Quiksilver KOG Mossel Bay

Mossel bay had cooking surf all week leading up to the contest with medium swell, great tides and favourable winds allowing for some super warm up sessions before the contest.

Saturday 13th saw the annual Quiksilver king of the groms kick off in Mossel bay in cooking 2-3ft surf. The tides were neaps and the wind light which would therefor have little effect on the wave. The waves by the afternoon were cooking breaking right from ze back back.

Saturday evening I had a premier of my new short movie called Gromz Go Crazy 01 at the Waves surf shop. It was a great success and all the kids loved it, there is some amazing surfing and waves on the video so be sure to look out for it. I hope to have sequels to the movie, so any hot groms who want to feature be sure to get in touch.

Sunday 14th contestant and organisers woke up to a disappointing sight of flat wave at the Point. It was a last minute decision and with absolutely no other option of a venue the contest had to be moved to Herolds bay.Having not made prior arrangement to host the event at Herolds bay did cause some hassles with the local law enforcement, nothing like a little morning drama to start the day.

With that sorted the contest ran in super fun 3ft waves with plenty of ripping going on. Davey Brand won the U/16 final by opening up with a 7.25 busting a huge signature first turn on his first wave, Mickey and Davey were in fact in the last KOG finals in Kommetjie were Mickey got the upper hand. However this time round it was Davey who took the honours after dominating every heat, he walked away with the win convicingly.

Other Stand Outs in the U/16 was Daniel Wilson from Kommetjie, this result surely proving what this young mans surfing ability is cabable of finishing equal 3rd. Dark Hoarse Vincent Withers showed some local local knowledge by taking down some big names on his way to a semi final birth and an equal 3rd, pocketing himself some cash and proving hard work does pay off.

The U/20 final was amazing to watch, Brendon Gibbens continued his good form by winning the event in a hard contested final. Chris Lappan looked good from the beginning of the contest and was the man to beat. Both started off with some good scores but it was Chris who took it too the next level by busting out an air 360, Brendon saw this and stepped up to the plate and also busted a bigger and better air 360.

After all was said and done the event ran very well and as usual all parents and kids were stoked after a great weekend in Mossel Bay town of the year.

Next up is the O'neil Cold Water Classic in Cape Town a 4 star WQS followed by the Rip Curl Grom search also held in Cape Town, so be sure to watch this space.

Mr Price WP Open

Well Well Well, it's been a really busy two weeks since the S.A champs. The weekend before saw the Mr Price WP Open where my boys were really kicking up a storm. In almost near perfect Trestles look alike conditions at Long Beach, Kommetjie.

Shaun Joubert was the man to beat making both the u/20 and open final his arch rival Chad du Toit also qualified for both finals showing the older crew that the young guns are coming through fast and furious.

Despite sterling performances from both these surfers it was tall kid Matt Bromley with his new strategy that took the u/20 final convincingly with two strong rides, Mickey Feb was looking hot in the final when he scored a 9 on his first wave but was very unfortunate not to get a back up wave therefor finishing 2nd overall. Shaun Jobubert and Chad du Toit finished 3rd and 4th respectively.

In the open men's division, Gavin Roberts continued his show of form after having just won the S.A senior champs by finishing 4th overall. Shaun Joubert was very stoked to make both finals although slightly disappointed not having won one of the divisions in the near perfect surf, he was ripping throughout the event and managed a consistent 3rd. Brendon Gibbens finished 2nd overall continuing his string of good results this year, Chad du Toit redeemed his fourth place finish in the Juniors by taking out the open men's.

Mossel Bay Ripper Johann Kriek dominated his heats up until the final were he was unable to get a solid back up score which left him with a equal 5th overall, a great result, well done.

MEN'S DIVISION
1. Chad du Toit : Durban : R6000 & 1000 PST points
2. Brendon Gibbens: Kommetjie : R2400 & 860 points
3. Shaun Joubert : Mossel Bay : R1500 & 730 points
4. Gavin Roberts : Scottburgh : R1300 & 670

U20 BOY'S DIVISION
1. Matt Bromley : Kommetjie : R2000 & 1000 points
2. Mikey February : Kommetjie : R900 & 860 points
3. Shaun Joubert : Mossel Bay : R600 & 730 points
4. Chad du Toit : Durban : R500 & 670 points

S.A Surfing Championships/National team trials

Last week saw the 44th inaugural S.A surfing champs held in St Mikes sponsored by South Coast Tourism. It was a highly contested event as usual with plenty of highs and lows, the surf was very demanding with consistent 4-6 foot waves. We were very fortunate to score cooking 4ft Southbroom before the event started this proving to be a positive start of some great surf for the week ahead.

Day 1 saw cooking 4-6 foot offshore waves peeling down the point and a new format, 1st place through to round 4 2nd and 3rd to round 3 and 4th into repo charge round 2.

Friday was a whole other ball game with solid 8 foot sets and a howling NE wind making for extreme conditions, after heats there were some great car park stories of how guys were getting dealt in the solid surf. Saturday and Sunday proved to be awesome conditions not dropping below the 5ft mark, great waves ment there was some world class surfing.

Stand outs in the men's division were DEVYN MATTHEYS, DAN REDMAN, MAMFRED ADRIO, and the man to beat RYAN PAYNE eventual surfer of the contest.

Gavin Roberts beat 2007 SA Champion Devyn Mattheys of Border into second place with Dan Redman of KZN grabbing third ahead of 2009 Surfer of the Contest Ryan Payne of EP.

Nobody could out class HEATHER CLARK in the open woman's division showing that the St Mikes local can still mix it up with the best surfers in the country. From the outset it was obvious that Heather was in it to win it.

Clark successfully defended the title she won at Victoria Bay last year after fighting her way through the repocharge round early in this year’s event. Nikita Robb of Border was second, Tammy Lee Smith of KZN came third and Faye Zoetmulder of EP was fourth.

Kyle Lane was definitely the man to beat in the u/20 boys division with some hard hitting back hand turns. Shaun Denis was also looking good throughout the event, Jaco Stey was a definite threat with a new found confidence showing in his attitude and surfing. Bertie Stuurman was on fine form and looking to take the title.

Shawn Dennis found form in the Under 20 Boys Final to beat fellow KZN surfer Kyle Lane into second place while 2009 Junior Surfer of the Year and Lotto Scholarship recipient Bertie Stuurman of EP came third. Underling KZN’s dominance in this division was Chris Leppan who was fourth.

In the Girls u/20 Sarah Baum was definitely onfire and looking very good on her backhand in the solid surf, she would have been the obvious bet although it was tough cookie Taryn Chudleigh that piped her at the end for the S.A champ title.Chudleigh’s board hit her in the face during her semi final and she had to be taken to hospital but she was back in time for her final and did Western Province proud.

Final team placings after all was said and done:
TEAMS
1. KWAZULU NATAL 47344
2. SOUTHERN KWAZULU NATAL 38690
3. BORDER 38294

4. EASTERN PROVINCE 36922
5. WESTERN PROVINCE 36512
6. BOLAND 33750

During the S.A champs 9 surfers were selected to take part in in National team trials, surfing for one position. Three positions had been already given to top WQS campaigners, Brandon Jackson, Rudi Palmboom junior and Damien Farenfort. In the end it was clear tha Ryan Payne and Llewellyn Whittaker wanted to be in the team more than anyone.

In a round robin type trial over four heats Ryan and Lu had three 1st places but it was Ryan's 2nd place in his 4th heat that beat Lu's 3rd place. So after loads of heats it was Ryan Payne that would be part of the National team going to Costa Rica end of July, Llewellyn will be first reserve.