Mr Price South Africa Open Results
The sixth edition of the Mr Price South Africa Open surfing championships took place at Nahoon Reef in East London this past weekend with more than 50 of South Africa’s professional surfers turning up to compete.
Surfers were protected by three battery operated shark shield devices which were attached to buoys at the backline of Nahoon Reef. Local Lifeguards replaced the Shark Shield batteries every four hours which means that the electronic force field produced by these devices were in place during every heat. The devices were not used because there was any threat of shark activity during the event, but merely as added protection. According to a report on Global Surf News, Surfing South Africa plans to use these devices during sanctioned events at appropriate surf spots around the country in the future.
With the added protection in place, the surfers were free to focus on delivering their best performances. Focus and a home surf advantage and therefore intimate knowledge of the Nahoon Reef certainly seemed to pay off for Wayne Monk. The 40-year old former two time South African champion rose to victory, blowing younger competitors such as fellow East Londoner Clinton Gravett, Klee Strachan of Winkelspruit and Gary Van Wieringen (Scottburgh) out of the water to clinch his first Pro Surf Tour title.
Klee Strachan grabbed his chance at victory during the under 20 junior division rounds. The former Capetonian surged to victory ahead of Nick Godfrey from Cape St Francis, Jaco Steyn of Melkbosstrand and Chris Leppan of Umhlanga.
The women’s division title went to talented teen Bianca Buitendag of George. She beat current SA Champion Heather Clark of Port Shepstone, Chantelle Rautenbach of Melkbos and Tarryn Chudleigh, who came fourth.
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Island Girl Takes Roxy Invitational in Mozambique
The third annual Roxy Invitational wrapped up at Ponta d’Ouro in Mozambique this past weekend and the only two non-South Africans in the event finished first and third.
Reunion’s Canelle Bulard surfed away with the title and the R10 000 first prize money. The 15-year old island girl beat Durban’s Sarah Baum (also 15). Johanne Defay, the other competitor from Reunion, finished in third place.
Canelle came to the Roxy shortly after finishing in sixth place at the recent Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships in Ecuador.
“I am so happy to have won such an amazing contest,” Canelle said during the prize-giving ceremony. “This has been such a great contest and the waves have been amazing, I really love Mozambique now.”
The Roxy Invitational is presented by Saltwater Girl Magazine, in association with Virgin Mobile and Resolution.
SEMI-FINAL RESULTS:
Semi-Final 1:
Johanne Defay (Reunion) defeated Alice MacGregor (East London)
Semi-Final 2:
Sarah Baum (Durban) defeated Bianca Buitendag (George)
Semi-Final 3:
Canelle Bulard (Reunion) defeated Kirsty Delport (Durban)
FINAL RESULTS:
1. Canelle Bulard (18.75)
2. Sarah Baum (17.65)
3. Johanne Defay (9.8)
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SA Chicks Surfing at Roxy Invitational in Mozambique
Ten of South Africa’s hottest young female surfers are currently battling it out at the Roxy Invitational 2009 event in Ponto d’Oura in Mozambique.
The event, in which prize money of R15 000 is up for grabs, has been turned into a truly international contest with the inclusion of two surfers from the island nation of Reunion, Johanne Defay and Canelle Bullard. The week-long contest kicked off on Monday, the 4th of May 2009 and will continue until next Monday.
In attendance is the reigning champion, Port Shepstone’s Heather Clark. She is vying for the winner’s pot of R10 000 against the likes of 2009 Roxy Wahine Cup winner Tarryn Chudleigh from Cape Town, and East London girls Nikita Robb and Alice MacGregor.
Competitors also include SA junior surfing team members Kirsty Delport (Durban), Tanika Hoffman (Cape Town), Bianca Buitendag (George) and Durbanite Sarah Baum, who is fresh from her victory at the Oakley Pro Junior that took place in Port Alfred over the weekend.
Faye Zoetmulder (Port Elizabeth) and Tasha Mentasti (Durban) are also competing.
For more information, visit http://www.roxy.co.za/invitational
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Surfers Honoured At SA Surfing Awards
Wetsuits were exchanged for more formal wear at the third annual South African Surfing Awards.
The event, proudly presented by Zigzag Magazine in association with Paarl Web, took place at Suncoast Casino in Durban last Saturday night, 25 April 2009.
Local legend and big wave rider Grant “Twiggy” Baker walked away with the evening’s most prestigious award, Surfer of the Year, which looks to recognise the surfer who exceeded all surfing expectations in the twelve months gone by.
Baker scooped top honours for his undeniable rise to the forefront of big wave surfing across the globe after winning the 2008 Red Bull Big Wave Africa and a Billabong XXL Award for the largest wave ridden in the last 12 months.
” 2008 was a phenomenal year. I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, but this evening and this award all starts here, with being a South African surfer. We owe everything we have to the SA surf legends who are here tonight, and i want to pay tribute to them. But most of all, this award goes to all the surfers in South Africa. Thank you, it’s an honour.” said winner Twiggy.
