Magnatubes, Jeffrey’s Bay will play host to the inaugural Quiksilver and Roxy J-Bay Junior Pro’s taking place during J-Bay Winterfest in July this year. These events will attract the best junior surfers, both male and female, that South Africa has to offer. Winterfest, which has been building massive momentum over the years, will once again feature an array of sporting events including the J-Bay Open of Surfing, mountain biking, Oakley’s X-Over Championships, swimming events, fishing, music events and more. The festival will run from the 6th to the 17th of July with thousands of eager spectators expected to converge upon the coastal town of Jeffreys Bay.
The Quiksilver and Roxy J-Bay Junior Pro events have proven to be popular fixtures on the Surfing South Africa calendar with entries full to the brim with more than two weeks before the events kick off. “We are very excited about staging an event in J-Bay again, it’s such an awesome venue for the young surfers, we expect to see a very high calibre of surfing. The fact that competitors also get to watch the world’s best at the J-Bay Open at the infamous Supertubes is a huge bonus,” said Quiksilver’s Dane Patterson.
The highly anticipated junior event will run from Friday the 8th of July until Sunday the 10th of July and will cater for surfers in the U18, U16, U14 and U12 divisions. There is a 3A PST Surfing South Africa rating attached to the events and a total of R22 000 in prize money as well as some amazing prizes on offer.
Durban’s Luke Thompson will be one of the contenders in the boys U12 division at the inaugural Quiksilver J-Bay Junior Pro in July. -Photo by Luke Patterson.
In the premier U18 boys division competition will be fierce with the likes of Jordy Maree (Kalk Bay), Adin Masencamp (Strand), Bevan Willis (Salt Rock) and Jeffreys Bay local Joshe Faulkner all capable of taking the title. Sebastian Williams (Durban) and Koby Oberholzer (Warner Beach) have both been in good form and remain two of the favourites in the boys U16 division while the Kommetjie duo of Travis Pearce and Manoa Robb as well as Mitch Du Preez (East London) seem to be the form U14 surfers tipped to win. Christian Venter (Melkbosstrand) and Luke Thompson (Durban) are two surfers in the U12 division that have been very consistent in 2016 and are both looking to stake their claim and impress in Jeffreys Bay.
Luke Slijpen (Llandudno, Cape Town) will be one of the contenders in the boys U16 division at the inaugural Quiksilver J-Bay Junior Pro in July. -Photo by Luke Patterson.
In the Roxy Junior Pro U18 division, favourites include Sophie Bell (Salt Rock), Teal Hogg (Umhlanga Rocks), Taghiti Gericke (Southern Cape) and Chrystal Hulett (St Francis Bay). Other Roxy Junior Pro divisions include U16 and U14 age groups.
Sophie Bell from Salt Rock in action. ©Quiksilver / Roxy
Surfing gets underway on Friday 8th of June at 8.00am with the finals expected to take place on Sunday 10th of June around 2.00pm.
The Quiksilver and Roxy J-Bay Junior Pro events are proudly supported by Skullcandy, Neff, Red Bull, DC Shoes, Gunslinger and Surfing South Africa.
Lead Image: Durban’s Sebastian Williams will be one for the favourite contenders in the boys U16 division at the inaugural Quiksilver J-Bay Junior Pro in July. -Photo by Luke Patterson.
About Surfing South Africa
The Quiksilver J-Bay Junior Pro & Roxy J-Bay Junior Pro events are registered with Surfing South Africa, recognised by the Dept. of Sport and Recreation as the national controlling body for the sport and a member of the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC).
About Quiksilver:
Since its beginnings in 1969, Quiksilver has combined function, fit, art and fashion to develop boardshorts and clothing for mountain and ocean lovers across the globe. While still sticking to the core roots of the mountain and the wave, Quiksilver has become recognized as the premium youth lifestyle and culture clothing brand within the action sports market. Quiksilver has an ever-changing array of materials, prints, and technologies. In addition to boardshorts, Quiksilver designs and produces an entire line of lifestyle apparel, wetsuits, and snow outerwear available across the globe. Our elite team of athletes have become icons throughout the world. Our mission is inspire the youth and progress as the world around us evolves.