TOP SOUTH AFRICAN SEED RUDY PALMBOOM THE FAVORITE FOR THE UPCOMING OAKLEY PRO JUNIOR GLOBAL CHALLENGE QUALIFIER

March 14, 2008

The stage is set at New Pier, Durban, South Africa for the inaugural Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Africa Grade 2 Oakley Pro Junior surfing event from March 21 to 23. South African Rudy Palmboom is the favorite of the 32 junior men vying for the $10,000 prize purse and a good start to their 2008 ASP Africa Junior title campaign. New Pier also serves as the second qualifier for the new Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge. The top two South African performers will gain entrance into the final competition in Bali, October 7-17, to compete for a piece of a $75,000 prize purse.

The 2007 ASP Africa Junior Champion, Rudy Palmboom, Jr. (Bluff), is the number one seed for the event, but will need to keep an eye on other top contenders who have been lured by the big prize money and the possibility of a qualification into an international event. Talented surfers like Klee Strachan (Winkelspruit), who won the Expression Session at last year’s Billabong ASP World Junior Championships in Australia, as well as, Matthew Bromley (Cape Town), Casey Grant (Scottburgh), Nic Godfrey (Cape St. Francis), Shawn Dennis (Durban), Kyle Lane (Umhlanga Rocks), and Clinton Gravett (East London) will be tough competition.
 
Oakley named team riders Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay) and Lungani Memani (Port Alfred) wildcards for the event. Chad du Toit (Durban) also an Oakley team rider, has emerged as a consistent performer throughout the younger age groups, and is another to watch for.
 
As the frontrunner for the event, Palmboom is “grateful for the opportunity” to compete in such a unique competition, which is a sentiment sure to be echoed by the rest of the field. When asked how he is preparing, Palmboom said he is “just going to try and have some fun in the contest.” Drawing confidence from what he describes as “some great boards,” Palmboom’s confidence is not ill-founded. A recent win at the KZNSA Senior Champs Open at New Pier is evidence of his potential. He is, however, aware of the threat posed “by some of the younger guys, like Nic Godfrey, Matthew Bromley and Shaun Joubert.”
 
The New Pier Oakley Pro Junior is also one of six other Oakley Pro Junior competitions to be held at locations around the world in the Oakley Pro Junior 2008 Global challenge. Two finalists from each contest will qualify for the Global Challenge Championship in Bali in early October.
 
The Oakley Pro Junior will be a highlight of the 2008 Vodacom Easter Adrenaline Festival, which takes place from March 21 to 23 showcasing daredevil sports such as freestyle motocross, Jet Ski demos and motorbike stunts. Last year, the Vodacom Easter Adrenaline attracted well over 240,000 beachgoers to the Durban beachfront and this year the inclusion of the inaugural Oakley Pro Junior is expected to pull an even larger crowd.