Other awards of the evening included :
1. Pro Junior Champ 2008 : Bianca Buitendag (George)
2. Pro Junior Champ 2008: Klee Strachan (Amanzimtoti)
3. PST Champ 2008: Tammy Lee Smith (Ballito)
4. PST Champ 2008: Devyn Mattheys (East London)
5. ASP Africa Pro Junior Champ 2008: (Amanzimtoti)
6. ASP Africa Champ: David Weare (Durban North)
7. Blowing Up Performer: Dale Staples (St Francis Bay)
8. Contribution to surfing: Louis Wulff (East London)
9. Photographer of the Year: Alan Van Gysen (Cape Town)
10. Pushing The Boundaries: Red Bull Big Wave Africa
11. World Tour Qualifier: Roseanne Hodge (East London)
12. World Tour Qualifier: Jordy Smith (Durban)
13. World Tour Qualifier: David Weare (Durban North)
14. World Tour Qualifier: Greg Emslie (East London)
Will Bendix, editor of Zigzag, comments; “We’re honoured and extremely stoked to be able to host an evening like this that pays homage to the rich culture and legacy of South African surfing. And as you can see, there’s a lot to celebrate. It’s just an awesome reminder of how lucky we are to be surfers in this country.”
Highlights of the evening included the induction of surfing legends into the Hall of Fame, which honoured an elite group of surfers who have paved the way for South African Surfing. Current members include Max Wetteland, Mike Larmont, Spider Murphy, Graham Hynes and Shaun Tomson amongst others. The new inductees announced on the evening were Errol Hickman, and Michael Ginsburg.
1989 World Champion and surfing legend Martin “Pottz” Potter was guest speaker. When the awards ended, 1st Project went on to being the roof down with their phenomenal drumming act to round off an epic evening.
Be sure to get your June/July edition of Zigzag to check out all the latest surfing news and highlights of the awards.
Picture Courtesy of Al Nicoll
Story source: Rox-ann Govender, Olivia Jones Communications
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Oxbow South African Longboard Championships 2009
The Oxbow 2009 South African Longboard Championships ended on a literal high point this past weekend.
Excellent head high waves marked the finals which took place at The Point at Jeffrey’s Bay on Saturday.
The home team from the host province, Eastern Province, clinched the coveted team title by beating defending champions Western Province by quite a large margin. Newcomers Southern Cape took the impressive third place and KwaZulu-Natal came fourth overall.
On the individual side, the premier Open Men’s division saw a new champion being crowned when Justin Bing from the Western Province – who was the junior champion last year, beat a trio of Eastern Province competitors: Michael Hill, 2006 Open champion Dylan McLeod and Ludie du Toit.
Despite suffering a serious and shockingly unexpected stroke earlier this year – which almost cost him his life – defending champion and two-time ISA World Longboard champion Matthew Moir (Southern Cape), remarkably managed to reach the semi-finals before being eliminated. The 31-year old Moir has astonished everyone with his swift recovery and return to the surf.
Eastern Province’s Steven Sawyer and Phillipa Hill managed to successfully defend their 2008 titles (boys’ and senior women’s respectively). Other Eastern Province riders who won are Greg Smith (Senior Men) and John McLeod (Super Legends).
Apart from Justin Bing’s victory, the Western Province also produced 2009 SA champions in Simone Robb (Open Women), her husband Alan Robb (Grandmasters) and Mark Hoyle (Veterans), while KwaZulu-Natal delivered SA champions in Scott Lefevre (Juniors), Brad Weare (Masters), Hugh Thompson (Super Vets) and Mike Larmont (Legends).
The Southern Cape’s sole individual title went to Bianca Buitendag in the Girls division.
The full results are:
Team Standings
1. Eastern Province 137 780
2. Western Province 121 200
3. Southern Cape 109 290
4. Kwazulu-Natal 93 400
Open Men
1. Justin Bing (WP)
2. Michael Hill (EP)
3. Dylan McLeod (EP)
4. Ludie du Toit (EP)
Open Women
1. Simone Robb (WP)
2. Michelle Hill (EP)
3. Bianca Buitendag (SC)
4. Roxy Towill (SC)
Junior Men (16-18 years)
1. Scott Lefevre (KZN)
2. Saul Bernstein (EP)
3. Grant Beck (EP)
4. Aaran Simmons (EP)
Masters (31-35)
1. Brad Weare (KZN)
2. Greg Heasley (EP)
3. Ryan Anderson (EP)
4. Michael Grendon (WP)
Grandmasters (36-40)
1. Alan Robb (WP)
2. Craig Cuff (EP)
3. Glen Thompson (SC)
4. Tim Ball (WP)
Senior Men (41-45)
1. Greg Smith (EP)
2. David Stubbs (WP)
3. Craig van Greunen (EP)
4. Deon Bing (WP)
Veterans (46-50)
1. Mark Hoyle (WP)
2. Steven Hair (SC)
3. Fred Le Roux (KZN)
4. Andrew Lenton (EP)
Super Vets (51-55)
1. Hugh Thompson (KZN)
2. Des Sawyer (EP)
3. G.Byram (WP)
4. Gavin Seaman (EP)
Legends (56-60)
1. Mike Larmont (KZN)
2. Greg Stokes (WP)
3. Ken Saddington (KZN)
4. Mush Hide (EP)
Super Legends (61 and over)
1. John McLeod (EP)
2. Mike Patterson (KZN)
3. Mike Hornsey (SC)
4. Terry Dean (SC)
Boys (15 and younger)
1. Steven Sawyer (EP)
2. Daniel Buitendag (SC)
3. Chaim Simmons (EP)
4. Galad Smith (EP)
Girls (15 and younger)
1. Bianca Buitendag (SC
2. Faye Zoetmulder (EP)
3. Jessie Goodman (WP)
4. Tess Saunders (SC)
Senior Women (35 and over)
1. Phillipa Hill (EP)
2. Bernie Shelley (WP)
3. Margot Sanders (EP)
4. Therese Russell (WP)
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