High stakes at Billabong Junior Series

The top two placed surfers from the U18 boys’ division at the Billabong Junior Series will get a slot in the Ballito Pro South African locals-only trial.

This was a huge drawcard for bringing the Billabong Junior Series to Ballito this year.

In addition, the KwaDukuza municipality negotiated hosting the Billabong Junior Series with Billabong in a bid to create a tangible platform for the development of the sport of surfing and in particular the development of young South African talent.

“Billabong was committed to nurturing and progressing junior surfing in South Africa and with the success of the Ballito Pro last year, we made the decision to include the junior series into the schedule this year,” said Billabong group marketing manager, Chad D’Arcy.

The Billabong Junior Series is the premier junior surfing series in South Africa and the longest running junior surf series in the world.

It is the ideal platform for the top juniors in SA to compete against each other in a fun, healthy and competitive environment and has been instrumental in shaping the careers of every professional surfer from South Africa over the last 19 years.

“South African surfers who have qualified for the elite WSL world tour over this period have all used the Billabong Junior Series as a stepping stone to do this. Names like Davey Weare, Royden Bryson, Ricky Basnett, Jordy Smith, Rosy Hodge and Bianca Buitendag have all competed in the Billabong Junior Series,” said D’ARcy.

The final event of the 2015 series at Seal Point in Cape St Francis was the 53rd event since the series began and Billabong has paid out close to R1.5 million in prize money over the event’s history. This year the series will distribute more than R100 000 in prize money.

The 2016 series is open to boys and girls from U12 to U18 in seven divisions and will comprise two events in KZN and the Eastern Cape, attracting more than 120 surfers per event.

The KZN event takes place from June 22 to 25 and the Eastern Cape event at Seal Point, Cape St Francis from September 30 to October 2

The U18 boys and girls events are both WSL 1000 Pro Junior rated and carries a combined prize purse of R30 000.

The U12 boys, U14 and U16 boys and girls events are all 3A PST rated.

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