Most of South Africa’s best junior surfers will be taking to the waves at Durban’s New Pier between 4th-9th October in their quest to claim the coveted SA Junior Champs 2011 provincial team and individual titles. The 15th edition of this weeklong event, sanctioned by Surfing South Africa and presented by Durban, will see over 150 surfers representing nine teams from eight provinces competing for national honours, as well as the chance to stake a claim as South Africa’s next potential competitor on surfing’s international stage.
The involvement of Hurley, who have committed as title sponsors of this event for the next five years, will no doubt add extra impetus to what is already a highly-respected and closely contested annual event. Robin de Kock, General Manager of Surfing South Africa, said that “the SA Junior Champs is the most important junior event on the Surfing South Africa calendar. Not only does the event showcase the talents of the country’s best junior surfers between the ages of 10-17, but it also prepares them for the next step up. This is where champions are spotted and where their talents are developed, and we are stoked that Hurley SA and Durban have come on board as sponsors as they are focussed squarely on supporting and developing South African junior surfing”.
According to Hurley SA Marketing Manager Liam Wood, “by throwing our support behind and aligning with one of Surfing South Africa’s premier junior events, we hope to be able to have a positive impact upon junior surfing in South Africa. By inspiring South Africa’s future champions, we will not only position the Hurley brand favourably, but also contribute to South Africa’s reputation as a proud surfing nation”.
Age categories that will be contested include boys and girls Under 13, U15 and U17. Jordy Maree (Western Province), who has already established himself as one of the top juniors in the country by winning a host of junior events over the last few years, will be back to defend his boys U13 title. Another surfer who will be looking to defend the title she won at last year’s event is Sarah Baum (KZN Central) who claimed the Girls U17 title. Eastern Province’s Gina Smith, who claimed the Girls U15 title in 2010, will be looking for a victory in the Girls U17 division this year, as will last year’s Girls U13 winner Chanelle Botha (Southern KZN). Other surfers who will be looking to continue their fine form from the last year include Steffen Burrows (Boys U15, Boland) as well as Eastern Province duo and U17 Boys and Girls finalists from last year Steven Sawyer and Emma Smith.
No doubt of massive significance to both the Boys and Girls U17 competitors, as well as the U15 Boys surfers, will be the fact that the winners of these divisions will be crowned 2011 SA Champions. All three surfers will receive their green national team blazers and their national colours at an award ceremony scheduled to take place at the event on completion of the last Final (Sunday, 9th October).
While individual honours will be their primary goal, the surfers from the eight provincial teams as well as a SA development team (hosts KZN Central, defending champions Western Province, Eastern Province, Border, Southern KZN, Boland, Zululand, Southern Cape) will also be looking to claim the coveted Freedom Cup. First presented on National Freedom Day at the SA Junior Champs in East London in 2004, the Freedom Cup is won by the team who collectively accumulate the most points over the course of the entire event.
This year’s Hurley SA Junior Champs presented by Durban will also feature two new exciting elements in the Red Bull Air Show, as well as a Tag Team contest between the participating teams. Scheduled to take place between the semi-finals and finals on the final day of the contest, the Red Bull Air Show will offer a prize of R5000 to the surfer who completes the most impressive aerial maneuver.
For more information about the Hurley SA Junior Champs, visit www.hurley.co.za <http://www.hurley.co.za> , ‘Like’ Hurley South Africa on Facebook or follow HurleyZA on Twitter. Daily results and photos will also be posted on www.hurley.co.za <http://www.hurley.co.za> and www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za <http://www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za> . Supporting sponsors are Skull Candy, Red Bull, Red Bull Mobile, Southern Sun North Beach, Container Conversions and Zigzag. The event also has the support of the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, and Sport and Recreation South Africa.
Surfing South Africa is recognised as the governing body for the sport by the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and Sport and Recreation SA. Surfing South Africa is a member of the International Surfing Association (ISA); the world’s governing body for surfing.
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