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Renowned for its iconic waves, Jeffreys Bay is undisputedly considered to be the Mecca of South African surfing.

So it’s a bit ironic that small surf was the cause for a lay day being called at the Billabong Pro surfing championship. The event, the fifth of ten on the 2009 ASP World Tour, has been delayed until tomorrow morning – when conditions will be reassessed – due to this morning’s small two-to-three (one metre) waves.

According to Mike Parsons, Billabong Pro Contest Director, the swell models they’ve been tracking have moved a bit south, with improving swell models giving them an optimistic outlook that they’ll have bigger waves as early as tomorrow.

Yesterday, at the completion of the VonZipper Trials, local Devyn Matthews won his heat, earning himself a wildcard berth into the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay. Other South Africans who also received wildcards are Shaun Holmes and Ryan Payne.

Once the conditions improve, the first round match-ups look as follows:

Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Tim Boal (FRA), Michael Picon (FRA)

Heat 2: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Jay Thompson (AUS), Nathaniel Curran (USA)

Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA), Josh Kerr (AUS), Nic Muscroft (AUS)

Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), Phillip MacDonald (AUS)

Heat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Dean Morrison (AUS), Marlon Lipke (DEU)

Heat 6: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Chris Ward (USA), TBA

Heat 7: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Dustin Barca (HAW), TBA

Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), TBA

Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS), Tim Reyes (USA), TBA

Heat 10: Kelly Slater (USA), Dayyan Neve (AUS), TBA

Heat 11: Damien Hobgood (USA), Heitor Alves (BRA), Greg Emslie (ZAF)

Heat 12: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Chris Davidson (AUS), David Weare (ZAF)

Heat 13: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Aritz Aranburu (EUK), Michel Bourez (PYF)

Heat 14: Taylor Knox (USA), Jihad Khodr (BRA), Roy Powers (HAW)

Heat 15: Mick Campbell (AUS), Tiago Pires (PRT), Ben Dunn (AUS)

Heat 16: Kieren Perrow (AUS), Dane Reynolds (USA), Drew Courtney (AUS)

Tags: 2009 ASP World Tour, Adriano de Souza, Aritz Aranburu, Bede Durbidge, Ben Dunn, Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay, Bobby Martinez, C.J. Hobgood, Chris Davidson, Chris Ward, Damien Hobgood, Dane Reynolds, David Weare, Dayyan Neve, Dean Morrison, Devyn Matthews, Drew Courtney, Dustin Barca, Frederick Patacchia, Greg Emslie, Heitor Alves, Jay Thompson, Jeremy Flores, Jihad Khodr, Joel Parkinson, Jordy Smith, Josh Kerr, Kai Otton, Kekoa Bacalso, Kelly Slater, Kieren Perrow, Marlon Lipke, Michael Picon, Michel Bourez, Mick Fanning, Mike Parsons, Nathaniel Curran, Nic Muscroft, Nick Campbell, Phillip MacDonald, Roy Powers, Ryan Payne, Shaun Holmes, Surfing South Africa, Taj Burrow, Taylor Knox, Tiago Pires, Tim Boal, Tim Reyes, Tom Whitaker
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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

Tags: Alan van Gysen, Bianca Buitendag, Dale Staples, David Weare, Devyn Mattheys, Errol Hickman, Graham Hynes, Grant "Twiggy" Baker, Greg Emslie, Jordy Smith, Klee Strachan, Louis Wulff, Martin "Pottz" Potter, Max Wetteland, Michael Ginsburg, Mike Larmont, Roseanne Hodge, Shaun Tomson, South African Surfing, South African Surfing Awards, Spider Murphy, Tammy Lee Smith, Will Bendix, Zigzag Magazine
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Only three local surfers have advanced to participate in the next round at the 2009 Quiksilver Pro at Durban’s New Pier.

Travis Logie, one of the favourites in the competition, advanced to the next round by winning his heat yesterday morning.

The only other South African surfer to win his heat was Cape Town’s Royden Bryson.

