LW Mag ? Hurley SA Junior Champs Day 4

South Africa?s best young surfers enjoyed another perfect day in paradise with the Point at Jeffreys Bay resembling a wavepark as set after set of ideally groomed one to 1.5 metre waves peeled through the hallowed break on the penultimate day of the Hurley SA Junior Champs on Saturday.

Spectacular rides, stirring victories, upsets and heartbreak were seen as all six age groups have been whittled down to the semi-finalists in preparation for tomorrow?s final day when individual and team champions will be crowned, special accolades awarded and history written.

Day 4 Highlights video:

The only girls in action today were the U15 division and Chanelle Botha from Southern KZN, who posted the highest heat score at last year?s event, showed she is the one to beat by recording the highest single wave score of this year?s event so far, a near perfect 9.50 out of 10, as she advanced to the last eight with a convincing heat win.

?I picked up that good one way on the outside and did a few turns, two cutbacks and then a re-entry before I came into the shore-break and pulled off a big closeout move,? Botha said of her best ride.

Two rounds were run in all three boys divisions and in the premier U17 category, Bryce Burness (KZNC) and Benji Brand (WP) each posted two victories as they progressed to the semis. They were joined by Western Province?s Dylan Wichmann and Ethan Pentz, Boland?s Diran Zakarian and Hilton Pelzer, Jason Harris (KZNC) and Dane van Greunen from the hosts Eastern Province, with defending champion Josh Smit (KZNC) losing out in Round 5.

Like their older counterparts, Matt McGillivray (EP) and Stef Burrows (Boland) racked up two wins today and go into tomorrow?s final day with plenty of momentum. McGillivray has EP teammates Tim Baard and Jerry van Wyk with him in the last eight along with KZN Central?s Nthando Msibi and Shane Sykes, Michael Monk (Border) and Jordy Maree (WP).

The U13 boys provided some of the standout performances of the day with defending champion Adin Masencamp (Boland), the leader in the Citro?n Highest Heat Score award and the winner of each of his three heats to date, again on fire. Ethan Fletcher and WP teammate Max Elkington also take heat-winning confidence into the final day and they will be up against Koby Oberholzer (SKZN), Luke Malherbe (Border) and 2011 finalist Jose Faulkner (EP) in his home surf.
Photo Caption: Adin Masencamp, the defending U13 boy?s champion, powers through the lip on a perfect wave at the Point in Jeffreys Bay on Day 4 of the Hurley SA Junior Champs at Jeffreys Bay


The prestigious inter-provincial Freedom Cup is still up for grabs with the holders Western Province, KZN Central and hosts Eastern Province all having plenty of team members in contention for honours and earning points towards their team?s total.

The Red Bull Airshow and its winner-takes-all R5?000 prize-purse will feature the contest?s best aerial competitors flying high above the waves just before the finals start tomorrow.

The top surfer of the event will take home the Hurley Surfer of the Contest title which, in association with All Aboard Travel, earns the winner a R20 000 travel voucher that can be used to visit destinations worldwide.

And there are also the Zigzag Blowing Up Award and R3?000 for the surfer producing the most impressive performances during the event, the Skullcandy Team Spirit award for the provincial team displaying the best camaraderie and support for their teammates and the Citro?n Highest Heat Score title that honours the surfer who posts the biggest heat tally across all divisions throughout the entire five day event with a R3?000 payout.

Daily blogs, interviews, video uploads, images, event schedule and results from the Hurley SA Junior Champs are posted on www.sajuniorchamps.co.za with results and info also found at www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za at the end of each day?s action.

Follow the event via the Hurley Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/Hurley.ZA, on Twitter @HurleyZA and on Instagram HURLEY_ZA, both using the hashtag #sajuniorchamps.

The South African Development Academy Team is supported by a grant from Sport and Recreation South Africa.

Surfing South Africa (SSA) is recognised as the national governing body for surfriding by the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and Sport and Recreation SA. SSA is a member of the International Surfing Association (ISA), the world?s governing body for surfing.

The 2012 Hurley SA Junior Champs is supported by Citro?n Port Elizabeth, Skullcandy, Red Bull, Zigzag and All Aboard Travel.

Source: http://lwmag.co.za/sports/hurley-sa-junior-champs-day-4

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