Bianca Buitendag, 19, (George) cruised into the last eight in the ASP 6-Star rated Hunter Ports Women’s Classic held in crumbling one metre waves at Mereweather Beach in Newcastle, Australia earlier today

Buitendag posted a comfortable victory in her Round of 24 heat before finishing second behind Alessa Quizon (HAW) and eliminated ASP World Junior Champion Nikki van Dyk (AUS) in the Round of 12 to set up a quarter-final encounter against Lakey Peterson (USA), who was the day’s standout performer.

The South African’s confidence-boosting performances at Newcastle are an excellent warm-up for her debut on the ASP Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT) which gets underway on the Gold Coast on 2 March. There she will be up against the world’s top 17 ranked women in the race for the 2013 world title.

Stephanie Gilmour (AUS), the five-time and reigning ASP Women’s World Champion, was a surprise elimination today when she placed fourth in her Round 24 clash.

South Africans Sarah Baum (25th) and Rosanne Hodge (37th) were ousted in yesterday’s action while Faye Zoetmulder (49th) was sidelined on the opening day of competition.

Hunter Ports Women’s Classic Round of 12:
Heat 1: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 15.60, Dimity Stoyle (Aus) 14.70, Alize Arnaud (Fra) 7.4
Heat 2: Sage Erickson (USA) 15.43, Pauline Ado (Fra) 13.93, Sofia Mulanovich (Per) 9.70
Heat 3: Lakey Peterson (USA) 18.70, Sally Fitzgibbons (Aus) 10.93, Laura Enever (Aus) 8.27
Heat 4: Alessa Quizon (Haw) 14.70, Bianca Buitendag (Zaf) 12.20, Nikki Van Dijk (Aus) 7.20

Hunter Ports Women’s Classic Round of 24:
Heat 1: Dimity Stoyle (Aus) 17, Sofia Mulanovich (Per) 12.07, Nage Melamed (Haw)9.33, Tatiana Western-Webb (Haw)
Heat 2: Alize Arnaud (Fra) 15.17, Sage Erickson (USA) 14.67, Canelle Ballard (Reu) 11.07, Stephanie Gilmore (Aus) 9.80
Heat 3: Pauline Ado (Fra) 16.10, Courtney Conlogue (USA) 12.54, Johanne Defay (Fra) 11.90, Keely Andrew (Aus) 11.50
Heat 4: Lakey Peterson (USA) 14.04, Alessa Quizon (Haw) 12.23, Felicity Palmateer (Aus) 7.90, Ellie-Jean Coffey (Aus) 7.80
Heat 5: Sally Fitzgibbons (Aus) 17.10, Nikki Van Dijk (Aus) 11.14, Brittani Nicholl (Aus) 5.90, Stephanie Single (Aus) 5.23
Heat 6: Bianca Buitendag (Zaf) 12.53, Laura Enever (Aus) 11.90, Bronte Macaulay (Aus) 11.36, Philippa Anderson (Aus) 6.40

++++++++++++++

Sawyer, de Vries and van Zyl eliminated from Burton Toyota Pro

Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay), Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga) and David van Zyl (Glenashley) have been eliminated from the ASP 6-Star Burton Toyota Pro which is running in conjunction with the Hunter Ports Women’s Classic as part of the Newcastle Surfest in Australia

Sawyer and de Vries finished equal 75th when they placed fourth in their respective Round of 96 heats earlier today, collecting 160 ratings points and US $500 (about R4 250) each. Van Zyl ended equal 97th when he came in 3rd in his Round of 144 heat on Monday.

Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay) and Mikey February (Kommetjie), the two remaining Saffas in the event, will contest their Round of 96 heats when competition resumes.

Joel Parkinson (AUS) made a successful return to competition surfing after winning his maiden ASP World Title in Hawaii in December when he charged to victory in his Round of 96 heat. Only nine heats of men’s surfing were completed today with 2012 event runner-up Filipe Toledo (BRA) one of the standouts with his high-flying aerial repertoire.

Burton Toyota Pro Round of 96
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (Aus) 17.0, Matt Lewis Hewitt (NZ) 13.23, Wade Carmichael (Aus) 9.14, Steven Sawyer (Zaf) 8.77
Heat 2: Joan Duru (Fra) 16.77, Tomas Hermes (Bra) 15.8, Hiroto Ohhara (Jpn) 11.37, Beyrick De Vries (Zaf) 9.23
Heat 3: Tiago Pires (PRT) 16.17, Oney Anwar (IND)11.67, Michael Powell (USA) 10.17 Mark Occhilupo (Aus) 7.70
Heat 4: Felipe Toledo (Bra) 14.7, Bino Lopes (Bra) 12, Evan Geiselman (USA) 11.60, Billy Stairmand (NZ)
Heat 5: Kalani David (HAW) 15.7, Damien Hobgood (USA) 11.87, Nobuyuki Osawa (Jpn) 10.33, Jay Quinn (NZ) 11.87
Heat 6: Santiago Muniz (Arg), Jesse Adam (Aus), Jack Freestone (Aus), Tanner Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 7: Charles Martin (GLP) 14.34, Jeremy Johnston (USA) 13.34, Frederico Morais (PRT) 9.03, Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 8.07
Heat 8: Mark Lacomare (Fra) 14.33 , Maxime Huscenot (Fra) 13.77, Kolohe Andino (USA) 10.13, Caio Ibelli (Bra) 4.13
Heat 9: Matt Wilkinson (Aus) 17.40, Ian Gouveia (BRA) 14.20, Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 10.69, Matt Banting (AUS) 10.02
All the action at the Newcastle Surfest can be watched live at http://surfest.prosurfinglive.com/
ENDS

Issued on behalf of:

ASP Africa
Contact: Colin Fitch – Operations Manager
Tel: 021 534 5738
Email: colin@aspafrica.com

Compiled and Distributed by:

Life’s a Beach Communications
PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email: lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the recognized world governing body of professional surfing and has been crowning surfing’s undisputed World Champions since 1976. The ASP sanctions and crowns World Champions for the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, ASP World Junior Tour, ASP World Longboard and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts and other media platforms. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

Sarah Baum started her 2013 pro surfing season with a meritorious fifth place finish after reaching the quarter-finals of the ASP Star rated Breaka Burleigh Pro Women’s held in excellent 1.0 to 1.5 metre waves at Burleigh Heads in Australia earlier today (Saturday).

The inform 19 year-old from Athlone Park, Durban, who ended 2012 ranked No. 17 on the ASP Women’s Star Series, progressed through three rounds of four and three-person heats before elimination by current ASP No. 6 Malia Manuel (HAW) in a one-on-one encounter in the quarters.

