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PRESS RELEASE DETAIL Click here to read Previous Releases Tuesday 29th of September 2009 Nahoon Reef to host 2009 South African Junior Surfing Championships 2009 South African Junior Surfing Championships Surfing South Africa's premier national junior tournament Nahoon Reef, East London Wednesday to Sunday, September 30 to October 4 Nahoon Reef to host 2009 South African Junior Surfing Championships The 2009 South African Junior Surfing Championships featuring eight teams of the country’s top junior boys and girls gets under way at Nahoon Reef in East London tomorrow (September 30). The 200 or so surfers participating in the 14th edition of this premier Surfing South Africa tournament represent seven provinces and include a team of surfers who will compete for the South African Development Academy Team. East London last hosted the South African Junior Championships in 2004 and this year’s event will be only the second time in the 14 year history of the South African Junior Championships that the tournament will take place at Nahoon. From 1996, when the first SA Junior Championships took place in a rain soaked Durban, to 2003 the team from KZN dominated the championships winning eight team titles in a row. In East London in 2004 Western Province broke the chokehold KZN had on the title and claimed the first of their four victories in a row. In 2008 at St Mikes, KZN reclaimed the crown from WP by the narrowest of margins and Western Province is determined to bring the Freedom Cup back the Cape Town this year. Hosts Border always put on a good show at the mighty Nahoon Reef and they could upset both KZN and WP’s plans but on paper the Cape Town and Durban teams look strong in all divisions, from U18 right down to U12 and it could be another close race again this year. Border ‘s neighbours Eastern Province came third in 2008 and will be hoping to challenge for top position while 2005 hosts Boland are making the long journey to East London by bus which could impact on their performance. Last year’s hosts, Southern KZN are looking forward to the event as are Southern Cape. SSA has included a National Development Academy Team in this year’s championships once again and they have the talent to surprise in a number of the divisions. 2009 Under 18 Men’s Champion Matthew Bromley of WP and Under 18 Girl’s Champion Chantelle Rautenbach of Boland will both be back to defend their titles as will 2008 Under 16 champion Bianca Buitendag who will surf for EP this year. 2008 Under 16 Boys champion and ISA World Junior Championships bronze medalist Davey Brand of WP is in France at the King of the Groms contest so there will be a new champion this year. Slade Prestwich of KZN will defend his Under 14 Boy’s crown but there will be a new Under 14 Girls champion this year as Sarah Baum of KZN has moved up a division. Both the Under 12 Boy’s and Under 12 Girl’s titles are up for grabs as Benji Brand of WP is not competing and Inge McLaren of Border is surfing in the Under 14 age group. While all the surfers will be aiming to reach the finals and bag a medal, the SA Junior Championships is all about achieving team honours and winning the Freedom Cup. Every surfer in the event contributes to the total team score even if they are eliminated early in the championships and the winning provincial team is decided right at the end of the event based on the highest aggregate score. The opening function of the 2009 SA National Junior Championships takes place at 7pm this evening in the Phillip Kahts Hall in East London. The heats get under way at 7.30 am tomorrow and the finals and Award Ceremony will take place at Nahoon Reef on Sunday October 4. Surfing South Africa will be using shark shield devices throughout the event as a precaution. Heat updates will be available daily on www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za Surfing South Africa is recognised as the governing body for the sport by the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and is a member of the International Surfing Association (ISA).