iLembe groms show top form in first junior series event

Despite windy and choppy conditions, KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) best young surfers delivered scintillating performances at Willard Beach this weekend.

Surfing in the first of 3 events in the 2022 North Coast Boardriders junior series, the groms showed impressive form.

In the novice competition, open to both girls and boys under the age of 12, Tayler faced off against 6 competitors.

He finished second in his heat with a 6.50, bouncing back to win his semi-final with a 7.87.

The final was a close-fought affair and Tayler had to dig deep, delivering his 2 best scores on his final 2 waves to win with a score of 7.50.

Cooper Smith produced consistent high level surfing, despite finishing second in both his heats and semi-final.

Although he surfed in vastly different conditions over the 2 days, Smith never dropped below a 10, blasting the other 16 competitors out of the water.

In the final, Smith held on after delivering his best scores on his first 2 waves, beating out Westbrook’s Ashton Sangster to second place.

Lambert went untroubled through sets, facing off against 3 other girls in the U14 division.

She won her first heat with a score of 9.07, before taking the final with 7.83 after strong scores on her first 2 waves.

Special mention also goes to Mayah Potgieter who finished second in the U16 girls division.

With 2 further events on the cards, the junior series represents both high level competition and significant prize money for the youngsters.

The first placed finishers in every division after all 3 events will each receive R5 000. The prize money has been donated by sponsors Ryan Balfour (Ballito electrician), Bisset & Hampshire

Independent Advisors, Spar Group, Al Johns (Ballito Coastal Hire) and Ryan Rodgers (Wilcote Ballito).

So far, the leaders after 1 event are:

Novice – Sean Tayler (iLembe).
U12 boys – Travis Turrell (Ugu).
U14 boys – Cooper Smith (iLembe).
U14 girls – Bailey Lambert (iLembe).
U16 boys – Surprise Maphumalo (eThekwini).
U16 girls – Gabriella Herbst (eThekwini).
The dates for the remaining 2 events are still to be announced.

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