POLLOK BEACH, Nelson Mandela Bay, Eastern Cape (Sunday, September 15, 2024) - Anastasia Venter and Daniel Emslie won the World Surf League (WSL) Nelson Mandela Bay Pro Junior (JQS) 1,000 today in small and challenging conditions at Pollok Beach in Gqeberha. As the third and final stop for the 2024 season concluded, Lily Heny and Luke Thompson were crowned the WSL Africa Regional Junior winners for 2024.
Daniel Emslie Wins Nail-biting Final Against Good Friend
The men's final delivered all the excitement and nail-biting action that was expected from good friends Luke van Wyk (RSA) and Daniel Emslie (RSA). Emslie started off strong with a 6.00 (out of a possible 10), while Van Wyk was warming up with a few throwaway attempts. Emslie backed up his score with a 6.67 and jumped into the lead, but Van Wyk was on his heels with a great 7.17. He only needed a 5.50 to take the win, and found a good wave in the last few minutes of the heat. The tension was palpable but the score came in just 0.50 points short and Emslie took out the win.
"I'm over the moon, it's been a pretty crazy weekend," Emslie said. "It was a super fun final with my good mate, Luke. We went back and forth and he almost got me with that last ride, but I'm super stoked to take out the win. Thanks to my coach and family for all the support."
In the first Semifinal Joshua Myburgh (RSA) got a quick start to put the pressure on Van Wyk (RSA), but he wasn't deterred. Van Wyk quickly locked in two great rides back-to-back, scoring a 7.00 and 7.50 to take the lead and Myburgh couldn't catch up.
Two of the standout surfers of the event, Emslie and Levi Epenetos (RSA) came up against each other in the second Semifinal and showed how much they want to be in the Final, pushing each other right to the end. Emslie was on the ropes, but scored a buzzer-beater to secure a spot in the Final.
Anastasia Venter Wins First-Ever Pro Junior Title
South African women's surfing champion Anastasia Venter (RSA) came into this event knowing that she has a lot of work to do if she wants to qualify for the WSL World Junior Championships. With her mind set on this goal, Venter was on a roll from the start of the event. Venter won all her heats in a convincing fashion, but she had to overcome the challenge of WSL Africa Junior rankings leader Lily Heny (RSA) in the Final.
Heny, in her second JQS final, has enjoyed a very consistent run of results. After having to grind through a few tough heats at this event, Heny made sure to lock in the first score in the final. Venter responded with a better mid-range score, but quickly improved on this with a 5.33. Heny struggled to find better scoring opportunities, while Venter found the best wave of the heat and earned a 6.17 for a total of 11.50. Despite taking the lead, Venter stayed busy to ensure Heny didn't get a chance to take the win from her, and it played in her favour earning her first-ever JQS title.
"I was stoked to make the finals, because I knew I wasn't that high on the rankings," Venter reacted. "When I made it, I just told myself to go out there and surf my best, I tried to catch a lot of waves and get good scores. It was my first JQS final and to take out the win, I'm obviously very happy. It was a great event, thanks to everyone who made it happen."
In the women's Semifinals, Heny and Aimee de Preez (RSA) battled with the slow and small conditions and Heny once again had to work hard to get the win. Similarly in Venter's Semifinal heat against youngster Leah Lepront (RSA), there weren't a lot of opportunities at the start. In the final few minutes there were a flurry of waves and Venter got the best score of the heat to book a spot in the Final.
Lily Heny and Luke Thompson Win WSL Africa Regional Junior Titles
After the conclusion of the Nelson Mandela Bay Pro Junior, the WSL Africa Regional Junior winners were crowned. Lily Heny and Luke Thompson finished on top of the rankings and earned their ticket to compete against the best juniors in the world at the 2024 WSL World Junior Championships.
WSL Africa Regional Junior Rankings
Women:
1- Lily Heny
2- Anastasia Venter
3- LeahLepront
3- Louise Lepront
5- Adriel Wolmarans
Men
1- Luke Thompson
2- Daniel Emslie
2- Levi Epenetos
4- Luke van Wyk
5- Joshua Myburgh