The 21st edition of the Billabong Junior Series Ballito will kick off the 10 day Ballito Pro Surf Festival when South Africa's best U18 surfers and a contingent internationals chase JQS titles in the world's longest running series of junior surfing events
With the points earned counting towards the coveted Billabong Junior Series titles as well as the annual WSL Africa crowns and selection of the squad of four men and two women who represent the region at the WSL World Junior Championships in Australia in January, there is plenty on the line for the local surfers.
Cape Town's Luke Slijpen has put some daylight between himself and the rest of the chasing pack after winning the the JQS event in Port Elizabeth earier this week. The ripper and top seed from Hout Boy will be determined to confirm his invitation to the most prestigious event on the junior men's calendar in January with a good result at Ballito.
Luke Slijpen can book his ticket to the World Junior Championship with a good result at the Billabong Junior Series Ballito. - WSL
Slijpen will face a crew of highly competitive South African juniors, all hungry to make a name in this prestigious event. Surfers like fellow Capetonians Eli Beukes and Max Elkington, and Koby Oberholzer from Warner Beach to name a few, will all be dead set on a victory at the penultimate junior event on the WSL Africa schedule..
Buekes, the powerful and stylish Cape Town surfer, recently won the Vans Surf Pro Classic JQS event at Lamberts Bay in South Africa and comes into this event as second in the rankings and dangerman. He has a great competitive persona, and surfs with experience and polish and could easily walk away with the laurels at this event.
Eli Beukes' confidence boosting recent win make him a dangerman at Ballito - WSL / Thurtell
There are also a number of international surfers in the mens division, including Joh Azuchi from Japan, Ryan Kainalo from Brazil, Geva Bar Sade from Israel, Rio Waida from Indonesia and Arnau Riera from Spain.
Japanese surfer Joh Azuchi will be challenging the local surfers for a spot on the podiumat theBillabong Junior Series Ballito - WSL / Ethan Smith
The Jeffreys Bay duo of Angelo Faulkner and Dillon Hendricks are another two surfers who could shine at this event while Mexican born South African standout Sebastian Williams makes a welcome return to the local contest lineup.
In the women's draw, international surfers like Tiana-Breeze De Mooij from New Zealand and Advah Bar Sade from Israel will join top local junior surfers Sophie Bell, Zoë Steyn, Kayla Nogueira and Ceara Knight in a bid for glory in this competitive division.
North Coast local Sophie Bell is chasing a big result at Ballito to qualify for the World Junior Championship - WSL / Ian Thurtell
The Billabong Junior Series Ballito is Coming
Craig Jarvis
The 21st edition of the Billabong Junior Series Ballito will kick off the 10 day Ballito Pro Surf Festival when South Africa's best U18 surfers and a contingent internationals chase JQS titles in the world's longest running series of junior surfing events
With the points earned counting towards the coveted Billabong Junior Series titles as well as the annual WSL Africa crowns and selection of the squad of four men and two women who represent the region at the WSL World Junior Championships in Australia in January, there is plenty on the line for the local surfers.
Cape Town's Luke Slijpen has put some daylight between himself and the rest of the chasing pack after winning the the JQS event in Port Elizabeth earier this week. The ripper and top seed from Hout Boy will be determined to confirm his invitation to the most prestigious event on the junior men's calendar in January with a good result at Ballito.
Slijpen will face a crew of highly competitive South African juniors, all hungry to make a name in this prestigious event. Surfers like fellow Capetonians Eli Beukes and Max Elkington, and Koby Oberholzer from Warner Beach to name a few, will all be dead set on a victory at the penultimate junior event on the WSL Africa schedule..
Buekes, the powerful and stylish Cape Town surfer, recently won the Vans Surf Pro Classic JQS event at Lamberts Bay in South Africa and comes into this event as second in the rankings and dangerman. He has a great competitive persona, and surfs with experience and polish and could easily walk away with the laurels at this event.
There are also a number of international surfers in the mens division, including Joh Azuchi from Japan, Ryan Kainalo from Brazil, Geva Bar Sade from Israel, Rio Waida from Indonesia and Arnau Riera from Spain.
The Jeffreys Bay duo of Angelo Faulkner and Dillon Hendricks are another two surfers who could shine at this event while Mexican born South African standout Sebastian Williams makes a welcome return to the local contest lineup.
In the women's draw, international surfers like Tiana-Breeze De Mooij from New Zealand and Advah Bar Sade from Israel will join top local junior surfers Sophie Bell, Zoë Steyn, Kayla Nogueira and Ceara Knight in a bid for glory in this competitive division.
Zoë Steyn
Watch a selection of images from the last event held at Seal Point.
Zoë Steyn's last-minute excellence in the morning light flips the heat from fourth-to-first to overpower heat leader Ellie Harrison as she
Fields Whittled Down to 32 Men and 16 Women in Fun Surf
Large Fields from Europe and Africa Enter Prestigious QS Event, Wildcards Announced to Challenge Seasoned Competitors.
Competitors make the most of what was on offer in Ballito on Day 2
Billabong Junior Series Ballito
Debut JQS event wins for both surfers
Semifinalists decided in variable conditions at Willard Beach in Ballito
21st edition of the Billabong Junior Series pres.by BOS gets underway
With 10,000 points on the line, it's surfers' first serious shot at making the 2019 Tour -- and excitement is growing.