Category: Surfing

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First 8 Surfers Selected For The JBU Supertrial presented by RVCA

First 8 Surfers Selected For The JBU Supertrial presented by RVCA

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Jeffreys Bay – The entries for the JBU Supertrial closed on Monday, and there were 54 entries in total. Only 24 surfers will be invited to compete in this prestigious event, with first prize being a wildcard slot into the WSL Championship Tour’s JBay Open. This surfer will receive a minimum prize of US$9,000 (R109,000). The JBay Open is the anchor event of the JBay Winterfest – www.jbaywinterfest.com

These surfers all entered through the www.zigzag.co.za/supertrial/ portal. There was a flurry of public votes, as well as a big Social Media push, and a final panel selection. The first 8 selected surfers are a mix of hard-earned experience and young blood, of local Supertubes talent, and others from as far afield as Durban and Cape Town. “The first batch of surfers has been anounced, and there is some red-hot talent in there,” said RVCA’s Arno Lane. “We are looking forward to the announcement of the last 16 surfers, who will be competing in the first round, next week.”

There has been a slight contest format change from last year. These 8 selected surfers have been seeded directly into the quarterfinals of the event, and the next 16 surfers will surf a first round of heats to find out who will be meeting the 8 seeds in the quarterfinals.

The 8 seeded surfers in no particular order:

Dylan Lightfoot

Sean Holmes

Matt Mcgillivray

Beyrick De Vries

Mikey February

Greg Emslie

Slade Prestwich

Dale Staples

Last year’s finalists, in Lightfoot, February, Prestwich and McGillivray, are all included in the first 8.

“I’m stoked to get into the event,” said Lightfoot. “I have been surfing Supers non-stop the last few weeks so have had loads of practise. I always look forward to surfing Supers with just three other guys out. Hopefully we get a good run of swell this year.”

Sean Holmes, still recognised as the best wildcard at JBay, and known throughout the surfing world as ‘The Nemesis’ was equally excited about his inclusion. “I’m super excited to be selected for the JBU Supertrial. It’s such a cool event with a real local feel,” said Holmes on hearing the news about his inclusion. “The fact that it presents an opportunity to possibly surf against the best in the world on local soil is the cherry on the cake! Thanks to everyone for all the support over the years.”

Nixon South Africa will be awarding a Nixon Tangent Sports Watch valued at R6 000 for the surfer who rides the best tube in the event, as well as a Nixon Blaster for the event winner.

The JBU Supertrial presented by RVCA  is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa. Surfing South Africa is a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), and recognised by the Dept. of Sport and Recreation as the national controlling body for surfing.

The JBU Supertrial presented by RVCA precedes the JBay Open WSL Championship Tour event, which takes place during the JBay Winterfest.

The JBU Supertrial presented by RVCA is supported by Arbor, Firewire, Stance, Nixon, Monster Energy South Africa, Zigzag Magazine and El Jimador Tequila.

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Clive Barber African Vibrations

Clive Barber African Vibrations

The first time i heard of Clive Barber was in the Godfreys house in Seal Point- they have a poster from his surf film ‘African Vibrations’ on their wall, the film itself has been lost in the ether, the reels lying somewhere between here and Australia. I have since seen, and surfed Clive Barber shapes all over South Africa, during the Rolling Retro event in 2009 a wave presented itself to me and im still not sure what happened: check the photo in the gallery below by Winston Kletter for more of his work click here…

I met Clive through Bruce Gold years later, he was fighting for his health, after a lifetime of surfboards and their associated health risks his body was packing in. He had a few surfboards left that he had made, Bruce described the one to me: he said it  was a surfboard- that looked nothing like one, and that i had to try ride it. I bought it on the spot and felt even better for it knowing the money was going toward hospital bills- but Clive was going to make it, originally it was going to remain unsurfed and hopefully on auction at a future Rolling Retro event. I was having all kinds of dreams like setting up a fund to help all the legends of South African surfing like Clive and Bruce Gold- to help look after their health needs after a lifetime dedicated to surfing and the lifestyle- wholly unrealistic but still a dream of mine none the less.

