Billabong ISA World Surfing Games
August 1-8, 2009
Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica

Pictured: Michael Hill in action Photo: Watts / ISA

The South African surfing team moved back into contention for a medal in the team event after Day 6 of the Billabong ISA World Surfing Games in Costa Rica thanks to strong performances by Longboard surfers Justin Bing and Michael Hill along with Open surfer Brandon Jackson.

Team SA, which is supported by a grant from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF), moved up to fourth place in the team standings behind current runaway leaders USA, second placed Hawaii and Australia in third. The elimination of team members from France, Brazil and host nation Costa Rica in the Longboard and Open repecharge heats saw those teams slip back to occupy fifth to seventh positions respectively.

Bing (Noordhoek) and Hill (St Francis Bay) started their campaigns in spectacular style on Wednesday, both posting easy Round 1 victories before the pair were relegated to the repecharge rounds when they placed third in their respective Round 2 heats.

Facing seven grueling rounds without finishing lower than second in their heats to reach the final, the pair have already successfully negotiated their way through three rounds and are now amongst the last 16 Longboarders left in the event. They face another strenuous day in the rising swell at Playa Hermosa on Friday when Repecharge Rounds 5 to 7 are on the schedule.

Jackson (Durban North), SA’s sole remaining competitor in the Open men’s division, lost out in the last minute of his Round 4 Qualifying stream heat on Thursday, slipping to third place behind former ASP World Tour Campaigner Ben Bourgeois (USA), the convincing winner, and Gabriel Villaran (PER) who slotted into a neat tube-ride with 30 seconds remaining to grab second spot.

However, Jackson immediately redeemed himself with a creditable second place showing behind Miguel Pupo (BRA) in Round 6 of the Repecharges to reach the last 16 in the men’s division.

The women have not competed for the past two days and when they resume action later today Rosanne Hodge and Nikita Robb, both from East London, will be up against USA standout Courtney Conlogue and former ASP and ISA World champion Sofia Mulanovich (PER) in Qualifying Round 4. The SA girls are already guaranteed top 12 finishes in the event but will be aiming for higher honours with Hodge hoping to better the bronze medal earned at the corresponding event in the USA in 2006.

All the action can be followed live via webcasts on www.billabongpro.com/isa09 which also provides news, full results, videos, photos and more. Costa Rica is eight hours behind South Africa with heats expected to start around 4pm CAT.

Ends

About Surfing South Africa (SSA)

Surfing South Africa is recognised by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) and the International Surfing Association (ISA) as the governing body for surfriding in South Africa.

Six provincial organisations and three national associations are affiliated to Surfing South Africa which coordinates and manages all aspects of surfriding from grass roots level through to the selection of National teams.

About the International Surfing Association (ISA)
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for surfing, bodyboarding and surfriding.  It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running World Championships since 1964 and the Junior World Championships since 1980.

Issued on behalf of:

Surfing South Africa

Contact:            Robin de Kock
Email:               surfingsouthafrica@gmail.com

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