Champions crowned at Ballito Pro Junior

DURBAN’S Luke Thompson won the men’s title in the inaugural Ballito O’Neill SMTH Shapes Pro Junior at Willard Beach in Ballito.

It was a completely different ocean at Willard Beach on Sunday, with a cross-shore wind grooming the 1-1.3 metre (3-4ft) waves for fun, high performance surfing in the World Surf League (WSL) Africa Junior Qualifying Series (JQS) 1,000 rated events.

The final saw the top three men on the regional rankings, Luke Slijpen (Llandudno), Luke Thompson (Durban) and Eli Beukes (Kommetjie) respectively, fighting it out for top honours with Japan’s Joh Azuchi.

Thompson and Beukes showed their intent right from the start. Thompson found an absolute gem of a wave that allowed him to fit in three critical turns before finishing right in front of the rocks. His commitment was rewarded with 7,25 out of 10 by the judges and with a 5.00 as his second counting ride he posting a title winning 12.25 heat total.

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Beukes tried to improve his scores right up until the last second, but it wasn’t enough, while Slijpen and Azuchi finished in third and fourth places respectively.

“I’m so happy. I’ve made almost every final this year and I just wanted to win one so badly. I felt really good before this contest started. The waves are super fun and I waited on the wider peak, where I got one under priority, and that was my best score,” said Thompson.

Thompson is now in the number one spot on the WSL Africa Junior Men’s rankings.

Piper Harrison from Australia won the women’s title, her third consecutive JQS 1,000 title, after being in control for most of the Women’s Junior final.

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