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MEDIA RELEASE : 11 April 2008
Durban – Day one of the Quiksilver Pro Durban started off with a fresh new swell at the New Pier in Durban, and some red hot surfing in the Community Project Future Stars event. This event showcased the top eight junior surfers who have progressed through Surfing South Africa's Transformation and Development program, and who have their sights set on a career in professional surfing.
The conditions at New Pier were a fun two to three-foot with a kight onshore wind blowing, and highly contestable for the event. The first semi saw Bertjie Stuurman from Humansdorp win from Lungani Memani from Port Alfred. Eliminated were Grant Arendse (Cape Town) and Roger Vuanza, also from Cape Town. Bertjie Stuurman had the honour of catching the first wave of this year's event.
The second semi saw Bo Shabalala from Uhmlanga beat David Solomons from Gordon's Bay into second place, with both going through to the final. Eliminated were James Maddocks from Durban and Dominic Abersalie from Jeffrey's Bay.
In the final it was both Shabalala and Memani who were finding the better waves, and linking up some good turns all the way through to the inside. Towards the end of the heat Memani paddled into a good looking wall and pulled off some big moves for a high score of 6.10, but on the siren Bo caught the last wave of the heat and went town on it, scoring a 6-point ride. This score, combined with his 7.07 ride earlier in the heat, saw Bo to victory.
"I knew Lungani was getting some good waves out there, but I could see some other really good ones coming through," said Bo on his victory. "I decided to be patient and wait for those waves, and it paid off. I'm obviously very stoked to win the event and I want to go on and carry on winning heats in the Quiksilver Pro Junior."
The first place prize is a wild-card into the second round of the Quiksilver Pro Junior as well as one-year sponsorship from Komunity Project. All other competitors in the Komunity Project Future Stars received entry into the first round of the Quiksilver Po Junior.
After the Komunity Project was finished, it was the start of the Quiksilver Pro Junior, and with the dropping tide the waves showed some improvement. "The conditions are small, in the two-foot region, but we're getting some good scores coming through," said contest director Matt Wilson. "It doesn't look like it's going to get much bigger for the weekend but we're going to carry on full speed ahead for the next two days."
The first heat saw a fine performance from Cape Town surfer Brendon Gibbens as he surfed to a comfortable victory in the fun conditions. Heat four of the round of 32 saw an upset take place, with highly-touted Clinton Gravett (EL) getting eliminated in a tight heat, with victory going to Matthew Bromley from Kommetjie with fellow Kommetjie surfer Mikey February in second place. "I sat wide in that heat," said Bromley on his victory. " I picked up a good left and scored a 7.17, then picked up another 5-point ride, so the heat went well for me."
The Quiksilver Pro Junior continues tomorrow morning, with the round three heats hitting the water at 8 am sharp. It is predicted to be another fine day on the beach with small waves. For more information log onto the event mini-site www.quikprodurban.com
For more information contact
Greg Swart
Tel: 031 3131479
Fax: 031 3131489
Mobile: 27 82 579 2929
Quiksilver,
4th Floor San Angelo,
218 Stamford Hill Road,
Durban,
400
Craig Jarvis
Media Liaison
Quiksilver South Africa
082 376 4443
media@quiksilver.co.za
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