Over 120 international surfers have entered the 2012 Billabong Pro J-Bay, and the event has a full house of 144 entries. Thirteen of the top 32 surfers in the world have entered, as well as the majority of South Africa's top competitors.

International surfers include the likes of John John Florence, Kolohe Andino, Adam Melling and Mark Occhilupo who won the event back in 1984, as well as Adriano de Souza and the Hobgood brothers CJ and Damien.

The local contingent includes seasoned campaigner Travis Logie, two times and defending champion Jordy Smith, as well as South African stalwarts Royden Bryson and Davey Weare.

"I'm totally pumped to surf Supers in an event again," said Davey. "I love the wave, and spent so much time surfing there when I was growing up. The last time I surfed an event at Supers was a WCT event in 2009. I haven't been competing that much this year, but the Billabong Pro J-Bay will be my third event for the year, so I am hoping for a big result."

ASP Africa Operations Manager Colin Fitch was excited about the entries into the event.

"One hundred and sixty five surfers wanting to be at the 2012 Billabong Pro J-Bay is awesome," said Colin, when entries closed last night. "Who would have believed the response we have got from professional surfers around the globe. Some are willing to be here just to surf the one event. There are 125 International and 40 South Africans wanting to surf one of the best 10 surf breaks in the world."

There is however, a limit to the number of surfers who can compete in the event.

"With the field set at 144 there will be 21 surfers who may have to sit and watch the event from the beach," added Fitch. "I hope J-Bay is ready to host the biggest contingent of international surfers ever witnessed in the town since professional competitive surfing started here in 1981."

Colin's role in ASP Africa sees him able to objectively compare similar such events around the world, and he added, "This may just be the most successful 6 Star Men's event on the 2012 ASP World Tour."

The Billabong Pro J-Bay is set to run 10-15 July and is a 6 Star Men's event on the ASP World Tour.

Occy’s Grom Comp is one of the world’s premier junior surfing events and is notorious for entries filling fast. Surfing Queensland encourages participants and their parents to get their entry in as early as possible, paying careful attention to details including age-divisions e.g. Boys 16 & Under can turn 16-years-old in 2012.

Location: Gold Coast, QLD

Date: Sat 30-Jun-2012 to Wed 4-Jul-2012

Entry Opening Date: Thu 1-Mar-2012

Entry Closing Date: Thu 28-Jun-2012

Condition: Divisions 16 and under = born 1996 or after // 14 and under = born 1998 or after // 12 and under = born 2000 or after...

The opening day of the inaugural event, saw historic match-ups between six former world champions, who all drew clean lines across the reef break waves as they showcased the single fin surfing style of the 1960’s and 1970’s. Despite the nostalgia, passions ran high amongst the sensational six surfers who own an impressive 20 world titles between them.

Occhilupo, 45, dominated the final with his trademark backhand top to bottom turns to leave seven-time world champion Beachley, 39, requiring a near perfect 9.57 on the final siren. ‘Occy’ who posted his first win since his 2001 Mentawai Islands, Indonesia victory, admitted to a few nerves about taking on Beachley in the final.

“I felt pressure for sure,” said Occhilupo.

“Layne beat Damien (Hardman) in the semis and she was surfing great on that single fin. She got a couple of good waves in the final too, but I was lucky to get the better ones,” said Occhiupo.

The 1999 world champion, who travelled into the Maldives fresh from commentating at the Billabong Pro Tahiti, said the win capped off an incredible week of surfing.

“It really has been the BEST couple weeks I have ever had,” said Occhilupo.

“My last surf before the Maldives was in 8 to 10ft Chopes. Then to come straight to the Maldives and win the single fin event when I haven’t surfed on a single fin in about 25 years is just incredible.

“I’m so stoked my shaper Jason Stephenson ‘JS’ shaped me a really good board. I’m ecstatic right now and feel primed to take out the entire event,” added Occhilupo.

Lone female competitor Beachley, proved she was not to be underestimated in the class field, finishing second overall and causing the elimination of two time world champion Hardman in a close fought semi-final.

“It was such a pleasure to be competing against my idols,” said a gracious Beachley. “The only female in an all male crew and to make the final against Occy was just awesome, he is one of my heroes.”

“I just hope Dooma (Damien Hardman) talks to me at dinner tonight,” joked Beachley.

In the second semi Occhilupo eliminated 2006 world longboard champion Josh Constable (Noosa, Aus), 30, after a tight tussle in a wave-challenged semi. Constable was holding priority in the dying minutes and only required an achievable six-point ride to advance, but poor positioning robbed him of the opportunity.

“It’s a buma,” said Constable.

“I thought I was placed well strategically in the heat but I paddled too far up the point. Occy got the wave and the win.

“But still it was such an honour to surf a heat with Occy and I borrowed MR’s board. So that was really cool.”

Surfing icons Mark Richards (Newcastle, Aus) and Nat Young (Angourie, Aus) were both unlucky to lose in their opening heats despite impressing all with their performances. Both legends will be out for better results in the remaining two divisions in the Four Seasons Resorts Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy of Twins Fins and Thrusters.

Occhilupo is in awe of both surfers stating:

“This morning I surfed with Mark Richards and I kept on falling off in front of him and he said ‘I’m hexing you’ but it was the pressure of competing against my idol. I never got to compete with Nat Young today but he is the soul master and still ripping” said Occhilupo.

The right hand coral reef break of Sultan’s Point is located just off the luxurious five star Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa where all competitors have been living the high life. The unique tournament conceived in conjunction with luxury surf pioneers Tropicsurf was run from the three-deck, thirty-nine metre Four Seasons Explorer luxury catamaran.

Only two days are required to finalise competition and conditions will be accessed tomorrow morning in the Maldives with an official call to be made at 8:00 am local time as to whether the Twin Fin division will be staged,

Four Seasons Resorts Maldives wish to thank its kind co-sponsors of the 2011 Surfing Champions Trophy; HSBC, Billabong, Wataniya Telecom Maldives, Surfing World and Singapore Airlines.

Four Seasons Surfing Champions Trophy Single Fin Division Results:

Final: Mark Occhiupo (Aus) 15.66 def Layne Beachley 11.67

Semi Final 1
Layne Beachley (Aus) 14.23 def Damien Hardman (Aus) 14.00

Semi Final 2
Mark Occhilupo 14.07 def Josh Constable (Aus) 10.84

Round 1 Heat 1
1st Damien Hardman; 2nd Josh Constable; 3rd Mark Richards (Aus)

Round 1 Heat 2
1st: Mark Occhilupo: 2nd Layne Beachley: 3rd Nat Young (Aus)