Baum collected US $1 100 (approx. R10 000) and a valuable 1 560 points from the event which was won by ASP No.2 and event top seed, Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), who narrowly defeated Courtney Conlogue (USA), the ASP No. 5, in the final.

South Africa’s Rosanne Hodge (East London), who spent four seasons (2007-2010) competing on the ASP Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT), the highest level of women’s surfing, finished equal 9th at Burleigh.

Bianca Buitendag (George), who starts her rookie year on the Women’s WCT on the Gold Coast in March, placed equal 19th and Faye Zoetmulder (Port Elizabeth) ended equal 55th in her first ASP event after a serious injury that sidelined her for the second half of last year.

The 4-Star ASP rated men’s Breaka Burleigh Pro has been reduced to the last eight with former two-time ASP World Champion, Gold Coast local and current ASP No. 3, Mick Fanning, a surprise elimination after being ousted by fellow Australian Mitch Crews and Marco Fernandez (BRA).

The men’s champion will be crowned on Sunday and all the action can be followed live at http://breakaburleighsurfpro.com.au starting around midnight (SA time) tonight.

David van Zyl (Glenashley) and Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay), the only two SA surfer’s in the men’s draw, finished 49th and 65th respectively.

Breaka Burleigh Pro Women’s Six Star
Final: Sally Fitzgibbons (Aus) 16:00, Courtney Conlogue (USA) 15.90
Semi-Finals:
Semi 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.73, Malia Manuel (Haw) 13.17
Semi 2: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 14.77, Laura Enever (Aus) 14.47
Quarter-Finals
Q 1: Malia Manuel (Haw) 13.17, Sarah Baum (ZAF) 12.10
Q 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (Aus) 15.54, Dimity Stoyle (AUS) 13.40
Q 3: Laura Enever (Aus) 13.67, Tyler Wright (AUS) 13.33
Q 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 18.33, Alessa Quizon (HAW) 15.34

Breaka Burleigh Pro Men’s Round of 16
Heat 1: Ricardo Christie (NZ) 14.33, Adam Melling (Aus) 14.13, Bede Durbidge (Aus) 12.54, Ryan Callinan (Aus) 11.90
Heat 2: Marco Fernandez (Bra) 15.60, Mitch Crews (Aus) 14.70, Mick Fanning (Aus) 14.66, Jack Duggan (Aus) 7.83
Heat 3: Owen Wright (Aus) 15.50, Brent Dorrington (Aus) 12.33, Dion Atkinson (Aus) 10.03, Cooper Chapman (Aus) 8.53
Heat 4: Alejo Muniz (Bra) 14.80, Thomas Woods (Aus) 14.03, Frederico Morais (Ptg) 13.97, Davey Cathels (Aus) 11.96

++++++++++++

Rip Curl Pro Puerto Rico gets underway on Saturday

The ASP 4-Star Rip Curl Pro Puerto Rico gets underway at Lobos Beach in Isabella, Puerto Rico on Saturday

Three South Africans will be in action with Benji Brand (Kommetjie) starting his campaign in the Round of 128, his brother Davey in the Round of 96 and ninth seeded Shaun Joubert, formerly from Mossel Bay but now living in California, starting in the Round of 64.

All the action in the Rip Curl Pro Puerto Rico can be followed live at www.live.ripcurl.com

For more information, including the full schedule of ASP events, surfer profiles, news and results, visit www.aspworltour.com

ENDS

Pictured: Sarah Baum, 19, (Athlone Park, Durban) in action in the Breaka Burleigh Pro Women’s event where she finished equal 5th overall
Photo: ASP / Will H-S
Issued on behalf of:

ASP Africa
Contact: Colin Fitch – Operations Manager
Tel: 021 534 5738
Email: colin@aspafrica.com

Compiled and Distributed by:

Life’s a Beach Communications
PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email: lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the recognized world governing body of professional surfing and has been crowning surfing’s undisputed World Champions since 1976. The ASP sanctions and crowns World Champions for the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, ASP World Junior Tour, ASP World Longboard and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts and other media platforms. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

 

Dale Staples posted the best result by a South African in many years at the iconic surf break of Pipeline in Hawaii yesterday when he finished ninth in the ASP 5-Star rated Volcom Pipe Pro which was run in excellent tubing double overhead waves over the last three days.

Staples, 22, from St Francis Bay, the only Saffa in the event, recorded three outstanding heat victories against several of Pipeline’s best exponents to reach the quarter-finals of the US $130 000 (approx. R1.17 million) contest before being eliminated with earnings of R22 500 and 633 rankings points.

The event was won for the third successive time by ASP World No. 4 and Pipe local John John Florence whose mastery of the break was exceptional. Florence, 20, who lives right in front of Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu, posted four rides of over 9 out of 10 in his Round 64 heat, totaling a near perfect heat tally 19.70 out of a possible 20 for his top two.

His total of 16.33 in the final was enough to give him victory over Chris Ward (USA), Josh Kerr (AUS) and fellow Hawaiian Olamana Eleogram along with the winner’s cheque for US $20 000 and 2 000 points.

All the action from the Volcom Pipe Pro can be viewed in the Heats on Demand section of http://www.volcompipepro.com

Volcom Pipe Pro
Results

Final
1st: $20,000 – John John Florence – 16.33 points (8.43, 7.9)
2nd: $10,000 – Chris Ward – 14.8 (7.93, 6.87)
3rd: $6,500 – Josh Kerr – 13.83 (8.33, 5.5)
4th: $5,500 – Olamana Eleogram – 13.3 (6.87, 6.43)
Semi-Finals:
1st & 2nd advance; 3rd=5th; 4th=7th
H1: John John Florence (HI); Chris Ward (USA); Kolohe Andino (USA); Reef McIntosh
(HI)
H2: Josh Kerr (AUS); Olamana Eleogram (HI); Conner Coffin (USA); Dusty Payne (HI)
Quarters:
1st & 2nd advance; 3rd=9th; 4th=13th
H1: John John Florence (HI); Reef McIntosh (HI); Bruce Irons (HI); Jamie O’Brien
(HI)
H2: Kolohe Andino (USA); Chris Ward (USA); Kahea Hart (HI); Masatoshi Ohno (JPN)
H3: Olamana Eleogram (HI); Dusty Payne (HI); Dale Staples (ZAF); Jesse Mendes (BRA)
H4: Josh Kerr (AUS); Conner Coffin (USA); Alex Gray (USA); Sebastian Zietz (HI) Round of 32:

++++++++++++++++++++++++

SA women advance at Breaka Burleigh Pro in Australia

The South African trio of Sarah Baum (Athlone Park), Bianca Buitendag (George) and Rosy Hodge (East London) all advanced to Round 3 of the ASP 6-Star rated Breaka Burleigh Pro in excellent 1.0 to 1.5 metre waves on the Gold Coast of Australia earlier today.

