Media Release. 25 February 2010. Mossel Bay Tourism.

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Proud Mossel Bay Proud of Young Surfing Star Shaun Joubert

Eighteen year old Shaun Joubert – a Mossel Bay resident and rising star on the international Pro Junior Surfing Tour – is in Hawaii right now, riding epic waves with a bunch of other youngsters from around the world under the direction of Billabong Australia’s international marketing manager (and the company’s international junior team manger), Sasha Stocker.

“He’s working towards getting into the WQS (World Qualifying Series) and, eventually, into the WCT (Association of Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour),” said his mother, Minette.

“He’s been in Australia since the middle of January, but Billabong have now taken them over to Hawaii for a training camp while the big WCT Snapper Rocks contest is under way.

“He told us they’re having the best swell, and the surf’s been pumping.”

South Africa’s 2009 surfing champion, Llewellyn Whittaker – who grew up in Mossel Bay, went on to surf both the WQS and the British Tour (in which he took the Triple Crown Championship in 2007), and now owns the Waves School of Surfing and manages its Schools Club development programme – said that Shaun was an example of how sport, mixed with determination and dedication, can help young people to create significant opportunities for themselves.

“In Shaun’s own way he came from humble beginnings, because he was born and bred inland, and he only came to live in Mossel Bay and started surfing when he was nine – which is late by many children’s standards,” said Mr. Whittaker.

“But we have such fantastic waves in this area, and just as it opened up opportunities for me, Mossel Bay has opened up opportunities for Shaun – and he’s taken them and turned them into a promising career as a professional sportsman.”

Ms. Joubert (a neurosurgeon) said that she and her husband, Anton (a medical scientist), are adamant that Shaun should have a complete education, and that he had matriculated from Point High School last year.

“It’s hard earning a living as a sportsman, especially because you rely on your body for your success, so it’s worthwhile investing in a good education.

“The school was very supportive, and always helped him along, even though he was often away on tour for months on end.

“But they also made him feel very special: he represented South Africa four times in a row as a junior, and when all the children had to wear their school blazers on Tuesdays, the school asked him – and one or two others who also had national colours – to wear their Springbok blazers instead.

“I promise you, he wore that blazer with a huge smile! He said that making the SA Junior team was one of the best things he’s ever done.”

Shaun – who took a bronze medal in the Under-16 division at the world championships in Brazil two years ago, and came third in the Oakley Global Challenge in 2008 – is now sponsored by major international surf brands Billabong, Oakley, Dakine, Reef Brazil, Nixon Watches and Future Finns. He is also an accomplished photographer (a passion he shares with his father), and a more than competent journalist and blogger (see his interview with Seth Hulley, the manager of the Oakley Australia team, here).

“We’re very excited about Shaun’s success because he’s a real role model for the kids who are taking part in the Schools Club programme, which is one of the development projects we’ve sponsored,” said Mossel Bay Tourism’s Marcia Holm.

She explained that Mossel Bay Tourism’s support for sport was based on the conviction that it can be both a positive influence in young people’s lives, and an important driver of tourism for the town.

“Mossel Bay is an important beach holiday destination, and the beach means surfing to many people, so just by succeeding the way he has, Shaun has brought attention to the town. And for that, we’re both proud and grateful,” she said.

“For now,” said Ms. Joubert, “he’s doing something he really loves in many beautiful places all around the world.

“These are memories he’ll treasure forever.”

Watch The Waves School of Surfing’s video about Shaun Joubert at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-58glt2cMM. School children who want to learn can to surf can join Schools Club (which is open to all) for free tuition on Thursday afternoons at Diaz Beach – weather permitting. Locations change according to conditions, so all participants are encouraged to place their names on the club’s sms database to receive confirmation of arrangements. Contact Llewellyn Whitaker on 078 297 3999

ENDS 767 WORDS

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Tags: llewelyn whittaker, mossel bay, shaun joubert, surfing