LW Mag LW Magazine
Related Articles
In this quick series we’re going to introduce you to a selection of top South African junior surfers who are set to compete in the Billabong Junior Series Grand Finale at Seal Point in Cape St Francis. The event is set to take place over the long weekend of 25 – 27 September.
Surfer Profile No2 – Crystal Hulett
Hailing from St Francis Bay from a surfing family, Crystal had no choice but to become a surfer, and to become good at it. Living in St Francis Bay in close proximity to Bruces Beauties, Hulett’s Reef (named after Crystal’s grandfather, Leighton Hulett) as well as Seal Point and the famous Seal Point Beachie, it is inevitable that she would become skilled at riding waves on whatever craft she chose. Luckily for all of us she chose shortboarding. Her dad, Neville, has taken to Stand Up Paddleboarding after a number of injuries made it difficult to surf normal boards.
Crystal has a number of good results behind her, and is no stranger to the podium. She has proven herself time and again at Seal Point, a wave that she is totally at home with. Crystal knows the little tricks of Seals, the idiosyncrasies of the break, and most importantly, the waves to avoid. At a point break, choosing the wrong wave could well be the difference between advancing and being eliminated from an event.
Crystal is also a natural-footer (left leg forward) and is on her forehand at Seal Point. As with many surfers in the right-hand point-break land of the Eastern Cape, she has an exceptionally strong forehand attack, and will not be daunted by any sized waves at Seals, nor any of the competitors. She will be in it to win it, and to impress all of her friends and family from the area.
The last time Crystal Hulett surfed in a Billabong Junior Series event at Seal Point she made the final in two divisions. She put on a strong performance in the U16 finals but was eventually pushed into second place by Ruth Armstrong from Kommetjie. Then she went on to compete in the ultra-competitive Pro Junior Women’s Final, but the double – final proved a bit strenuous for her, and she only managed a fourth place. Still, it was a very tired and stoked Crystal who emerged from two finals in one event, and no one can take that away from her.
This year she is definitely one of the favourites for the Pro Junior U20 division, and is sure to impress all with her fast surfing.
