Prestigious surf event for Durban

A MASSIVE contingent of highly ranked international surfers will join the cream of South Africa’s competitors in the Volkswagen SA Open of Surfing presented by Hurley, making the World Surf League (WSL) rated event for men, women and junior men and women the most prestigious to be held on the Durban beachfront in a decade.

Scheduled for Wednesday 14 to Sunday, 18 June at New Pier on Dairy Beach, the event offers more than R1 million in prize money, along with precious points on the WSL Qualifying Series (QS) rankings which determine surfers’ qualification and seeding in events worldwide.

The sixth of 12 WSL events to be staged in South African waters this year, and the fourth in the inaugural City Surf Series, the Volkswagen SA Open of Surfing is headlined by the QS3,000 men’s event which offers a US $75,000 (approx. R975,000) prize purse, of which the winner pockets more than R150,000 and 3,000 points.

The 160 man field features many of the most exciting emerging talents in world surfing, including Yago Dora (Brazil) whose high-flying aerial manoeuvres saw him earned a wildcard into the Oi Rio Pro Championship Tour (CT) event last month.

The young Brazilian eliminated reigning WSL champion and current Championship Tour (CT) rankings leader John John Florence (Hawaii) and former world champs Gabriel Medina (Brazil) and Mick Fanning (Australia) on his way to third place.

Other international stars in the biggest entry for a QS3,000 this year are current QS No. 2 Hiroto Ohhara (Japan) and former CT members Davey Cathels (Australia), Keanu Asing (Hawaii), Ricardo Christie (New Zealand), Alejo Muniz (Brazil) and Tanner Gudauskas (USA).

The South African challenge is headed by the inform Michael February (Kommetjie), Beyrick de Vries (uMhlanga), Matt McGillivray (Jeffreys Bay) and the other 23 South Africans who have qualified for the event are in the Round of 160.

The 32 strong field for the QS1,000 women’s event includes a dozen international competitors with Zoe McDougall (Hawaii) the highest ranked at No. 18. Emma Smith (Jeffreys Bay), Nicole Pallet (La Lucia) and Crystal Hulett (St Francis Bay) spearhead the South Africa challenge.

Jake Elkington (Kommetjie) and Sophie Bell (Salt Rock) top the regional rankings heading into the JQS1,000 junior men’s and women’s events respectively.

The provisional schedule for the Volkswagen SA Open of Surfing sees the junior champions crowned on Friday 16 June, the women’s title decided on Saturday and the men’s final run on Sunday.

An outreach programme will be conducted by Surfing South Africa (SSA) during the event. Participants will be involved in beach activities, water coaching, a tag team contest, beach relays and an Easter egg hunt with all participants receiving breakfast, lunch and a commemorative medal.

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