Signed and Sealed

For the third year in a row the Billabong Junior Series Grand Finale has pumped at Seal Point. Last year, it was pumping and the year before was all-time for the final day.

One might start thinking that Seal Point is always cooking, that we should all head on up there to get the next swell because it’s always firing. Nothing could be further from the truth, as it has been dismal for the last month, with a few little sessions here and there amongst some strong winds, and absolutely no banks on the beach.

Talking about the beach, the event has done something quite unique in that it has split the podiums and there are two events running simultaneously, on the point (cooking) and on the beach (firing). Everyone is totally stoked. Kind of. Except for the locals, and all the people who are in the area for a long surfing weekend.

Still, there was some red-hot surfing going down, particularly amongst the WSL World Junior Series U20 division. Shane Sykes was his usual scintillating form, totally dominating his first heat, the first heat of the day. Adin Masencamp was another surfer who was dominating, showing some tight forehand surfing on the perfect little waves on the point, as well as Durban dark horse Bevan Willis. Dylan Lightfoot stayed true to his route to the final with a convincing win in his heat, and Jordan Maree was the only goofyfooter to win his heat and head into the quarters.

In the U20 Women’s division Nicole Pallet continued her good run of form, winning her heat and heading through to the quarters, along with Chanelle Botha, Sophie Bell and Gina Smith, who all won their heats. Other girls who were surfing well were Crystal Hulett, Jade Story, Olivia Brand and Teal Hogg.   

U12 standout James Ribbink is headed for the finals with another excellent showing in his semi-final heat, as well as Daniel Emslie. Recognize that name anyone?

The plan for this event has been to get as many hours of surfing done while we can, and it has proven to be a good strategy. Forty heats surfed on day one and 30 heats to be surfed today, all in preparation for the final day tomorrow, which is unfortunately looking a bit dismal. It’s forecast to be small and onshore in the morning, going to very small and offshore in the afternoon.