Juniors Hit the Home Stretch

Saturday 28 September 2019 The U-18 Boys lit up the morning in clean small surf on the fourth day of the Sea Harvest SA Junior Champs at Lower Point in JBay today, writes Craig Jarvis.

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KARL KILLING IT: Karl Steen makes the most of a hollow little runner. Photo Ian Thurtell

Karl Steen and Luke Slijpen smashed the first heat to advance to the semi-finals, with Steen in particular putting on a scintillating performnce in the early morning runners.

In the next heat, it was Eli Beukes and Bryce Du Preez – recent winner of the Billabong Seal Point Pro Junior - who advanced with some solid power surfing in the small conditions, with plucky goofy-footer Thomas Lindhorst unortunately being eliminated from the event.

Tide-Lee Ireland and Aya Gericker surfed brilliantly to advance through their heat – the third quarterfinal heat, while Ryan Lightfoot and Angelo Faulkner advanced from the third quarter, both representing Nelson Mandela Bay Surfriders, with Nanoa Rob and Saxton Randall knocked out of the event. It was a great start to what was going to be a long day.

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TIDAL WAVE: Tide-Lee Ireland puts a back dent into a crispy curling lip. Photo Ian Thurtell

There has been so much talk on the beach about the imminent armageddon approaching the Kouga region, with wild reports of localised flooding and more. NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinin was heard on Algoa talking about floods, people unable to drive their cars, and that sort of thing. This prompted contest organisers to pull a few heats through from finals day to today instead.

Then the U16 Girls got going, with some inspired surfing in the small surf at Lower Point. It was quarterfinals for this competitive division, and Ceara Knight and Katie Winter cracked the first heat and advanced along with Jesse Powell in the 5-person heat.

Zoe Steyn continued her winning ways in the second quarterfinal, winning the heat and advancing along with Aimee Du Preez and Catelin Plomaritis, with Chloe Atkinson and Carmen Pollock unfortunately being eliminated.

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SCOTT STYLE: Sarah Scott lines up to return the focus after the roundhouse. Photo Ian Thurtell

Kayla Nogueira and Leila Steytler were the winners, coming through first and second in quarter three, with Lily Mllin and Kaylee Shaw Nel bowing out, struggling to find the set waves in the fairly inconsistent conditions.

Chloe Ribbink went to town in her quarter, with a series of searing layback turnsThe U14 Girls were next and they surfed brilliantly in the morning conditions, which were slowly improving as the day progressed. Sarah Scott and Gemma Hannafey were successful in the first quarter to advance to the semifinals, along with Scarlette Van Jaarsveldt and Mayah Potgieter in the second quarter. Chloe Ribbink went to town in her quarter, with a series of searing layback turns across the inside to bank a heat total of 14 points, advancing along with Zia Hendricks, with Kira Atfield and Zoey Thompson eliminated from the event.

Tomorrow is finals day, and it looks like its going to be a finals day to remember. Eight champs will be crowned. A team will be crowned. A selection of specific prizes will be handed to surfers. Look for our final wrap tomorrow.

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