Billabong Junior Series - Event 1, Mossel Bay 25-27 April

The location, Outer Pool in Mossel Bay, is a fun wave that breaks over a reef bottom and throws the odd barrel over the inside section. It fluctuated between three and five feet the whole weekend, with the biggest waves holding out for the finals on Sunday.

The event had an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) rated U20 Pro Junior Division, with the cream of the country’s best U20 surfers taking part. Points awarded at Event 1 would count towards a global tour, and seedings and ratings are awarded for every ASP-rated event that our surfers enter. It’s vital to enter as many as possible if a surfer wants to make a start on the international Pro Junior tour, and it was great to see Billabong raise the stakes in their event.

Day one was a warm, fun day with surfers greeting friends again and enjoying the cool set up that Billabong, BOS and the Mossel Bay locals had set up in front of the break. For those that were unfamiliar with the Mossel Bay waves, there were fine three footers reeling down the reef, perfect for loosening up and getting the feel of their equipment.

Day two was a rare day for the temperate Mossel Bay. The skies opened and it poured down for ages, leaving the surroundings pretty soggy. However, the surfing carried on unhindered in the rain as surfers focused on their bid for the best waves and scores. Highlights included South African surfer Sebastian Williams, who grew up surfing a perfect point break in Mexico, getting some great barrels and winning his heat with ease. Young Bevan Willis was another surfer who impressed all with his powerful surfing, and Richard Kidd surfed tight and in the pocket for some amazing scores in the perfect surf.

On the final day, the swell had kicked in and there were some nervous parents as the U12 boys were sent out in booming surf. On cue, the biggest waves of the whole event, a solid six foot maybe bigger, arrived to land on the poor kids’ heads. Boards were thrown, surfers were diving under the water, and the jet-ski safety crew looked on as the youngsters battled it out against the elements. Testament to their spirit, no assistance was asked for and they bravely soldiered on. Tide-Lee Ireland, from Durban, was the standout, catching the biggest waves and ripping them all the way through to the inside rocks.