Baum, ranked No. 17 on the ASP Women’s Star rankings at the end of 2012, and Buitendag, who qualified for the 2013 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT) by finishing last year ranked No. 2, each placed second to their respective Round 2 heats to advance to the last 24 in the $40 000 event.

Hodge, a former ASP Women’s WCT campaigner, was the top South African performer on the day, winning her heat with a tally of 15.34 out of 20, the seventh highest heat total recorded, to advance to Round 3 along with second placed Sage Erikson (USA).

The organisers completed Rounds 1 & 2 of the women’s event and the first two heats of the 160-man men’s contest where SA’s Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay) and David van Zyl (Glanashley) will join the action in Round 3 (round of 96).

All the action at the Breaka Burleigh Pro can be followed live at http://breakaburleighsurfpro.com.au starting around midnight (SA time) each day.

Breaka Burleigh Pro

Results:
Round of 48
Heat 1: Sarah Mason (Nzl) 17.57, Coco Ho (Haw) 15.00, Canelle Ballard (Fra) 10.34, Georgia Fish (Aus) 9.40
Heat 2 : Paige Hareb (Nzl) 14.50, Sarah Baum (Zaf) 9.13, Nao Omura (Jpn) 8.10, Bruna Schmitz (Bra) 7.34
Heat 3 : Alize Arnaud (Fra) 15.93, Naomi Stevic (Aus) 14.60, Alana Blanchard (Haw) 13.54, Laura Poncini (Aus) 8.70
Heat 4: Sally Fitzgibbons (Aus) 13.00, Dimity Stoyle (Aus) 12.63, Maud Le Car (Fra) 9.00, Lee-Ann Curren (Fra) 8.33
Heat 5: Malia Manuel (Haw) 16.16, Alessa Quizon (Haw) 14.10, Omella Pellizzari (Arg) 8.10, Frankie Harrer (USA) 3.33
Heat 6: Nikki Van Dijk (Aus) 15.83, Bianca Buitendag (Zaf) 10.00, Freya Prumm (Aus) 5.07, Ainara Aymat (Euk) 4.66
Heat 7: Pauline Ado (Fra) 9.27, Felicity Palmeteer (Aus) 9.17, Ellie-Jean Coffey (Aus) 8.00, Miho Ihara (Jpn) 4.84
Heat 8: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 15.33, Erica Hosseini (USA) 9.60, Laura Macaulay (Aus) 9.00, Anali Gomez (Per) 5.07
Heat 9: Tyler Wright (Aus) 17.70, Kirby Wright (Aus) 10.16, Leila Hurst (Haw) 6.60, Skye Burgess (Aus) 6.07
Heat 10: Philippa Anderson (Aus) 16.67, Quincy Davis (USA) 13.94, Rebecca Woods (Aus) 8.84, Sophie Callister (Aus) 2.66
Heat 11: Rosanne Hodge (Zaf) 15.34, Sage Erickson (12.40) 12.40, Eden Putland (Aus) 9.53, Nage Melamed (Haw) 7.67
Heat 12: Laura Enever (Aus) 9.70, Brittani Nicholl (Aus) 9.10, Mikaela Greene (Aus) 6.37, Joanne Defay (Fra) 2.84

For more information, including the full schedule of ASP events, surfer profiles, news and results, visit www.aspworltour.com

ENDS

Pictured: Dale Staples (St Francis Bay) stands tall inside a gaping Pipeline barrel in Hawaii on his way to 9th place in the Volcom Pipe Pro on Saturday
Photo: Bernie Baker

Issued on behalf of:

ASP Africa
Contact: Colin Fitch – Operations Manager
Tel: 021 534 5738
Email: colin@aspafrica.com

Compiled and Distributed by:

Life’s a Beach Communications
PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email: lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the recognized world governing body of professional surfing and has been crowning surfing’s undisputed World Champions since 1976. The ASP sanctions and crowns World Champions for the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, ASP World Junior Tour, ASP World Longboard and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts and other media platforms. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

 

South Africa’s hot young crop of aspiring professional surf stars are heading for all points of the compass as the 2013 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) season gets underway with Star rated events for men in Hawaii and China next week followed by further contests in Australia and Puerto Rico during February.

While the world’s top 34 ranked men and top 17 women only commence the race for the 2013 ASP World Titles on Australia’s Gold Coast early in March, the 11-day waiting period for the 5-Star rated Volcom Pipe Pro starts on Sunday 27 January at Pipeline in Hawaii.

Dale Staples from St Francis Bay, who finished 2012 at No.101 on the ASP Men’s World Rankings, is the sole South African in the 112-man field which is headed by defending event champion and current ASP No. 4, John John Florence (HAW).

Meanwhile four Saffas will participate in the second edition of the 4-Star rated Hainan Classic which runs at Riyuewan Bay on the tropical Chinese island of Hainan from 28-30 January. Kommetjie based brothers, Davey and Benji Brand, and Remi Peterson (Jeffreys Bay) will start in the Round of 96 in China with David van Zyl (Glenashley) seeded directly into the Round of 64.

After China, van Zyl travels to Australia for the 4-Star rated Breaka Burleigh Pro at the iconic Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast of Queensland. There he will be joined by Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay) in the Round of 96 with Mikey February (Kommetjie) on the alternates list for the event, which runs from 3-10 February.

The women’s event at the Breaka Burleigh Pro is a one of just six 6-Star rated events on the ASP Women’s Star tour and has attracted a powerful field including four South Africans. The Saffa contingent is headed by Bianca Buitendag who won 6-Star events in Peru and the Azores last year, resulting in the 19 year-old from George qualifying as the only newcomer amongst the top 17 for the 2013 ASP Women’s World Tour.

Compatriots Sarah Baum (Athlone Park), who was in contention for a spot on the Women’s World Tour herself last year, and former top-tier campaigner Rosy Hodge (East London) will start alongside Buitendag in the Round of 48 in the US $40 000 event with Faye Zoetmulder (Port Elizabeth) opening her challenge one round earlier.

The Brand brothers and Peterson head for the Caribbean after China where they will be joined by California based former Mossel Bay standout Shaun Joubert in the 4-Star Rip Curl Pro Puerto Rico from 9-13 February.

Joubert, 21, ended 2012 ranked No. 95 and will benefit from being one of the top 10 seeds in Puerto Rico as he seeks to maintain a top 100 ranking that guarantees entry into the 6-Star and Prime events with their lucrative prize-money and higher rankings points.

After the Caribbean, Joubert heads for Australia where he and No. 94 ranked Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga) along with February, van Zyl and Sawyer will contest the 6-Star, US $155 000 Burton Toyota Pro at Merewether beach in Newcastle from 18-24 February.

