16 May 2006

South African junior surf team members, Jordy Smith and Shaun Joubert, placed second and third respectively in the under-18 and under-16 grand finals at the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships which ended at Maresias, near Sao Paulo, Brazil on Sunday.

Team South Africa also repeated their fifth-place finish among the 27 nations competing, and captured the gold medal in the ISA Cup event for the first time when their five-person squad scored a record 65 points to defeat Australia, New Zealand and France, who finished in that order.

Slow start
In the tricky one-to-one-and-a-half metre (three-to-five-foot) beach-break surf, Smith started the blue riband under-18 boys' final slowly.

Aussie Julian Wilson streaked into a substantial lead with two eight-point rides before the South African answered with an 8.33, while Caleb Reid-Boquist (Aus) and pre-event favourite Jeremy Flores (France), also turned in exceptional performances in the high scoring encounter.

A 9.17 by Wilson saw him extend his lead and leave the other three needing to improve on both their rides for victory.

Back into contention
Smith hauled himself back into contention with an 8.57 to move into second-place and within striking distance. Needing 9.11 points for the gold, Smith could not find a wave that would enable him to earn the near perfect score and had to settle for the silver medal, with Reid-Boquist taking bronze and Flores copper.

Aussie Owen Wright blitzed his opponents in the under-16 boys' final, racking up a heat-winning 16.20 point total for his best two rides, and leaving the other three needing a combination of scores for the victory.

South Africa's Joubert held second position throughout the heat but was overtaken in the last minute by Brazilian Alejo Muniz to end with the bronze medal in his first ISA world championships event. Marc Lacomare (France) finished fourth.

ISA Cup victory
Team South Africa roared to victory in the ISA Cup (tag team) event, scoring more than 65 points to smash the record set by Australia in the semi-finals earlier in the event.

Jordy Smith scored a near perfect 9.57 points on one of his two rides, while the balance of the five-person squad contributed consistent six-point scores to the total. The tactics employed by SA team coach Howie Gold worked to perfection and Australia, who had beaten SA in the semi-finals, were relegated to second place in the final with New Zealand in third and France taking fourth.

France's Pauline Ado snatched the under-18 girls' title in the last minute with a spectacular 8.93 point ride, overtaking fellow 15-year-old Sally Fitzgibbons (Aus), who had led throughout the final. Diana Souza (Bra), who left the water injured and was carried up the beach before the end of the heat, hung on for third-place while one of the pre-event favourites, Airini Mason (NZ), finished fourth.

Australia secured a resounding victory in the overall team placing, rebounding from their fourth spot last year, while surprise package France, who had been threatening to overtake the so-called world's top surfing nations for the past couple of years finally delivered by taking the runner-up position.

Fifth again
South Africa repeated their fifth placing of Tahiti in 2004 and the USA last year, finishing behind host nation Brazil and last year's winners Hawaii, but ahead of the USA.

The Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships, featuring 12-person teams from the member nations of the International Surfing Association (ISA) have been run as an annual stand alone event since 2003 when the first such event was run in Durban.

Tahiti hosted the 2004 event and last year it was held at Huntington Beach in California. The 2007 edition is scheduled for Portugal.

RESULTS

U18 Boys

	International junior surfing star Jordy Smith (Photo: Karen Wilson, Tostee.com)

	Surfing the Cape's colossal waves Sonne, Brandung und Wale beobachten Soleil, surf et observation des baleines Patterson, Hodge win Baggies Pro SA's Baker is Mavericks champ Tense finish to ASP Africa 2005 Wright wins pounding Goodwave The magic of uShaka Marine World Sun, surf & surgery Watersports in South Africa

	ISA Quiksilver World Junior Champs  Wavescape  ASP Africa

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