7 May 2007

Umhlanga surfer Beyrick de Vries caused a stir in the quarterfinals of the 24th Annual Wavemasters surf contest at Jacksonville Beach, North Florida on Saturday, when he scored 19 out of a possible 20 points to win his heat. It was just the beginning of a sensational performance by the 14-year-old.

That brilliant showing won the award for the highest score of the more than 300 surfers at the competition, but it was only part of a stunning performance by the teenager.

Champion
He went on to win his semifinal and then the final to become the 24th Annual Wavemasters surf contest under-16 Champion.

De Vries, who has just turned 14, is contesting the U16 and open divisions in a number of top US contests, courtesy of his sponsors, Bilt surfboards.

"This kid is a surfing sensation. Thousands of spectators on the beach stopped what they were doing to appreciate a truly remarkable performance. We haven't seen a 14 year old of this calibre in many years," said Craig Hiller, CEO of Bilt surfboards USA, de Vries' US sponsors.

De Vries looked a little surprised at all the attention he received from the media and autograph hunters on the beach after his remarkable win.

'I am stoked'
"I am stoked with my first win in my first contest of five that I am competing in over here," he said.

De Vries will compete in his second contest in the USA this coming weekend - the Bilt Wave Warrior Surfing Challenge.

"After that, I go to California for three more competitions, as well as a week long photo shoot with top international surfing photographer, Damea Dorsey. It beats schoolwork I can tell you," he enthused.

Second Down Under
De Vries returned from Australia in February where he placed second against Australia’s top surfers in his division in the Rip Curl Grom search held at Duranbah on the Gold Coast.

On his brief visit to Durban before he left for the USA, he won the Volcom under-15 contest, as well as becoming KZN Champion (under-16).

He has another two-and-a-half months left in the US before returning home to Umhlanga.

SouthAfrica.info reporter

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	Beyrick de Vries in action and on his way to victory

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