The Newcastle event sees the first competitive appearance of the year for newly crowned ASP World Champion Joel Parkinson.(AUS) and a dozen more of the world’s top 32 ranked surfers.

Sawyer and van Zyl will also compete against more than 100 international surfers aged 20-and-under in the 2-Star Burton Toyota Pro Junior.

The 6-Star Hunter Ports Women’s Classic, which runs in conjunction with the men’s event at Newcastle, presents a second opportunity for the South African quartet of Buitendag, Baum, Hodge and Zoetmulder to accumulate additional cash and rankings points.

While the quality of the women’s field has been strengthened by the entry of five-time ASP Women’s World Champion, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), who makes her first foray into competition for the year, Buitendag will be encouraged by her results in the beach break waves at Merewether last year where she placed 3rd in the women’s event and won the Pro Junior women’s crown.

The respective men’s and women’s ASP World Championship Tours (WCT) then take centre stage as the $450 000 Quiksilver Pro and the $120 000 Roxy Pro, both presented by Land Rover, run side-by-side from 2-13 March on Australia’s Gold Coast.

South Africa’s Jordy Smith, 24, is determined to improve on his No.12 ranking after an inconsistent 2012 season while Travis Logie, 33, will be looking to build on his career best No.21 ranking after having to re-qualify for the top tier via the Star events a couple of years back.

Bianca Buitendag faces a baptism of fire as the only rookie of the 2013 women’s WCT as she has never before competed at this level, However, a stellar qualifying campaign in 2012 saw her defeat a number of the established campaigners in her first full year on tour and end the year No. 2 in the women’s Star rankings.

Now a year older, wiser, stronger and more confident, Buitendag looks set to not only hold her own, but to upset her more experienced opponents in any conditions.

For more information, including the full schedule of ASP events, surfer profiles, news and results, visit www.aspworldtour.com

ENDS

Issued on behalf of:

ASP Africa
Contact: Colin Fitch – Operations Manager
Tel: 021 534 5738
Email: colin@aspafrica.com

Compiled and Distributed by:

Life’s a Beach Communications
PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email: lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the recognized world governing body of professional surfing and has been crowning surfing’s undisputed World Champions since 1976. The ASP sanctions and crowns World Champions for the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, ASP World Junior Tour, ASP World Longboard and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts and other media platforms. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

 

Buitendag & Baum maintain challenge for ASP Women’s World Tour spots

Jordy Smith, Travis Logie and Matthew Bromley get ready for Teahupo’o in Tahiti

Beyrick de Vries takes fifth place in Airwalk Pro Junior in France

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Buitendag & Baum maintain challenge for ASP Women’s World Tour spots

South Africans Bianca Buitendag and Sarah Baum maintained their challenge for coveted spots on the 2013 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT) when they finished fifth and ninth respectively in the ASP 6-Star rated Paul Mitchell Supergirl Pro at Oceanside in California on Saturday.

Competing in peaky 0.5 to one metre waves, Buitendag, 18, (Victoria Bay) built on her confidence-boosting victory in Peru a fortnight back by advancing through a strong field of WCT and Star Tour competitors to reach the quarterfinals at Oceanside.

There she was ousted by 2012 ASP World No. 5 Courtney Conlogue (USA), placing fifth overall and earning US $1 100 (approx. R9 000) and an invaluable 1 560 rankings points, her second highest haul of the year to date.

The result sees Buitendag maintain her No. 5 ranking on the ASP Women’s Star Rankings but with an increased lead of 773 points over sixth ranked Rebecca Woods (AUS). Six women qualify for the WCT from the Star rankings annually and with three of the four women above her in the rankings – Conlogue, Malia Manuel (HAW) and Paige Hareb (NZL) – having already qualified for the 2013 ASP WCT through their elite tour results, Buitendag is now effectively in second spot.

Baum, 18, (Durban) also had a great run in the Supergirl Pro, winning her opening heat ahead of Buitendag and placing second behind Conlogue to reach the last 12 where she was eliminated by ASP World No. 6 Manuel and Buitendag.

Baum earned US $900 and 920 points for her ninth place result, moving her up from No. 12 to No. 10 in the rankings. With four of those ahead of her already qualified, she currently sits in an effective sixth place and on the cusp of giving South Africa two girls amongst the world’s top 17 ranked female surfers on the 2013 ASP Women’s WCT.

Compatriot Rosanne Hodge (East London), the only other South African competing at Oceanside and a former four-year WCT member, produced her best result of 2012 with a 13th place finish. Hodge placed third behind Baum and Conlogue in their Round 24 encounter, finishing 13th overall pocketing $800 and 650 points to climb to No. 28 in the rankings.

There are three 6-Star rated women’s events still be run – one each in Spain, Portugal and the finale in the Azores Islands. The next event is the Cabreiroa Pantin Classic Pro at Pantin in Spain starting12 September.

PAUL MITCHELL SUPERGIRL PRO FINAL
1 – Sage Erickson (USA) 14.00
2 – Paige Hareb (NZL) 13.00

PAUL MITCHELL SUPERGIRL PRO SEMIFINALS RESULTS:
SF 1: Sage Erickson (USA) 13.53 def .Courtney Conlogue (USA) 12.23
SF 2: Paige Hareb (NZL) 14.03 def. Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 10.26

PAUL MITCHELL SUPERGIRL PRO QUARTERFINALS RESULTS:
QF 1: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 16.50 def. Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 8.00
QF 2: Sage Erickson (USA) 14.10 def. Malia Manuel (HAW) 13.27
QF 3: Paige Hareb (NZL) 11.53 def. Philippa Anderson (AUS) 8.87
QF 4: Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 12.83 def. Pauline Ado (FRA) 12.43

PAUL MITCHELL SUPERGIRL PRO ROUND OF 12 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 12.36, Sage Erickson (USA) 12.17, Rebecca
Woods (AUS) 11.77
Heat 2: Malia Manuel (HAW) 14.87, Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 10.13, Sarah Baum (ZAF) 8.70
Heat 3: Phillipa Anderson (AUS) 10.83, Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 10.70, Laura Enever (AUS) 7.93
Heat 4: Pauline Ado (FRA) 10.70, Paige Hareb (NZL) 9.97, Nage Melamed (HAW) 7.26

CURRENT ASP WOMEN´S STAR 2012 – TOP 10 (After Paul Mitchell Supergirl Pro )
1 Conlogue, Courtney USA 11810
2 Erickson, Sage USA 9870
3 Manuel, Malia HAW 9840
4 Hareb, Paige NZL 8170
5 Buitendag, Bianca ZAF 7813
6 Woods, Rebecca AUS 7040
7 Fitzgibbons, Sally AUS 7000
8 Ado, Pauline FRA 6890
9 Mulanovich, Sofia PER 6050
10 Baum, Sarah ZAF 5490

South Africans (More than one event)
28: Rosanne Hodge ZAF 2481
56: Faye Zoetmulder ZAF 1140

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jordy Smith, Travis Logie and Matthew Bromley get ready for Teahupo’o in Tahiti

Jordy Smith and Travis Logie, the two South Africans who qualified amongst the world’s top 32 ranked surfers for the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), have been joined by Matthew Bromley, 20 (Kommetjie) in Tahiti as they ready themselves for the Billabong Pro Tahiti which gets underway on Thursday 16 August.

