by Greg
12. October 2010 07:28
Dale Staples really impressed me as I got to watch him first hand in the Oakley World Pro Junior held at Keramas and Changgu in Bali. This event had, in my opinion the highest level of junior surfing ever seen along with the best waves a Pro Junior event has been held in. These two combinations went hand in hand and Dale Staples attacked the tubes and performed the high scoring maneuvers like a man possessed!
In his round 4 heat against Granger Larson, I said to Dales Dad, Daryll that our South African Surfers need to be going all out in their heats as this is the new style of surfing heats. Dale was having a shocker in this particular heat and with 6 minutes to go, he threw down a huge air 360 followed by a couple of massive turns for an 8.67. He then still needed a score, and under Grangers Priority he belted a wave to the beach, not holding back for a 7.5 ride to win the heat! Daryll and I just smiled, as that is just what we were talking about! This was Dales contest to win as each heat he gained momentum, unfortunately in the dying seconds of the final he threaded a perfect tube that would have been the score to win but the lip caught him at the end and he fell having to settle with second place as Australian Jack Freestone took the win! Very well done Dale!
On the World Title Tour the surfers are currently competing in Peniche, Portugal at the Rip Curl Pro Portugal. Kelly Slater and South Africa’s Jordy Smith did the Job today in round 2 to keep their title fight alive and healthy. The surfer of the day was Travis Logie who Smashed Dane Reynolds! Travis has been off form and it was great to see how busy he was that Dane did not stand a chance against Travis!
This week the South African Open team will be traveling to Peru for the ISA World Surfing Games. I am proud to say I am captain of the team and I can tell you that this is one tight amped unit that wants to bring back gold more than ever!
Greg Emslie
Pictured: Billabong team rider Dale Staples threads his way through a throaty barrel at Keramas in Bali on his way to a runner-up finish in the Oakley ASP World Pro Junior
Photo: ASP / Robertson