Showdown at Supertubes, JBay……..

The invitees for the Xcel Supertubes Showdown have been announced.  All 16 have earned their spurs in the surf hierachy in Jeffreys Bay and will be competed for the opportunity to surf against the top 44 surfers in the world in the 09 Billabong Pro in July.  

 

Heat draw for the Xcel Supertubes Showdown:

 

Heat 1
Warren Dean    
Ashley Walter                 
Ari Kraak
Steven Sawyer
  
Heat 2
Ryan Payne
Stuart Shelver
Dane Morris
Dominique Abersalie
  
Heat 3
Craig Els
Stanley Badger
Drew Thysman
Remi Petersen
  
Heat 4
Deon Lategan
Berti Stuurman
Nick van Eeden
Dylan Lightfoot
  

PS:

Who was the J Bay local dishing out tequila instead of snot klaps until the early morning hours at the opening function of the Xcel Supertubes Showdown in J’Bay? 

 

J Bay Locals in Supertubes Showdown

Surfers in Jeffreys Bay have closely guarded their beaches and their waves since the 1960’s when the small fishing village was discovered to possess one of the finest right hand point breaks in the world.

 

In the 1980’s the Supers locals decided that there would only be once contest a year at Supertubes. The Billabong Pro cracked the nod as the annual contest and the surf break remained the domain of the free surfers for the rest of the year.

 

However, the J’ Bay locals have been debating for decades on how to hold a contest for locals only, that would see a few surfers in the water, riding the long winding walls of Supertubes in uncrowded and classic conditions.

 

The Xcel Supertubes Showdown is the first contest of its kind in the Mecca of surfing in South Africa and will cater for 16 locals who have paid their dues within the J’Bay surf hierarchy.

 

Koffie Jacobs, a long time Supertubes maestro and founder member of the JBU Surf Club will announce the 16 invitees to the inaugural Xcel Supertubes Showdown at the opening function at the Mexican Restaurant in Jeffrey’s Bay on Wednesday.

 

Jacobs said the contest is for the local surfers and the invitees will see the likes of up and coming youngster Stephen Sawyer pit his skills against old guard surfers including former world tour campaigner Warren Dean and ex Springbok Craig Els.

 

“The contest has a waiting period from 5 June – 21 June and will take one day of surfing to complete. Four surfers will be in the water in 45 minute heats with the winner of each heat advancing to an hour long final. The JBU will provide the water patrol” said Jacobs, who is the contest director.

 

The winner will earn a slot in the Von Zipper Wildcard Trials that will be held on the opening day of the 09 Billabong Pro. The winner of the Von Zipper Trials gets a slot in the main event of the Billabong Pro. Warren Dean is hard in training
for the Supertubes Showdown and there will be no quarter asked or given in this unique contest.

(Below:  Dylan Lighfoot about to smash the lip at Supertubes, Jeffreys Bay.  Photo:  Koffie Jacobs)

 

Dylan Lightfoot (14 yrs) was stoked to hear he has been invited “I learnt to surf at Main Beach when I was 5 with South Coast Surf School and have worked my way up into the Supers line up over the years, “said Lighfoot. “It won’t be easy surfing against the ballies so they all know the wave really well but I am going to surf hard and see what happens”.