. Max Elkington
2. Koby Oberholzer
3. Karl Steen

UNDER 16 GIRLS
1. Ruth Armstrong
2. Michelle Verreynne
3. Pippa Jones

UNDER 16 BOYS
1. Jake Elkington
2. Jordan Maree
3. Alex Van Rijswijck

PRO JUNIOR WOMEN
1. Emma Smith
2. Gina Smith
3. Chanelle Botha

PRO JUNIOR MEN
1. Shane Sykes
2. Dylan Lightfoot
3. Diran Zakarian

Nixon Limited Edition 48-20 watches went to the two Pro Junior winners Shane Sykes and Emma Smith.

The BOS Surfer Of The Series Award for the most consistent surfer of the series across all age divisions went to Emma Smith for winning all three Pro Junior Women’s events during the year.

The Billabong Junior Series 2014 has a number of supporting sponsors, including Playstation, Samsung, Techniblock, Nixon, VonZipper, KR Fins, Denis Ellis Surfboards and Future Life.

The Billabong Junior Series presented by BOS is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa. Surfing South Africa is a member of the South African Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and is recognised by the Dept. Of Sport and Recreation as the national governing body for surfing.

The Association Of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the recognised world governing body of professional surfing and has been crowning undisputed World Champions since 1976.

Imagery and video content from previous 2014 events in the series can be found on the various Billabong Social Media platforms.

Facebook:

Billabong South Africa www.facebook.com/Billabong.South.Africa
Billabong Womens South Africa www.facebook.com/BillabongWomensSA

Twitter:
Billabong South Africa twitter.com/@billabongsa
Billabong Womens South Africa twitter.com/@bbwomens_za

Instagram:
Billabong South Africa – @BillabongSA
Billabong Womens South Africa – @Billabongwomens_za

The Series Hashtag is #billabongjnr

Video:
Cape Town event final day: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m5IhTjU3C8
Mossel Bay event final day: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbH0OGEtSoo

Billabong_Jnr

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