Grand finals for surfer girls

National junior surfing champions Rosanne Hodge, Stacey Guy and Nikita Robb have been tipped to win the Roxy Surf Jam grand final crown at New Pier this weekend.

East London's Hodge, the reigning South African under-18 and under-20 champion, Guy (Melkbosstrand) and Robb (EL) have won the premier division (under-20) at previous Surf Jam contests.

However, the out-of-towners will face stiff competition from top local contenders Tammy Lee Smith (Salt Rock), Nicole Annells, Kate Goldreich (Glenwood), Amber Kilfoil (Bluff), Julia Morris (Scottburgh) and top juniors Heidi Palmboom, Sarah Baum and Puvashnee Nydoo.

Former Durbanites Sarah and Kate Matthews (Cape St Francis) are top contenders in the under-18 division, but 12-year-old rising star Holly Armstrong (Kommetjie), who will be competing in the under- 14 and under-18 divisions, is expected to give the experienced campaigners a run for their money.

The Roxy Surf Jam series made stops in Durban, St Michael's, St Francis and Cape Town, with the intention of uncovering female junior surfing talent and providing up-and-coming girls the chance to compete against more established surfers. The contest caters exclusively for girls in the under - 14, 16, 18 and 20 divisions and offers R20 000 prize-money for this weekend's grand finals. The girls will take to the water at 8am tomorrow when they will compete in four-person heats.

The finals will start at 12.30pm on Sunday, and the prizegiving has been scheduled for 2pm.