Bromley is one of 16 international surfers who have received sought after invitations to compete in the prestigious Air Tahiti Nui VonZipper Trials. They will be joined by16 local Tahitians in the trials at the notorious surfbreak of Teahupo’o with the winner plus the highest finishing Tahitian earning the two wildcards into the main event.

Smith, currently ranked No. 8 on the ASP WCT, will be determined to halt a slide that has seen him finish third, fifth, ninth and 13th in the four events completed this year. He was injured in a controversially re-run Round 3 heat against Logie held in giant surf at Teahupo’o last year and went on to miss the next two events, finishing the year ranked No. 7.

Logie, currently on the cusp of requalification in the No. 24 position, will be looking forward to Tahiti as he went on to post a third place finish in last year’s event, his best result on the ASP WCT, which contributed substantially to him qualifying for another year amongst competitive surfing’s highest echelon.

The 12 day waiting period for the Billabong Pro Tahiti runs from 16—27 August and all the action can be followed live at www.billabongpro.com/tahiti12

Surfline, official forecasters for the Billabong Pro Tahiti, are calling for waist to shoulder high waves until Tuesday and a better, longer-period swell from a current Tasman Sea storm scheduled to move in on Thursday, 16th, and peak Friday with chest to head high surf and inconsistent overhead sets.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Beyrick de Vries takes fifth place in Airwalk Pro Junior in France

Beyrick de Vries, 19, (Umhlanga) finished in fifth place in the Airwalk Pro Junior at Lacanau in France earlier today (Monday 13 August).

De Vries, in his final year in the Pro Junior division before turning 20 in December, turned heads with his outstanding displays in the tiny surf in France, winning all three of his heats on Day 1 of the event last Friday. He continued this form yesterday with a comfortable Round 32 heat victory and then posted a strong quarter-final win this morning.

However, de Vries only managed a third place in his semi-final encounter and was eliminated in fifth place overall.

De Vries will be joined by compatriots Davey Brand (Kommetjie) and David van Zyl (Glenashley, Durban) in the ASP 5-Star Sooruz Lacanau Pro which runs from 14-19 August at the same venue.

ENDS

Pictured: Beyrick de Vries, 19, (Umhlanga) demonstrates the small-wave talent that saw him winn five consecutive heats before bowing out in the semi-finals of the Airwalk Pro Junior at Lacanau in France today

Photo: Aquashot / ASP Europe
Issued on behalf of:

ASP Africa
Contact: Colin Fitch – Operations Manager
Tel: 021 534 5738
Email: colin@aspafrica.com

Compiled and Distributed by:

Life’s a Beach Communications
PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email: lifesabeach@mweb.co.za
About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the recognized world governing body of professional surfing and has been crowning surfing’s undisputed World Champions since 1976. The ASP sanctions and crowns World Champions for the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, ASP World Junior Tour, ASP World Longboard and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts and other media platforms. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

 

Sunday 29 July 2012 – South Africa’s Bianca Buitendag, 18, (Victoria Bay) clinched the biggest victory of her professional surfing career yesterday when she defeated Alana Blanchard (HAW) in the final of the ASP 6-Star rated Movistar Women’s Pro presented by Rip Curl and Petrolera Sapet in Peru.

Competing in excellent one metre waves at the lefthand pointbreak of Lobitos, Buitendag used her powerful forehand attack to post a heat total of 15.00 points (out of a possible 20), earning scores of 7.0 and an 8.0 on her two best rides, to Blanchard’s 12.90 (7.9 and 5.0).

“I feel really emotional and very happy with my victory,” said Buitendag on the podium. “I never thought that I would make it past the Quarter-Finals, let alone past Sofia (Mulanovich) in the Semi-Finals. So to make it to the Finals and win the contest is such an incredible feeling. Alana (Blanchard) surfed really well, the waves were excellent throughout the whole week and this is the most important moment for me in my early career.”

The victory earned Buitendag U$ 8,000 (approx. R66 000) in prize money and 3,500 points, moving her up to 5th place on the ASP World Star women’s rankings, the highest ranking by a surfer not on the 2012 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT).

“This was such a fun contest and I’m thankful for making it to the Finals,” said Blanchard. “It’s a shame I never got a good second wave to backup my score, but Bianca (Buitendag) was unstoppable throughout the entire event and she deserved the victory.”

Buitendag, who has based herself in France where she has already won three consecutive ASP Women’s Pro Junior (U20) events since matriculating last year, was dominant throughout the event in Peru.

She won her opening encounter and then placed second behind local heroine and 2004 ASP Women’s World Champion, Sofia Mulanovich (PER) to move into the Round of 24, where she again won to reach the quarter-finals. In the final day one-on-one heats Buitendag defeated Port Elizabeth born Australian Philippa Anderson before getting revenge over Mulanovich in their semi-final match-up.

Compatriot Sarah Baum, the only other South African in Peru, placed third to record her best result in an ASP 6-Star event. Baum, 18, from Athlone Park, Durban overcame ASP No. 8 Paige Hareb (NZL) and ASP No. 10 Rebecca Woods twice on her way to the semis where she was narrowly beaten by Blanchard.

Baum pocketed US $1 900 and 2080 points which moved her up to No. 12 in the ASP World Star women’s rankings. With eight of women ahead of her on the rankings currently competing on the ASP Women’s WCT, five of whom will probably re-qualify, Baum is now firmly in contention for a spot on the 2013 ASP Women’s WCT with five ASP Star Series events still to be run this year

The Movistar Women’s Pro was event number 6 (out of 11) of the 2012 ASP Women’s World Star Series. The next event will be held from August 9-12 at Oceanside, California, right after the final event of the 2012 ASP Women’s Tour during July 30-August 5th at Huntington Beach.

The remaining ASP 6-Star events will be held in Europe on consecutive weeks. The first will be held in Spain from September 12-16 and the following two will be in Portugal, with the final event on the Azores Islands from September 27-30, where the top six athletes on the ASP World Star Series will qualify for the 2013 ASP WCT.

Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSN4P7iMAZw for video highlights of the final day of competition in Peru

MOVISTAR WOMEN´S PRO FINAL RESULT:
1st – Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) – 15.00 (8.0+7.0) – US$ 8,000 and 3.500 points
2nd – Alana Blanchard (HAW) – 12.90 (7.9+5.0) – US$ 4,000 and 2.640 points

MOVISTAR WOMEN´S PRO SEMI-FINALS RESULTS – 3rd place – US$ 1,900 and 2.080 points:
SF 1: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 16.25 def. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 15.50
SF 2: Alana Blanchard (HAW) 13.95 def. Sarah Baum (ZAF) 11.40

MOVISTAR WOMEN´S PRO QUARTER-FINALS RESULTS – 5th place – US$ 1,100 and 1.560 points:
QF 1: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 16.15 def. Felicity Palmateer (AUS) 7.65
QF 2: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 12.60 def. Philippa Anderson (AUS) 8.76
QF 3: Alana Blanchard (HAW) 14.80 def. Sage Erickson (USA) 13.60
QF 4: Sarah Baum (ZAF) 12.50 def. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 10.90

CURRENT ASP WOMEN´S STAR 2012 – TOP 10 (After Movistar Women´s Pro):
01: Courtney Conlogue (USA) – 9.730 points
02: Malia Manuel (HAW) – 8.280
03: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) – 7.000
04: Sage Erickson (USA) – 6.750
05: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) – 6.663
06: Rebecca Woods (AUS) – 6.530
07: Pauline Ado (FRA) – 5.980
08: Paige Hareb (NZL) – 5.910
09: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) – 5.640
10: Alana Blanchard (HAW) – 5.400

South Africans (More than one event)
12: Sarah Baum (ZAF) – 5.220
33: Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) – 1.831
52: Faye Zoetmulder (ZAF) – 1.140

+++++++++++++++++++++

Tanika Hoffman places fourth in Billabong Sopelana Pro Junior in France

SA’s Tanika Hoffman placed fourth amongst ASP Europe’s best 20-and-under female surfers in the Billabong Sopelana Pro Junior event in France last week.

The 19 year-old from Cape Town won her Round 2 and quarter-final heats before advancing to the final when she finished runner-up to Maud le Car (FRA) in the semis.

Hoffman earned US $150 for her fourth place behind winner Cannelle Bulard (REU), le Car and Garazi Sanchez Ortun (ESP) respectively in the difficult one metre waves in the final.

All the results can be found at http://sopelana.aspeurope.com/

+++++++++++++++++++++

Michael February advances to quarter-finals at Nike US Open of Surfing Pro Junior in California

SA’s Michael February continued his stellar run of contest performances to advance through two rounds on the opening day of the 4-Star rated Nike US Open of Surfing Pro Junior at Huntington Beach in California on Saturday.

February, 19, from Kommetjie, Cape Town, was on fire in the tricky one metre conditions, convincingly winning his opening heat and then placing second behind Hawaiian standout and current ASP North America Pro Junior ratings leader, Keanu Asing, to move into the last 16 in the event.

The Nike US Open of Surfing runs from 28 July to Sunday 5 August and includes Pro Junior events for men and women, an ASP Prime rated men’s event and the seventh and final ASP Women’s WCT event for 2012 alongside skateboarding, music concerts and a massive exhibition area.

SA’s Jordy Smith (Cape Town), Travis Logie (Durban) and Shaun Joubert (formerly Mossel Bay, now California) are seeded directly into the Round of 96 in the Prime rated men’s event. Rudy Palmboom (Bluff, Durban) is one of 32 surfers in the trials from which four will qualify for the main event.

All the action from the Nike US Open of Surfing can be followed live via http://www.usopenofsurfing.com/ starting at approximately 5pm SA time daily.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of:

ASP Africa
Contact: Colin Fitch – Operations Manager
Tel: 021 534 5738
Email: colin@aspafrica.com

Compiled and Distributed by:

Life’s a Beach Communications
PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email: lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

Supertubes, Jeffreys Bay, Sth Africa (Friday, July 13, 2012) – Brazilian surfer, Adriano de Souza (25, Guaruja, Sao Paulo, BRA) has won the 6-star Billabong Pro, J’Bay, which culminated today in one-to-two metre waves at Supertubes, in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa.

Twenty-five year-old de Souza defeated Frenchman Joan Duru (FRA) in the final of the World Qualifying Series tournament to claim his tenth ASP World Tour victory and his performance today caps off an incredible week of surfing that saw 144 starters compete in some of the most flawless and consistent surf seen in the event’s 34 year history.

A total of five perfect 10 point rides were awarded in the early Rounds of the week-long event but it was de Souza, the current world rated number four, who prevailed to take top honours and the $25,000 first-place winner’s cheque.

In deteriorating conditions, De Souza was able to hold off the hard-charging Frenchman in the 30-minute decider, out-scoring Duru on a two-wave combined heat total of 16.00 points (out of a possible 20) to 13.60 points.

De Souza’s determination saw him commit to desperate measures, he rode one wave to the death, across J’Bay’s sharp rocks, cutting his feet and snapping a fin clean from his surfboard.

De Souza, who fulfilled one career aspiration in May of last year when he became the first ever Brazilian to lead the ASP Men’s World Title rankings after winning his home event in Rio de Janeiro, said winning at Jeffreys Bay has been a dream since he first visited the revered location in 2000.

“I’ve come to South Africa and to Jeffreys Bay for so many years, and have always seen the guys win the Billabong Pro, and now it’s my turn,” said De Souza. “I’m just so happy, and I’m going to remember this win for my whole life. J-Bay is a special place for me and hopefully see you again next year.”

As a full time touring ASP Men’s World Championship Tour (WCT) contender, the 3,500 star ratings points will not factor into the ASP Men’s World Title race for De Souza, he will retain his fourth place ranking heading into the next WCT event in Tahiti, the Billabong Pro, Teahupo’o, scheduled for August 16-27^th.

Frenchman Duru was in outstanding form all week at Jeffrey’s Bay, with the 24 year-old accounting for the event’s biggest name in two-time and defending event champion, Jordy Smith (ZAF) in the pair’s morning Round 5 clash.

Smith, 24, had a shot at an historical three-peat today after winning at J’Bay in 2010 and 2011, but Duru surfed hard to outpoint Smith on 15.20 points to 11.73.

Finishing equal third today was Hawaiian Ezekial Lau (Haw) and Spain’s Aritz Aranburu (EUK).

The highest placed South African was local Dale Staples (ZAF) who saw his excellent run end in this morning’s Quarter Finals. Finishing equal fifth, Staples was responsible for one of the Billabong Pro’s biggest upsets when he defeated Hawaiian prodigy and current world rated number five, John John Florence (Haw) in Round 5, but the 21 year-old failed against Spaniard Aranburu in the Quarter-finals.

