January 4, 1991 // St. Francis Bay, South Africa
Synopsis: Dale Staples came from nowhere to win the boys Grom Search Final at Bells Beach in 2008–a move that legitimized his presence on the international stage. He also won the Billabong Challenge, a five-day experimental freesurfing event in South Africa.
Variables: Dale has proven that he has the requisite mix of freesurfing ability and contest savvy, but the question is: Can he perform in front of the camera and raise his international profile?
Forecast: Sources in South Africa say that this kid’s “X-factor” is through the roof and his ability to turn it on in pressure situations, coupled with high-flying freesurfing antics, make him the next big thing to come out of South Africa.