Cape St Francis to host Billabong Junior Series

THE Eastern Cape will again feature in the Billabong Junior Series when the third leg of the surfing competition is held at Cape St Francis from October 3 to 5.

The series was inaugurated in 1997 and 48 events have already been staged and more than R1-million paid in prize money.

These events are the ideal platform for the top junior surfers to hone their competitive surfing skills in a fun and healthy environment, with many surfers having used the series as a stepping stone to a professional surfing career.

"Billabong is really excited to be running the Billabong Junior Series again for 2014," Billabong South African marketing manager Chad D'Arcy said.

"It is such a prestigious series with a long history in this country. It is amazing to see what this series has meant for junior surfing in South Africa over the years.

"We will be approaching a great landmark by hosting the 50th event since the series began. Along with an amazing lineup of supporting sponsors we are proud to continue the legacy of the Billabong Junior Series."

This year the series comprises three events which will take place in Mossel Bay (April 25-27), Cape Town (August 8-10) and Cape St Francis (October 3-5).

There will be a total of nine age divisions with the introduction of an under-16 girls division. The premier u-20 boys and u-20 girls divisions will now carry a one- star ASP Pro Junior rating.

"ASP Africa is very excited and honoured to once again be involved in one of the longest running junior series in the world," ASP Africa's Colin Fitch said.

"It is always very important for the ASP to partner and work with the local ISA federation, in this case Surfing South Africa."

A number of exciting specialty awards will also be on offer per event, including the BOS surfer of the contest, the Nixon WTA (winner takes all) for the highest heat score of each event, the DaKine wave of the day award for the best wave of each day of competition, and the KR fins free award for the most radical fins free manoeuvre of each event.