Mutant Pipeline on Day 3 of the Volcom Pipe Pro 2012

Monster Pipe Tubes were the call for the day! Balram Stack from NY charging... (Photo: ASP)

 Day 3 of the Pipe Pro and it was one third carnage to two thirds mutant tubes! The Saffers woke up to monster Pipeline and the chirps were flying thick and fast on twitter and FB between the North Shore and South Africa. We had three guys in Round 3, Shaun Joubert, Brandon Jackson and Rudy Palmboom. None made it through the round, but watching their heats it was easy to see they tried their best. The waves were huge, scary and all over the show and none of the boys let team SA down. Personally, I would have been terrified just sitting on the beach, where a number of spectators got washed into the shore break! The final day will be posted as soon as the web video goes live.

Good start for the Saffers in Brazil - Hang Loose Pro

It was a good start on the World tour for South Africans, with Travis Logie making the Semi Finals of the Hang Loose Pro Prime event. Shaun Joubert also made the quarter finals making it 2 surfers in the top 8.

Brazzas happy with the win. (Photo: ASP)

ASP had the following on the contest:

CACIMBA DO PADRE, Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco / Brazil (February, Sunday, 20, 2011) - Brazilian Alejo Muniz, 20, has won the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) PRIME Hang Loose Pro Contest in three-to-five foot surf at the Cacimba do Padre, Fernando de Noronha, island, located at 345 kilometers from the Brazil’s northeastern coast.
Alejo Muniz earned US$ 40,000 in prize money and 6,500 points towards his ASP World Ranking. The runner up Dion Atkinson (Australia), 24, scored 7.14 points in the final, well under Alejo Muniz who won the event with an impressive combined two-wave heat tally of 13.00 points (both scores out of a possible 20).
For Muniz his first ASP PRIME event Title is also pretty much like a birthday gift, as he is turning 21 next Tuesday.
“Winning is the best feeling of all”, said Alejo Muniz, as soon as he got to the podium over his mates shoulders. “This is Brazil’s biggest event. Last year I got so close (I was defeated in the semifinal), but now everything worked my way this time, and it’s awesome to start the year like this. Winning here in Fernando de Noronha is fantastic.”
Next Monday Alejo will be flying to Australia where he makes his debut on the ASP Dream Tour. He is now one of five Brazilians in the elite group of the 34 best surfers in the world.
“I’m a little nervous for this next event. I tried not to bring this nervousness to Noronha, and I really have to say thanks to everyone who supports me, all my friends here and special thanks to my family which is 100 percent committed to my career as a Pro Surfer.”
To get into the final the Australian, Atkinson first defeated South Africa’s Shaun Joubert in a very close heat where he scored a total of 10.44 over Joubert’s 10.06. Then he faced Brazilian Heitor Alves, and once again Dion Atkinson won by a slight margin, posting a total heat of 10.73 to Alves’ 9.17.
“I’m very happy with the result. Alejo (Muniz) got all the best waves in the final, also he fired the whole contest showing very mature surfing, so he deserved this win”, said Dion Atkinson. “I really would like to win, but anyway it was good to make the final in this beautiful place. Few events are held in such hollow waves. It’s one of my favorite events in the world and I’ll still come back here in the coming years to try to win this event.”
The Hang Loose Pro Contest has completed its 25th anniversary and Alfio Lagnado, owner of the company and the father of the idea of running the first ASP event in Brazil, also sponsored by a Brazilian Clothing company gave the trophy to the Champion, Alejo Muniz. Alfio talked about the first Hang Loose Pro Contest in 1986 at Praia da Joaquina in Florianopolis.
“We were young dreamers by then and had the opportunity to bring tan ASP event to Brazil, so we didn’t think twice and took the chance to make it,” said Alfio Lagnado. “It turned out to be so nice that we continued running it for the last 25 years. Most athletes competing here were not even born. Surfing in Brazil has grown a lot compared to those days, with so many wins with the Brazilian surfers competing as equals with the best surfers in the world.”
He also talked on the new Hang Loose Pro Contest champion, Alejo Muniz.
“I’m very excited to give this trophy to this young surfer here, who was one of my team surfers until two months ago. It’s a kid we know and took care of since he was a kid, really a very good boy. I hope he has all the success in his professional career, congratulations”, concluded Alfio Lagnado.
Then Alejo dedicated his win to his former Boss at the podium.
For highlights on the 2011 ASP PRIME Hang Loose Pro log on to http://www.hangloose.com.br/procontest2011/
Hang Loose Pro Final Result:
1 - Alejo Muniz (BRA) 13.00 points
2 - Dion Atkinson (AUS) 7.14 points
Hang Loose Pro Semifinals Results:
SF 1: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 12.77 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 12.26
SF 2: Dion Atkinson (AUS) 10.73 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 9.17
Hang Loose Pro Quarterfinals Results:
QF 1: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 10.10 def. Masotashi Ohno (JPN) 5.83
QF 2: Travis Logie (ZAF) 13.67 x 10.20 Jihad Kohdr (BRA)
QF 3: Heitor Alves (BRA) 13.17 def. Hizunome Bettero (BRA) 10.50
QF 4: Dion Atkinson (AUS) 10.44 def. Shaun Joubert (ZAF) 10.06

