Surfers cut loose at Supers for tour event wild card

A COOL mix of youth and experience, representing the cream of South African surfers, will go all out today to win a highly coveted wild card and entry into the country's only World Championship Tour (WCT) surfing event in Jeffreys Bay next month.

Organised by Jeffreys Bay Underground (JBU) surf club with RVCA clothing, the JBU Supertrial starts at 9am today and sees 16 surfers competing in seven heats at the legendary Supertubes surf break, where the JBay Open of Surfing international contest runs from July 10 to 21.

The JBay Open of Surfing will form part of the JBay Winterfest and will attract the world's top 36 surfing professionals.

"We chose a field of SA's top surfers for the Supertrial, a mix of up-and-coming and experienced surfers," contest director Koffie Jacobs said. "One of the main criteria for selection was experience at Supertubes. This is so we can put our best foot forward as a country for the WCT event.

"Solid waves are forecast, so we'll be running the JBU Supertrial from the boardwalk at the Pepper Street car park," Jacobs said, adding that former WCT campaigner Greg Emslie and Supertubes danger man Sean Holmes were top contenders.

Younger competitors like Jeffreys Bay's Dylan Lightfoot and Remi Petersen will be relying on their local knowledge to secure a chance to surf against the world's best next month. - Shaun Gillham