“There were actually some fun waves out there, and I really enjoyed surfing in my heat,” said Logie after leaving the water. “It was quite inconsistent out there and I was in two minds if I should sit and wait for the good ones or just get some scores under my belt. In the end, I decided to just take off on anything half decent and went for the big turn option, and it seemed to pay off.”

The last South African to qualify to the next round yesterday was Durban’s Chad du Toit.  He placed second behind Logie to move in to the next round.

By far the biggest unpleasant surprise of the day was the elimination of reigning champion David Weare of Durban, who lost out to Tahiti’s Alain Riou and Hawaiians Jesse Merle-Jones and Mason Ho.

“I’m really bummed to be out of the event,” a clearly disappointed Weare said. “I really wanted to defend my title and I blew two waves that could have put me one step closer to it. I think I just too the wrong option going for that aerial on the second wave and it cost me. I blew a wave and lost a heat.”

Weare’s bitter disappointment is understandable. This event, which pits 136 of the world’s best surfers against each other, carries the highest possible ASP WQS rating as well as a very generous US$145 000 in prize money, with the winner pocketing US$20 000 as well as wracking up 3 500 ASP WQS ratings points.

Day 3 of the event is underway with the following South Africans surfing their heats today: Greg Emslie, Rudy Palmboom, Brandon Jackson, Manfred Adrio, Haydn Mac Nicol, David Richards, Paul Canning, Ricky Basnett, Daniel Redman, Kyle Lane, Keegan Nel, Shane Thorne, Antonio Bortoletto, Kyle Beach, Beyrick de Vries and Casey Grant.

Good luck, guys!

Tags: 2009 Quiksilver Pro, Alain Riou, Antonio Bortoletto, ASP WQS Rating, Beyrick de Vries, Brandon Jackson, Casey Grant, Chad du Toit, Daniel Redman, David Richards, David Weare, Durban, Greg Emslie, Haydn Mac Nicol, Jesse Merle-Jones, Keegan Nel, Kyle Beach, Kyle Lane, Manfred Adrio, Mason Ho, Paul Canning, Ricky Basnett, Royden Bryson, Rudy Palmboom, Shane Thorne, south africa, South African surfers, Surfing Championships, Travis Logie
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South African surfer Jordy Smith continued his run in the Rip Curls Bells Beach Pro presented by Snickers in Victoria, Australia, yesterday when he defeated Damien Hobgood of the USA in waves described as “inconsistent but near perfect two metre[s]” to advance to the third round of this second stop on the 2009 ASP World Tour.

Despite seven lay days since his dominant performance in Round 1 and despite a minor back complaint, the 21-year old Durbanite managed to record scores of 7.50 and 5.50 to beat Hobgood.

“I think there were only three sets all heat and luckily I got two of them,” Smith said after only riding a total of three waves in the 30 minute heat. “I feel lucky to get through to the next round. When I woke up this morning it looked really good and I’m sure throughout the day the waves are just going to get better.”

In the third round, Smith will be pitted against giant-killer and wildcard, 19-year old Australian Owen Wright. Wright caused a huge upset when he beat nine-time ASP World Champion and defending Rip Curl Pro Champion, Kelly Slater. Wright handed the American surfing legend his second successive 17th place finish and increased the pressure on Slater’s bid for an unprecedented 10th world title.

Smith’s fellow Durbanite, David Weare – who is the only other South African still in the event after Greg Emslie from East London was eliminated in Round 1 – has yet to complete his Round 2 heat against Hawaiian Frederick Patacchia.

The Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford New Fiesta was completed on Sunday with Silvana Lima from Brazil claiming her maiden ASP Women’s World Tour crown by beating reigning two-times ASP Women’s World Champion, Australian Stephanie Gilmore, in the final.

South Africa’s Rosanne Hodge placed ninth in the event after she was ousted by Sofia Mulanovich from Peru in Round 3.

Well done, guys and gal!

Tags: Australia, Damien Hobgood, David Weare, Ford New Fiesta, Frederick Patacchia, Greg Emslie, Jordy Smith, Kelly Slater, Owen Wright, Rip Curl Women's Pro Bells Beach, Rip Curls Bells Beach Pro, Rosanne Hodge, Silvana Lima, Snickers, Sofia Mulanovich, South African surfers, Stephanie Gilmore
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Despite a ligament injury to his left knee that prevented him from competing in the season-ending Billabong Pipeline Masters in Hawaii, South Africa’s Jordy Smith still managed to qualify for a second year on the elite ASP World Tour!