A special prize, the NIXON WTA (Winner Take All) award, was given to Australian goofy-foot Nathan Hedge (AUS), the former world number seven and 2005 Billabong Pro, J’Bay finalist earning the highest heat total of the event in Roun 1, a near-perfect 19.27 out of a possible 20.00.

Hedge’s prize, a Nixon 51-30 tide watch valued at over $10,000 USD. The winning timepiece features a diamond-encrusted bezel, a high polish all black subdial/hands and the South African flag at the six o’clock position.

“What a sick prize, a few years ago I was in the final with AI (Andy Irons, former three-time ASP Men’s World Champion and 2004 Billabong Pro, J’Bay champion) and he needed a perfect ten to beat me and he got it, so maybe it was AI who sent me the ten this year” said Hedge.

All the highlights and newsfeed vision from an incredible week can be found at:
https://www.filesanywhere.com/fs/v.aspx?v=8a706a8a5a606eaeab

For more event details go to the event site on www.billabongpro.com
Follow Billabong’s Facebook Fan Page.
Billabong’s Twitter feed. (#BILLABONGPROJBAY)

The Billabong Pro J-Bay has been made possible with the support of the following:
Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Sony Xperia, Carling Black Label, Monster Energy, Nissan, Vida e Caffe, VonZipper and Nixon.

Supertubes, Jeffreys Bay – Former ASP Men’s World Tour surfer, Nathan “Hog” Hedge (Narrabeen, NSW, AUS) has matched power with perfection, scoring a perfect 10 point ride in the opening round of the 6-star Men’s World Qualifying Series event taking place at Supertubes in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa.

Competitors in the US$155,000 tournament awoke to epic two-metre plus conditions on Day 1 and it was the “Hog” who stole the show, belting the long J’Bay walls and winning the crowd with his enthusiastic claims.

The semi-retired 34 year-old achieved his best world tour result at the famous J’Bay point break back in 2004, posting a finals result that boosted him to a career high 7^th in the world. And today, the Hog was back to his J’Bay best, easily registering the highest two-wave combined heat total of 19.27 out of a possible perfect 20 points.

Other surfers to progress to Round 2 with wins today included reigning ASP World Junior Champion Ciao Ibelli (BRA), local favourite and Supertubes specialist Sean Holmes (ZAF), Hawaii’s Sebastien Zietz (Haw) and 2010 World Junior Champion, Jack Freestone (Gold Coast, AUS).

The excellent surf is forecasted to continue on Day 2 when 10 of the world’s highest rated campaigners are due to hit the water. Among the big-name draw cards are two-time and defending Billabong Pro champion, Jordy Smith (ZAF), Hawaiian prodigy and current world rated number five, John John Florence (Oahu, Haw), Brazilian Adriano De Souza (BRA) and former Men’s World Champion, C.J. Hobgood (FL, USA).

Organisers expect to start from 07:00am local time.

The official press launch was held last night and attended by local dignitaries Mr Makhulbulu and Councillor Virginia Cameleo Benjamin, representative of the Department of Sports, Recreation Arts and Culture.

By becoming a World Qualifying Series tournament, the Billabong Pro has this year increased its field from 38 to 144 competitors, affording dozens of local and international hopefuls a chance at competing at one of the world’s premier wave locations.

Ballito, KwaDukuza, South Africa Sunday July 8, 2012  - Australian born, Irish surfer Glenn Hall, 30, secured the biggest win of his career taking out the ASP Prime Mr Price Pro Ballito defeating Nathaniel Curran, 27, (USA) in the Final at Willards Beach, in South Africa on Sunday, July 8, 2012.

The final day of competition culminated with the best swell of the waiting period as solid 1.5 metre, offshore conditions provided the idyllic arena for an action-packed day of world-class surfing.

Hall held his composure throughout the 35- minute Final, opening with an excellent 8.33 (out of ten) waiting until the final minute to regain his priority, earning more than the required score to snatch the win from Curran with his 6.67 back-up ride, winning the heat by 15.00 to 13.67 (both out of 20.00).

“It’s the biggest win of my career by far, I kinda felt like if you got the wave out there you could get the score and I was just praying for a wave at the end,” Hall said. “Nathaniel is an amazing surfer and I was pumped to have a Final against him. It was always going to be a tough heat but I’ve learnt never to be content with second and to always push for more until you’ve won.”

Hall’s victory comes off the back of a stellar competition season winning a 4 Star in China followed by a runner-up finish at the ASP Prime Lowers Pro at Trestles, California, his consistency rocketing him from 27^th to 16^th on the World Rankings.

“It’s still a long road ahead and I’m just going to keep trying and see where I end up,” Hall explained. “I’m not doing JBay (6 Star) and I’m proud of my choice. I came here and put all eggs into one basket because if you are here to qualify its about the Primes. That’s my focus so I’m taking it to the next event in America.”

Curran proved a standout throughout the week revealing the depth of his surfing repertoire with a combination of airs, barrels and carves but suffered a disappointing defeat in the Final losing priority and ultimately gifting the Australian the win.

“It still feels great to get a result,” Curran said. “I’ve been struggling for a year and a half so I’m stoked to make the Final. It was an awesome contest, I’ve been coming here since I was 18 and the waves are always insane. I love coming here and I can’t wait for next year.”

Taking down some big names including South African hopeful Travis Logie (ZAF) in the Quarterfinals, followed by ASP Word No. 4 Adriano De Souza (BRA) in the Semifinals, Curran’s runner-up finish sees him jump from 96^th to 42^nd on the World Rankings.

Adriano De Souza showed exactly why he is the World No. 4, posting convincing heat wins all week as well as the highest individual wave score of the event a 9.50 against Brian Toth (PIR) in the Quarterfinals. De Souza finished equal third falling just short of the mark against Curran in the Semis.

“I’m disappointed not to be in the Final but it’s still a good result,” De Souza said. “I came here without any pressure and Nathaniel was surfing better than me so he deserves to be in the Final. I’ll be here watching the best two guys in the event battle it out in the Final and may the best man win.”

Nat Young (USA) posted his best result of the year placing equal third, reaching the Semifinals where he was narrowly defeated by Hall with 14.50 to 14.67.  Young proved on-point throughout the week, taking down top names including former Mr Price Pro Champion World No. 8 Jordy Smith (ZAF) in the Quarterfinals.

South African’s Jordy Smith and Travis Logie placed equal fifth, the pair reaching the Quarterfinals where they were eliminated, Logie by Curran and Smith by Young.

Brian Toth (PRI) and Jack Freestone (AUS) joined the South African duo with equal fifth place results, Toth defeated by De Souza while Freestone fell to fellow Australian Hall.

The 13^th edition of the Mr Price Pro Ballito proved a resounding success with record crowds and world –class surfing from 96 of the world’s finest surfers.

For more information log on to www.mrpricepro.com.