So i took the Barber for a ride…

…and she had so much glide- i cant help but keep riding on her…

When Clive finally ‘dropped his body’ as Bruce loves to say, The Barber had ridden all kinds of waves, and  even become a quad. His son Craig approached me online about buying it when i was in Norway a month ago. The sweetest irony being it now is actually the only board i have to ride!  There’s a lesson here somewhere but back to the story: Clive Barber not only made one of South Africa’s first surf movies, he was also an intrepid photographer and traveller who documented his journey around Australia as can be seen in the gallery below there are many iconic images from Byron bay to Mauritius, and all over South Africa my favorites are the one’s of old Seal Point and Jeffreys bay…

A few weeks ago i saw Angie Knight posted on Clive’s Facebook page  some notes she had printed out that were from a blog i wrote that has been since deleted- from my first surf on The Barber check it out below with a bunch of other images that tell their stories for themselves…

Miki Dora, his dog Skooter-boy, Bruce Gold, Clive and Eddie Godfrey holding court at The Fullstop

also check out Garth Robinson’s work Surf Art Jeffreys bay for more iconic imagery

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Bruce Gold checking in…

Bruce Gold checking in…

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Bruce-I-fire frame grabbed flying thrlough the zone at you-know-where…

And another commentary instalment from Bruce Gold aka “Bruce-I-fire” as the winter swells start rolling in. Looks like JBay squeezed the most out of this little swell – by the time it reached us here on the KZN South Coast it was full of lumps and holes, like something bullied it off the Transkei coastline or something?!

So here’s some wide perspective video coming at you from the office overlooking Supertubes…of this last swell rolling in through the Bay…

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Quiksilver Surf Series Set For Umhlanga Rocks, KZN

Quiksilver Surf Series Set For Umhlanga Rocks, KZN 

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Beyrick de Vries of Umhlanga is one of the favorites tipped to win the open men’s division at the Quiksilver Get Free event which will be held at Bronze Beach on May 30 and 31. Photo by Luke Patterson.

Umhlanga Rocks – The second event of the national Quiksilver Get Free Series is set to take place at Umhlanga Rocks, KZN later this month. South Africa’s best professional surfers will soon make their way to Bronze Beach, Umhlanga Rocks to compete in this Surfing South Africa (SSA) Pro Surf Tour (PST) event which caters for open men, u20 junior boys and u16 boys surfers. The event will run over the weekend of May 30 and 31.

 

This three-part series got underway in March at Cape Town’s Long Beach and was welcomed by top South African surfers in attendance. Over 90 of South Africa’s best did battle in the cold cape waters for their share of over R40 000 in prize money and prizes. Event organisers are expecting a similar number of entries for the second leg of the series at Umhlanga Rocks.

 

“The Get Free Series has been very well received by the surfers and the various communities. There are very few surf events on the calendar these days so the guys are really excited about this opportunity. We are hoping for some good, solid surf – which is likely, especially at this time of the year. We are looking forward to a great event at the end of the month,” said Quiksilver’s Marketing Manager Dane Patterson.

 

Local standout Beyrick de Vries is a clear favorite to take the open men’s title in KZN. Umhlanga Rocks local de Vries won two out of the three Quiksilver events in the same series last year.

 

“I am really excited that the guys at Quiksilver decided to have one of these events at my home break. I have been traveling a lot this year so it will be nice to compete in an event on my doorstep,” said de Vries.

 

Other favourites looking to take home top honours include Capetonian Michael February, who recently placed second at the WSL Martinique Pro in the Caribbean, as well as Dylan Lightfoot, Jeffreys Bay, and Durban North’s David van Zyl who have proven to be top contenders in all surf conditions.

 

In the u20 boy’s division, all eyes will be on Salt Rock’s Shane Sykes. The eighteen year old has grown from strength to strength in his competitive career and will be a firm favourite in the KZN waters, Sykes recently graced the cover of Zigzag Surfing Magazine’s May edition. Other top juniors include current SA junior champion Michael Monk from East London and Matt McGillivray from Jeffreys Bay who put on a fine exhibition of surfing to win the first event of the series this year. The boys u16 division is a new addition to the Get Free Series this year, Adin Masencamp emerged victorious with a convincing win at the first event in Cape town and will be looking to continue his winning form in KZN. Other juniors to look out for include Ethan Fletcher (Kommetjie), Jake Elkington (Kommetjie) and Joshe Faulkner (Jeffreys bay).

 

The competition will get underway at 08h00 on Saturday. The third and final event of the series will take place in Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape on August 29 and 30.

 

The Quiksilver Get Free Series support sponsors include Zigzag Surfing Magazine, Techniblock sunscreen, Drift Action Cameras, Skullcandy, Neff and Red Bull.

 

For more information, videos, photos and results go to: www.quiksilver.co.za/getfree.

 

To enter the Umhlanga Rocks leg of the series go to: www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za

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