NAHOON beach was a hive of activity yesterday as the best junior surfers from across the country went in and out of the surf throughout the day, going over their final preparations for the Billabong Junior Surf Series starting today.
However, the event was plunged into a mini-crisis late yesterday afternoon after it was announced tests had been done at Nahoon beach after a sewage pipe burst and with the water confirmed dirty and possibly dangerous to the contestants’ health, the beach was closed as a precaution and the event has officially been moved to Gonubie Beach.
“They decided Gonubie beach was the best choice because it has really good right hand breaks, inner right hand breaks and a great beach break which provides lots of variety for the surfers,” said Billabong series event and team manager Josh Enslin.
The series is the biggest in the country and is sure to be a fiercely fought contest as South Africa’s future surfing stars battle it out for supremacy in the second stage of the four stop tour.
“There is so much local talent in East London and not all of them are able to make it to our other events, so we felt it was very important to bring a South African surfing event to the city,” said Enslin.
Rivalries made in Durban are set to be renewedespecially in the older divisions.
Springbok surfers Dylan Lightfoot and Michael February who finished first and second respectively in the U20 boys’ final in Durban will in all probability renew their rivalry at Gonubie beach.
Lightfoot, who has been setting the SA surfing community ablaze over the last few years , dominated the opposition in Durban.
Although surfing as an U18 Lightfoot qualified for the U20s through a wild card entry that he gained by winning the U18 division.
Lightfoot is said to be South Africa’s next surfing prodigy.
His sensational surfing has earned him titles such as being named U15 South African surfing champion in 2009, U16 Billabong Pro junior New Zealand champion 2010 and this year he will compete at The International Surfing Association World Games for the fourth time as part of the South African team.
The U18 girls’ division will be especially fierce with Channelle Botha and Nicole Pallet, first and second in Durban, and Gina Smith who did not have the best event in Durban, set to surf it out again.
Local surfers who are seen as main contenders for their respective division honours are Inge McLaren in the girls U18, Michael Monk in the boys U16 and Luke Malherbe in the boys U14.
McLaren got to the semi- finals in Durban .
Monk also made the semi- finals in his division in Durban .
Other Border surfers, who are clearly keen to impress on their home turf are Avuyile Ndamase and Chad Dustan for the U20 boys.
Mitchell Henderson, Tyler Ridge and Todd Dustan for the U18 boys with Lauren Ridge for the U18 girls.
Brandan Stockigt and Tyron Dustan for the U16 boys.
William Weldrick, Cameron Gravett and Tayne Thompson for the U14 boys with Danica Stockigt for the U14 girls.
The format for the contest has not changed even with the location change and the surfing starts at 8am today and finishes at 5pm.
Tomorrow the surfing will again be from 8am to 5pm, with the medal ceremony starting at 5.30pm.
Fierce rivalries at Juniors
However, the event was plunged into a mini-crisis late yesterday afternoon after it was announced tests had been done at Nahoon beach after a sewage pipe burst and with the water confirmed dirty and possibly dangerous to the contestants’ health, the beach was closed as a precaution and the event has officially been moved to Gonubie Beach.
“They decided Gonubie beach was the best choice because it has really good right hand breaks, inner right hand breaks and a great beach break which provides lots of variety for the surfers,” said Billabong series event and team manager Josh Enslin.
The series is the biggest in the country and is sure to be a fiercely fought contest as South Africa’s future surfing stars battle it out for supremacy in the second stage of the four stop tour.
“There is so much local talent in East London and not all of them are able to make it to our other events, so we felt it was very important to bring a South African surfing event to the city,” said Enslin.
Rivalries made in Durban are set to be renewedespecially in the older divisions.
Springbok surfers Dylan Lightfoot and Michael February who finished first and second respectively in the U20 boys’ final in Durban will in all probability renew their rivalry at Gonubie beach.
Lightfoot, who has been setting the SA surfing community ablaze over the last few years , dominated the opposition in Durban.
Although surfing as an U18 Lightfoot qualified for the U20s through a wild card entry that he gained by winning the U18 division.
Lightfoot is said to be South Africa’s next surfing prodigy.
His sensational surfing has earned him titles such as being named U15 South African surfing champion in 2009, U16 Billabong Pro junior New Zealand champion 2010 and this year he will compete at The International Surfing Association World Games for the fourth time as part of the South African team.
The U18 girls’ division will be especially fierce with Channelle Botha and Nicole Pallet, first and second in Durban, and Gina Smith who did not have the best event in Durban, set to surf it out again.
Local surfers who are seen as main contenders for their respective division honours are Inge McLaren in the girls U18, Michael Monk in the boys U16 and Luke Malherbe in the boys U14.
McLaren got to the semi- finals in Durban .
Monk also made the semi- finals in his division in Durban .
Other Border surfers, who are clearly keen to impress on their home turf are Avuyile Ndamase and Chad Dustan for the U20 boys.
Mitchell Henderson, Tyler Ridge and Todd Dustan for the U18 boys with Lauren Ridge for the U18 girls.
Brandan Stockigt and Tyron Dustan for the U16 boys.
William Weldrick, Cameron Gravett and Tayne Thompson for the U14 boys with Danica Stockigt for the U14 girls.
The format for the contest has not changed even with the location change and the surfing starts at 8am today and finishes at 5pm.
Tomorrow the surfing will again be from 8am to 5pm, with the medal ceremony starting at 5.30pm.
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