South African Surfing's Next Gen - Shaun Joubert

Ok, so we have the World Number 2 in surfing and there can be no doubt that sooner or later Jordy is going to be Number 1. But what comes after, in fact, who comes after? In 2010 we had three surfers finish in the top 16 of the ASP World Junior Tour. Dale Staples finished in third giving him a massive boost for his campaign on the World Tour this year with top seeding in the ASP Prime 6 stars. Tied for 16th were Shaun Joubert and Chad Du Toit.

Shaun mixes Power and Flair. (Photo: SJ)

Having watched Shaun surf for many years in and around the Southern Cape, I have always admired his surfing. Even as a Grom he wanted to put his board on a rail, a trait of old school power surfing that any potential world champion is going to need. Mixed with this is the ability to throw down new school, progressive tricks and airs - an ability that all three of these juniors have in bucket loads. These are the next generation of World Tour campaigners. They are the guys who are going to be Jordy's support act in the next few years. I caught up with Shaun Joubert to get the lowdown on our Next Gen.

Carbo Loading? (Photo: SJ)

Kai) What is the vibe in Junior surfing right now?

Shaun) The vibe is amazing. Everyone is surfing so good, really progressive. Everyone is trying to out do each other. It’s really competitive, but in a good way. I’m really glad to be a part of it.

Kai) We only have 1 surfer on the World tour this year, yet we had 3 surfers in the top 16 of the junior world tour, with a few more in the top 100. Do you think this will turn around into more SA surfers on the pro tour soon?

Shaun) Definitely. I think our surfers are good enough to be on the World Tour. It is really hard to qualify, but I believe we have what it takes to make it on to the tour.

Kai) Your self, Dale Staples and Chad Du Toit all gave the junior tour a good go in 2010. Whats the plan for 2011?

Shaun) I am hitting the WQS full time, making a real push to be on the WCT. I’m really looking forward to it, because I will be traveling with Dale, he always pushes me to be better. I can’t wait for it to all to get started!

Kai) Is the local junior tour in good shape?

Shaun) It’s not really my place and I am not in the Juniors anymore, but it would be really nice if we have more events. Like Australia has 12 events or something, that’s why they are so prepared when they hit the WQS. It’s hard though, with surfing being so small in South Africa.

Kai) The local PST tour is in a shambles. What do you think needs to be done to save the local tour and improve our surfers chances overseas?

Shaun) That’s a hard one. I really don’t know. Like I said, surfing is small in South Africa, which makes it really hard. I reckon outside sponsors - massive companies like Coca-Cola, Vodacom and those companies need to get involved.

Kai) Can Jordy win the World Title in 2o11?

Shaun) For sure. He is my pick for the 2011 World Title. He surfs so good, wow. It would be amazing for him to win. I really hope he does. Him and Dane are on another level. He would be the sickest World Champ. I hope he does, seriously.

Kai) Your favorite surf spot and why?

Shaun) Kerammas in Bali, because when there is swell it’s the best barrel, and when it’s smaller it’s the funnest wave ever. It’s a Forehander's dream.

Thanks Shaun!

You can follow Shaun on his travels on Tour here - Shaun Joubert

A sick little surf video for you to check: