VonZipper, your favourite sunglass company and all round nice people, is proud to announce the stellar line-up of local and international contenders who make up the field for the 2009 VonZipper Wildcard Trials.
This year the 12 VZ trialists are made up of seven South Africans and five internationals with three coveted Wildcard slots at stake into the 2009 Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay, Africa’s only ASP World Tour event.
The six previously announced VonZipper selected locals are 2008 SA Champion Shaun Payne and fellow St Francis Bay standout Dale Staples; Pro Surf Tour champion Devyn Mattheys (East London); Pro Junior star Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay); former Capetonian and current WQS No. 46 Damien Fahrenfort and uber-wildcard Sean Holmes (Cape Town).
They will be joined by Ryan Payne, elder brother of Shaun and the winner of the inaugural Xcel Supertubes Showdown which was completed in outstanding 1.5 to two metre surf at Supers on Saturday.
The international line-up includes three Hawaiians and two Aussies with the Aloha State represented by Granger Larsen, Torrey Meister and rising superstar Keanu Asing – the reigning ISA World U/16 champion – while highly rated Wade Goodall and Heath Joske are from down-under.
Traditionally held on the first day the Billabong Pro, which runs from 9-19 July this year, the VZ Trials consist of three heats of four surfers each with the victor in each heat awarded a coveted wildcard. The wildcard winners advance directly into Round 1 of the Billabong Pro where they get the opportunity to take on the world’s top 45 ranked surfers at the legendary break of Supertubes.
The draw for the three heats in the 2009 VonZipper Wildcard Trials will be announced shortly - stay tuned.
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