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| Tuesday 09th of June 2009 |
Top Junior Surfers Head for the Mossel Bay for Second Stop of the 2009 Quiksilver King of the Groms Series
Michael February (Kommetjie), the defending champion in the premier Under 16 division of the Quiksilver King of the Groms. Photo and copy - Greg Ewing/Quiksilver |
Top Junior Surfers Head for the Mossel Bay for Second Stop of the 2009 Quiksilver King of the Groms Series
The second leg of the 2009 Quiksilver King of the Groms series will take place in the idyllic setting of Mossel Bay this weekend (13 and 14 June) and a contingent of South Africa's top junior surfers will descend on the small town to participate in the event.
Over the years the Quiksilver King of the Groms has become a major force in unearthing South Africa's blossoming surfing talent and will have R22,000 in prize money up for grabs at this weekend's event.
In the premier under 16 division the focus will be on 2008 Champion Michael February of Kommetjie. February started off his 2009 campaign by winning the first event of the series in his home waters of Kommetjie and will be going all out to make it two in a row. But 2008 Mossel Bay winner and runner-up in the first leg of the 2009 series, Davey Brand (Kommetjie), will be a strong contender for the R3,500 first place cheque. Other names to watch out for include Davey van Zyl (Durban), Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay), Dane Staples (St Francis Bay) and Slade Prestwich (Scottburgh).
The Under 20 division will be also be a competitive affair with the list of entrants including some of South African surfing's current stars. Leading the local charge will be Mossel Bay's Shaun Joubert who was a member of the 2009 South African Junior surfing team and is one of the most respected Under 20 competitors in the country. Having won last year's Mossel Bay edition of the Quiksilver King of the Groms, Joubert will draw on all his local knowledge in his drive to take home the title.
The 2009 Quiksilver King of the Groms has seen 16 year old Umhlanga surfer Beyrick de Vries taking the Under 20 title at the first leg of the year to put himself on top of the series rankings. De Vries will undoubtedly be focussed and keen to repeat his performance at Long Beach. Fellow Umhlanga surfer Chris Leppan placed second to de Vries in Kommetjie and will be hoping to improve on this result and pocket the R5,000 winners cheque. Other surfers who will be vying for the title include 2007 Under 16 champion Dale Staples (St Francis Bay), 2008 Under 20 winner and fellow Seal Point local Nick Godfrey, and 2009 Quiksilver Pro Junior winner Kyle Lane (Umhlanga).
Kommetjie's Brendon Gibbens has become a major force to be reckoned with as his inclusion in Surfer Magazine's 2008 Hot 100 Top Junior Surfers in the world attests, while Casey Grant (Scottburgh) and 2009 SA Junior Team captain Matt Bromley (Kommetjie) will all be serious threats.
The 2009 series will consist of three events. The first was held in fantastic conditions in March, the second takes place this weekend and the final event is scheduled for Southbroom on the KZN south coast on the weekend of 15 and 16 August. The overall winner of the 2009 Quiksilver King of the Groms Under 16 division will travel to France for the International King of the Groms final which will be held in conjunction with the 2009 Quiksilver Pro France WCT contest. The under 20 series winner will receive a return air ticket to Hawaii - surfing's most hallowed proving grounds - for the 2009 winter season.
An exciting aspect of each event will be the Virgin Mobile Expression Session which will allow surfers to take to compete for R2000 in prize money as they push each other to pull off the most radical maneuver during the 30 minute session. Each leg of the 2009 Quiksilver King of the Groms is supported by Red Bull who will provide energy centres to keep the competitors operating at peak performance levels.
The Quiksilver King of the Groms is presented by Virgin Mobile in association with Resolution, and is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa the governing body for the sport.
Heats will be posted on www.surfingsouthafrica@gmail.com .
Quik Facts:
What: The 2009 Quiksilver King of the Groms.
Where: Cape Peninsula (Kommetjie region) 14 & 15 March, Mossel Bay 13 & 14 June, Southbroom 15 & 16 August.
Who: South Africa's top U16 and U20 surfers. The defending champions are Nick Godfrey (U20) from St Francis Bay and Michael February (U16) of Kommetjie, Cape Town.
Sponsors: Quiksilver, Virgin Mobile, Resolution, MXit, Supersport, Surfing South Africa and Red Bull.
Prizes: Total Prize money per event is R22, 000. The U16 series winner will be travel to France for the KOTG finals which are held in conjunction with the 2009 Quiksilver Pro France WCT. The U20 series winner will receive a return air ticket to Hawaii. The Virgin Mobile Expression Session will offer R2,000 to the surfer that pulls off the most radical move during the 30 minute session.
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