- ends

RESULTS:

Final: 

Glenn Hall (IR) 15.00 def Nathaniel Curran (USA) 13.67

Semifinal

Heat 1: Nathaniel Curran (USA) 12.10 def Adriano De Souza (BRA) 11.00

Heat: Glenn Hall (IR) 14.67 def Nat Young (USA) 14.50

Quarterfinals

Heat 1: Nathaniel Curran (USA) 11.60 def Travis Logie (ZAF) 10.83

Heat 2: Adriano De Souza (BRA) 17.33 def Brian Toth (PRT) 5.73

Heat 3: Nat Young (USA) 15.00 def Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.00

Heat 4: Glenn Hall (IR) 10.44 def Jack Freestone (AUS) 9.90

Ballito, KwaDukuza, South Africa Tuesday July 3, 2012  - South African surfers asserted themselves against many of the world’s best with four out of five advancing through the Round of 96 at the ASP Prime Mr Price Pro Ballito on Tuesday July 2, 2012.

With clean, although at times inconsistent one-metre waves peeling through the Willards Beach lineup, positioning proved critical for surfers looking to advance on the opening day of competition.

ASP World No. 24 Travis Logie (Durban, ZAF) lead the local charge, the seasoned international campaigner prudent with his wave selection jumping from fourth into first place in the final minutes, advancing along with fellow countryman Beyrick De Vries (Umhlanga).

“It was a really tough heat, I think everyone had a pretty good score before I even took off on a wave,” Logie said. “I was getting a bit stressed out towards the end but I managed to get a set wave followed by another good one on the inside and pretty much held the lead to the end.”

Renowned for his lightening fast backhand snaps, the explosive goofy-footer (right-foot forward stance) was one of a handful of goofy-footers to win their heats on a wave that more often than not favours natural-footers.

Wildcard surfer Beyrick De Vries joined Logie in using local knowledge to out-position his opponents and completed the first of the event’s aerial reverses, to advance into the next round.

“Ballito is pretty close to home, so I feel really comfortable out there,” de Vries said. “I’ve struggled to get into Star events this year so earning a wildcard from the ASP was a massive help and I’m really stoked to get through.”

Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay, ZAF) found himself pitted against a trio of hungry Australians keeping himself in contention with a combination of power and new school maneuvers, advancing in second place behind heat winner Nathan Hedge (AUS).

“It was tough out there, there weren’t many waves but when they came, they were fun,” Joubert said. “I’ve been slugging away on the Star Tour all year so it’s great to have an event at home. My aim is just to get on that World Tour as soon as possible.”

Placing equal 9^th at the Mr Price Pro Ballito last year, Joubert’s impressive early morning performance saw him eliminate World Championship Tour (WCT) campaigner Adam Melling (AUS) and Perth Standlick (AUS) to advance into the next round.

Former WCT campaigner Bernado Miranda (BRA) emerged as the day’s standout making the most of the deteriorating conditions to post the highest heat score of the day a 17.10 (out of 20.00).

“The conditions were ok, it was windy but there were still a few fun rides and if you got a good one you could do three of four turns,” Miranda said. “I had some very experienced surfers in my heat, so I just tried to pick the best waves.”

Miranda dominated the scoreboard  with a pair of 8.17 and an 8.93 (both out of ten) rides eliminating Charles Martin (GLP), Brendon Gibbens (ZAF) and ASP World No. 18 Brett Simpson (USA).

Tomas Hermes (BRA) joined his fellow countryman with an excellent 8.17 that saw him advance over Stu Kennedy (AUS), wildcard Conner Coffin (USA) and Jean De Silva (BRA).

“I’m so happy to start this event with a good performance,” Hermes said. “This is my third year in Ballito, I love this place, it has beautiful waves with a lot of power and I’m happy with my result.”

Japan’s Masatoshi Ohno enjoyed success on his backhand, securing an excellent 8.10 for his critical performance through the end section, topping a heated exchange against Wiggolly Dantas (BRA), 2009 Mr Price Pro Champion Tanner Gudauskas (USA) and Timmy Reyes (USA). .

Pipeline specialist and big wave surfer Torrey Meister (HAW) proved just as skilled in smaller waves, keeping his surfing above the lip to complete one of the biggest air- reverses of the day, advancing with an excellent 8.00 along with Jadson Andre (BRA).

Former Elite tour campaigner Nathan Hedge (AUS) enjoyed a welcome return to competition after an 18- month hiatus, earning a well-deserved victory during Round 1.

“I’m so grateful to be back in a Prime event,” Hedge said. “It’s just incredible to be back surfing this tour again.”

Heats 1 – 9 of the Round of 96 were completed before onshore winds and a high tide deemed conditions uncontestable forcing organisers to call the event off until tomorrow.

While the action in the water was put on hold,  the Mr Price Pro Ballito Festival continued to pump throughout the day with everything from skateboarding to BMX demos, live music and more keeping holiday makers entertained in the Festival area.

The next call will be at 0700h (local time) tomorrow morning for a possible 0715h start.

For more information log on to www.mrpricepro.com

- ends

RESULTS 

Round of 96

Heat 1: Tiago Pires (POR) 11.60; Chad du Toit (ZAF) 10.40; Yuri Sodre (BRA) 10.16; Gony Zubizarreta (ESP) 9.20

Heat 2: Ohno Masatoshi (JPN) 13.93; Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 13.56; Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 12.77; Tim Reyes (USA) 8.30

Heat 3: Tomas Hermes (BRA) 13.67; Stu Kennedy (AUS) 12.60; Conner Coffin (USA) 11.33; Jean da Silva (BRA) 5.37

Heat 4: Travis Logie (ZAF) 13.70; Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) 12.17;  Mason Ho (HAW) 11.33; Flavio Nakagima (BRA) 10.74

Heat 5: Nathan Hedge (AUS) 12.70; Shaun Joubert (ZAF) 11.47; Adam Melling (AUS) 9.47 ; Perth Standlick (AUS) 7.53

Heat 6: Nathaniel Curran (USA) 13.44;  Olamana Eleogram (HAW) 11.50; Ricardo Dos Santos (BRA) 9.27 ; Kevin Sullivan (HAW) 4.63

Heat 7: Brian Toth (PRI) 14.57; Garrett Parkes (AUS) 13.34; Marlon Lipke (DEU) 11.74;   Hizunome Bettero (BRA) 8.00

Heat 8: Bernado Miranda (BRA) 17.10; Charles Martin (GLP) 14.40; Brendon Gibbens (ZAF) 7.40;  Brett Simpson (USA) 7.40

Heat 9: Torrey Meister (HAW) 14.50; Jadson Andre (BRA) 13.66; Mitch Crews (AUS) 12.00; Aritz Aranburu (BRA)