South Africa’s Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay) and Nick Godfrey (Cape St Francis) placed third and fifth respectively in the inaugural Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge, the world’s richest junior surfing event, at Keramas in Bali.
Picture perfect two to 2.5 metre hollow waves peeled over the reef all day as the last eight competitors in the US $75 000 contest fought it out with deep barrel rides chasing the $20 000 winner’s pay cheque.
Joubert, 17, eliminated Miguel Pupo (BRA) in the first of the quarterfinals before being narrowly beaten by eventual runner-up Marc Lacomare (FRA) who posted rides of 9.0 and 8.0 to record a 17.0 to 15.67 point victory.
Joubert’s third place earned him a healthy $4 500 (approx. R36 000). Godfrey, 16, came up against event standout Dusty Payne (HAW) in his quarterfinal and was eliminated in equal fifth place with earnings of $3 500 (approx. R28 000).
Payne went on to defeat Mitch Crews (AUS) in the semis before pocketing junior surfing’s biggest payout with a come from behind victory over Lacomare in the extended 45 minute final. In its inaugural year, the 2008 Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge travelled the globe starting in February.
The series kicked off at North Stradbroke, Queensland, Australia, followed by, New Pier, Durban, South Africa; Lower Trestles, San Clemente, Calif., USA; Itamambuca Beach, Ubatuba City, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Shidashita Point, Chiba, Japan and Grand Plage, Lacanau, Gironde, France.
Joubert and Godfrey qualified for the Bali event by finishing first and second respectively in the Oakley Pro Junior Challenge in Durban at Easter. With a total of six events for junior surfers to qualify, the Global Challenge Championship connected four days of competition to determine the winner from the 18 man field that included five sponsor’s wildcards and the winner of the Indonesian Trials.
