Jarvis Earle and Laura Raupp win Ballito Pro Junior surf titles

Australian Jarvis Earle (19) and Brazilian Laura Raupp (18) are the newest names to be etched onto the O’Neill SMTH Shapes Ballito Pro Junior trophy.

The duo took out strong competition in their respective divisions to claim 1 000 Junior Tour points and bragging rights for the next few days in Ballito.

Surfing in the event first got underway yesterday morning and included some of the best U20 surfers from across the globe.

On the men’s side, 48 surfers from eight countries and territories took to the water and enjoyed tricky but scoreable conditions.

Three North Coast locals suited up as part of that group, with Valentino Zedde and Nathan Tayler eliminated during the round of 48.

Rookie Rippers U12 winner, Marcello Zedde, went one better but would later fall at the round of 32 stage.

Cape St Francis’ Rory Dace and Cape Town’s Connor Slijpen were the only South Africans who made the quarter-finals but both would get knocked out to set up an all-foreign final four.

And Earle would be the one to make it count, stringing some top scores together in the knockout stages.

He never dipped below a combined 11.56 wave score in his final four heats and saved his best surfing of the event for a thrilling final against Hawaiian Kai Martin.

Martin took the early lead with a powerful 8.67 first wave, later adding a 7.43 to post a strong 16.10 score.

But Earle struck back with a mammoth 9.33 on his fifth wave and followed it up with a 7.83 to deliver the winning score of 17.16.

“It was tricky out there and Kai started off with an 8 so I was behind from the start,” said Earle.

“It felt good to get that 9-point ride, especially because it was under priority. I’m stoked I got a few good ones and came away with the win in the end.”

It earned him another victory in a highly successful 2024 campaign with one other Junior Tour win and three Qualifying Series wins to his name.

“I’ve had a few good results this year, it would be nice to crack a good result in the Challenger Series and set myself up for the rest of the year, so hopefully I can get that done,” he said.

On the women’s side of the competition, 19 surfers from four countries and territories were involved.

There were no North Coast locals in the bunch, but former iLembe surfer Mayah Potgieter did make it through to the round of 16 stage.

Port Alfred’s Lily Heny was the sole South African to make it to the semi-final stage but lost out to Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri from the Basque Country.

That left Etsxabarri to take on Raupp, who had breezed through her three previous heats, never coming within four points of second place.

But the final would prove a low-scoring affair in difficult onshore conditions with both youngsters trying to claw together a winning position.

Etsxabarri’s combined 7.17 after her first two waves looked to be enough, but Raupp pulled out a 5.0 on her ninth wave to put her in pole position.

Added to her earlier 3.0, the scores proved enough to claim victory – her third of the year.

She had previously won two Qualifying Series events in her home country of Brazil.

“I’m super happy to be here, it’s my third time in Ballito,” said Raupp.

“The final was pretty hard, the conditions weren’t helping!”

“But I’m happy to get the win in the Pro Junior, starting on the right foot ahead of the QS and the Ballito Pro Challenger Series and I’m feeling really good.”

Find the full list of Ballito Pro Junior results here.

Both Raupp and Earle now turn their focus to the weekend for the Ballito Open pres. by Flojos, a Qualifying Series event worth 1 000 QS points.

It will run tomorrow and on Sunday and marks the end of the junior surfing programme at this year’s Ballito Pro.

You can follow the results live here, or watch in person at Willard Beach.

The main Challenger Series event begins on Monday and will run for the entirety of next week.

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