While current ASP No. 4 Joel Parkinson recorded only the second perfect 20 out of 20 heat score in ASP World Tour history on Day 2 of the event, the last of the 12 competitors who could have overtaken Smith was eliminated, leaving the 20 year-old rookie Durbanite amongst the top 27 on the rankings who automatically re-qualify for the following year.

His chances of a second year on the dream tour looked bleak when his doctor advised him to withdraw from the Pipeline event.

Global Surf News reports that, although Jordy’s final ranking position will not be known until the event is completed, he is now guaranteed to finish in the top 27, particularly if Hawaiian Bruce Irons, who has qualified ahead of Jordy for 2009, follows through with his decision to retire from the ASP World Tour after the Pipeline event.

Jordy will be joined on the 2009 ASP World Tour by David Weare (Durban) and Greg Emslie (East London) who finished Nos. 7 and 10 respectively in the 2008 ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) rankings. Travis Logie (Durban), Royden Bryson (East London) and Ricky Basnett (Bluff) finished the year outside the top 27 on the World Tour and failed to re-qualify.

In the mean time, another South African, Rosanne Hodge, demonstrated her affinity with the classic waves of Honolua Bay on the Hawaiian island of Maui when she reached the quarterfinals of the Billabong Pro Maui event on Wednesday, the first time this year that the East Londoner has advanced past Round 3 in an ASP Women’s World Tour event.

The 21-year old recorded her career best result in the 2007 event at Honolua Bay, advancing to the semifinals before being ousted in equal third place by eventual event winner Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)

Although she has already qualified for her third year on the ASP Women’s World Tour via her No. 3 ranking on the 2008 ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS), Rosanne will be determined to better her previous best and improve her current World Tour ranking of No. 15.

Tags: 2009 ASP World Tour, Bruce Irons, David Weare, Greg Emslie, Jordy Smith, Ricky Basnett, Rosanne Hodge, Royden Bryson, South African surfers, Travis Logie
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Some of South Africa’s top professional surfers are in Hawaii to compete in the career-deciding Reef Hawaiian Pro, the first of the Hawaiian Triple Crown series of events which kicked off in Haleiwa on the north shore of the island of Oahu yesterday.

This event forms part of the series which will determine the 2008 men’s and women’s ASP World Champions as well as the qualifiers for the 2009 ASP World Tours.

South Africans David Weare (Durban) and East Londoners Greg Emslie and Rosanne Hodge, along with the rest of the SA contingent in the event, are facing notoriously powerful surf, predicted to reach five metres on the Hawaiian scale (seven metre faces).

According to this report, the SA trio are at a career crossroads, as they are on the cusp of qualifying for the prestigious and lucrative top tiers of world surfing next year.

And although they may well have done enough on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) during the year, there are enough points at stake in the remaining events to see them overtaken in the ratings and relegated to competing on the ‘Grind’, as the WQS is referred to, in 2009.

They’ve already had close calls on the circuit. Emslie, an eight year veteran on the ASP World Tour before narrowly missing out at the end of last year, and Weare, who spent an injury riddled 2007 at surfing’s top table, currently occupy the number eight and nine positions in the ratings, well within the top 15 cutoff for qualification.

However, with the bulk of the world’s top 45 ranked surfers and a host of notoriously competitive Hawaiian locals in the mix for the Reef Hawaiian Pro (12-23 November) and the O’Neill World Cup at Sunset Beach (24 Nov-6 Dec), and a massive 3 000 points on the line in the two 6-Star Prime rated events, the South Africans will be determined to improve their points tallies to protect their positions.

Good luck, guys and gals! We’ll be rooting for you!

Tags: ASP World Champions, ASP World Tours, David Weare, Greg Emslie, Reef Hawaiian Pro, Rosanne Hodge, south africa, surfing
Posted in Surfing Events | | 4 Comments »