On the fourth day of the ongoing Mr Price Pro surfing championship, South Africa’s five elite surfers advanced out of the round of 96 to end up in first place.
Season ASP World Tour campaigner and current World No. 41, Travis Logie from Durban, lead “an inspired performance from the South African surfers, the diminutive goofy-footer (right foot forward stance) posting a near perfect 9.33 (out of ten) for his explosive backhand surfing on the first wave of the heat.”
“I knew that the tide was dropping so I sat a bit wide and it paid off,” Logie said. “As the siren went I got that bomb and then I backed it up with another good one. My boards are amazing, I’m feeling strong, and I’m just looking forward to having fun in this event.”
East London’s Royden Bryson, no.35 in the world and the second highest rated South African on the ASP World Tour, scored a pair of excellent 8.00’s (out of ten) for a impressive heat total of 17.00 (out of a possible 20.00) towards the end of the day.
Fellow East Londoner Greg Emslie had a comfortable heat win which included excellent 8.93 and 6.83 scores. “I wasn’t counting on the waves being this good today,” Emslie said. “It seems like the bank has got a bit shallow and it’s breaking a bit harder now and for me that’s perfect with the long right-handers.”
South Africa’s top rated ASP World Tour and ASP WQS surfers, World No. 19, Durbanite Jordy Smith, and WQS NO. 3 David Weare, also from Durbs, surfed to victory with their characteristic flair, both surfers holding back every so slightly in order to peak as the competition intensified.
While the South African surfers collectively dominated on their home stage, it was Australian surfers WQS No. 19 Adam Melling and aerial standout Josh Kerr who topped the scoreboard.
Earlier this week, it was also an Aussie who set the scene alight in the opening heat of the women’s round. 17-year old Australian surfing sensation Sally Fitzgibbons, scored an 8.33 followed by a 9.10 to absolutely blitz her South African competitors, Sarah Baum (Durban), Tarryn Chudleigh (Cape Town) and Tammy-Lee Smith (Salt Rock).
The action will continue at Durban’s New Pier until this coming Sunday, the 6th of July 2008.
