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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 No7 – James Ribbink
Hailing from Durban and calling New Pier his homebreak, James had little choice but to be a top South African surfer. The son of one of the best all round watermen Jason Ribbink, James has grown up on the beach and witness to his dad surfing big waves, winning surf contests, surfing on longboards and towing into giant surf off The Mound.
Now with Jason coaching him and helping him along, James is turning into a force to be reckoned with in junior surfing in the country, and already has a string of victories under his belt.
James is a strong natural-footer (left foot forward) who performs well on right-handers. Growing up at new Pier, James surfs fast and dynamic on the right-handers and has experience, even at his young age, at surfing Seal Point.
James has not fallen into the trap of some other surfers growing at a predominantly right-breaking wave like New Pier. James is always keen to hunt the lefts in the bowl waves of Durban, and has developed a mature and quick backhand approach, which will see him in good stead as he starts to surf in various other locations around South Africa and the rest of the world no doubt.
James has some of the best sponsors looking after him. Channel Islands Surfboard, Oakley Eyewear and RVCA clothing, as well as Richmark Holdings.
While James at 10-years-old has little experience at the tactics of competitive surfing, no one at that age should be surfing tactical, and James prefers to let his surfing do the talking anyway. His approach to surfing tournaments is to get the good waves, and ride them to the best of his ability, without worrying too much about the other surfers in the water. It’s a pure approach that just lets his surfing do the talking. At the RVCA Junior Challenge 2014 James won the U10 as well as the U12 divisions, which saw him awarded with the Male Surfer Of The Event award. He is pushing hard, as he has some big shoes to fill.
Photo: Ian Thurtell
