Bianca Takes Surf Kids to World Champs

Bianca Buitendag, pictured at the final of the four Billabong Girls Get Out There Surf series in Scottburgh, will lead the Junior SA Girls team to the ISA World Champs, in France later this year.

Surfing South Africa has announced that Bianca Buitendag leads the girls to represent South Africa at the 2008 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Championships in France from May 26 to June 2, with Tarryn Chudleigh, Chantelle Rautenbach and Sarah Baum completing the team, and Alice McGregor named as the official non-traveling reserve.

After winning seven of her eight heats in the recent national selection trials, Bianca Buitendag of Southern Cape heads the Under 18 girls group which includes current South African Under 18 Champion Tarryn Chudleigh of Western Province, Chantelle Rautenbach of Boland and Sarah Baum of KZN. Alice Mc Gregor of Border is the official non traveling reserve.

The talented duo of Buitendag and Baum are new caps while Chudleigh, who was seventh in the ISA World Junior Championships in Portugal last year as well as the consistent Rautenbach, will represent the country for the fourth year in a row.

The team, which is supported by funding from the National Lotteries Board, will be accompanied by SSA Coaching Director Howard Gold, and fellow coach Clayton Nienaber. Technical assistance will be provided by former South African team coach Kevin Olsen, who is based in France. Pax Nydoo, Roxy Towill and Etienne Venter are the Team Managment.

The U18 Boys to accompany the girls include Chad du Toit, Shaun Joubert, Nicky Godfreyand Matthew Bromley, with Shawn Dennis included as reserve surfer for the boys team. The SA Junior Team will participate in three official training camps at the Sports Science Institute in Cape Town prior to departing for Seignosse, France in mid-May.

On arrival in Seignosse the team will prepare for the World Championships by competing in the traditional Lotto SANZ Challenge against New Zealand. This event has the teams surfing for a special trophy made from unique New Zealand semi-precious stone and  South African yellow wood. The trophy was first presented in Durban in 2003 and is currently held by New Zealand.

The 2008 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Championships involves over 30 countries from five continents and determines the World Junior Team Champions, the World Junior ISA Tag Team Champions and medalists in the Under 18 Boys and Girls and Under 16 Boys Divisions.