Cooper clinches podium win at SA Junior Champs

Hard work and commitment have sealed the deal for local grom Cooper Smith who captured the U12 boys’ division in a hard fought final at the SA Junior Surfing Champs event at Lower Point, Jeffreys’ Bay over the weekend.

With four of the best U12 junior surfers South Africa has to offer, the boys final heat proved to be a showstopper in the country’s most prestigious junior surfing event.

Smith kicked-off a ripping last day with some inspirational surfing for the win against Levi Kolnik and Gordon Falangile, with Ryan Schoon securing fourth.

The five day event got underway on Wednesday, September 25 with the final heats taking place in great conditions on Sunday, September 29.

The 23rd edition of the event saw individual national titles awarded to U12, U14, U16 and U18 boys and girls along with the coveted Freedom Cup, which was introduced in 2003 and goes to the district whose team members accumulate the highest points tally across all age divisions.

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Ilembe Surf Rider, Maya Potgieter kicked off a ripping last day which secured her second position in the hotly contested U12 girls category while Julian Carbonel’s consistent form secured him a spot in the U14 boy’s semi finals.

Kay May surfed the U14 division and made it through to the quarter finals while Brayden Bergset represented his district in the U16 category and also clinched a quarter finals spot.

Also taking part at the Sea Harvest SA Junior Championships this year was a group of surfers who made up the SA Development Academy team that comprised of surfers who are part of Surfing South Africa’s Rising Stars programme.

Buffalo City Surfriders junior team clinched the coveted Freedom Cup for the team accumulating the highest points across all divisions.

This was the first victory for the East London team in the 23-year history of the competition. Runners up was Cape Town Surfriders with Ethekwini coming in third while Ilembe Surf Riders placed eighth in the event.

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