Durban – South Africa's best young surfers will soon be heading for Surf City to compete in the biggest junior surfing event in the country, the Quiksilver Pro Junior. On the 18th and 19th of May the country's best surfers under the age of twenty will take to the water at Durban's New Pier in search of victory at the one and only ASP pro junior event on the ASP Africa calendar.

 A total of US$ 5, 000 (R45 000) in prize money and valuable ASP points will be on offer with the winner pocketing a healthy US$ 1, 500 (R13 500). Last year saw an on-form Slade Prestwich (Durban) lift the trophy over good friend and stand-out Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga), this year Prestwich hopes to defend his title at his local break but will have some stiff competition from other top juniors Michael February (Cape Town), Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay), Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay) and David van Zyl (Durban).
"I have been training hard and really want to defend my title, New Pier is a great wave and allows for high performance surfing, the competition will be tough but I am confident that if I choose the right waves and surf hard I can win it again, " said an excited Prestwich.
Adding to an action-packed weekend will be the Quiksilver King of the Groms which caters for the under 16, under 14 and under 12 age groups. Aspiring young professional surfers from all over will be in Durban to show off their skills and hoping to take out their respective divisions. Favourites include Shane Sykes (Salt Rock) and Matt McGillivray (Jeffreys Bay) in the under 16 age group, Adin Masencamp (Strand) and Ethan Fletcher (Cape Town) in the under 14 age group and Max Elkington (Cape Town) and Saxton Randall (Durban) in the under 12 age group.
A total of R22 000 prize money is available as well as valuable PST (Pro Surf Tour) points. To add to this Quiksilver has launched a global campaign whereby any surfer under the age of 16 can submit a video of themselves surfing and get to win an all-expenses trip to France to compete at the King of the Groms world finals held in conjunction with the Quiksilver Pro world tour event in September. Surfers wanting to take part are encouraged to logon towww.quiksilverlive.com/kotg/2013  and check it out.
The final event to make make up a trio of events over the weekend will be the Future Stars division. Eight surfers selected through Surfing South Africa's transformation programme will be chosen to compete at the event with the winner receiving a 'wildcard' slot into the Pro Junior main round. Each invited surfer will be flown to Durban and accommodated by Quiksilver and given a chance to prove themselves in front of the best surfers in country, an opportunity not always available to these surfers. Last year saw Khayelihle Ngcobo (Umzumbe) put on a great display of surfing to win the event and progress to finish equal 13th overall in the Pro Junior division.
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)

 Junior surfers wanting to enter the event can visit: 
Quiksilver Pro Junior – www.aspafrica.com
King of the Groms – www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za