Billabong I’m a Surfer Girl

SSA sanctioned event for girls
Blouberg / Melkbos, Cape Town
Saturday & Sunday, February 5&6, 2005

Kommetjie surfers triumph in Billabong “I’m a Surfer Girl”

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 09 February 2005: - - The Kommetjie based duo of Tarryn Chudleigh and Holly Armstrong continued their domination of junior girls surfing when they scooped three of the four titles at stake in the final Billabong “I’m a Surfer Girl” surfing contest staged at Melkbosstrand and Big Bay, Bloubergstrand in Cape Town over the weekend.

Chudleigh, the two-time SA U14 champion, has moved into the U16 category this year and clinched both the U16 and the premier U20 crowns in another fine display of competitive surfing, while Armstrong, now in the U14’s, wrapped up that title with an impressive performance.

The two-day event was staged in half metre waves and strong SE wind at Melkbosstrand on Saturday and near perfect beach conditions and inconsistent one metre surf at Big Bay, Bloubergstrand on Sunday, where the large crowd were treated to some eye-opening surfing by the more than 60 entrants.

Created to entice more of the rapidly expanding female surfing community into contest surfing in a fun and less intimidating environment, as well as attracting the top performers by putting a total of R7 500 at stake, the Billabong ‘I’m a Surfer Girl’ series of events has been a huge success.

Bianca Buitendag, formerly of Somerset West and now a resident of Victoria Bay, surfed her way to a narrow victory over Heidi Palmboom from Durban’s Bluff in the U12 category, with Jessica Levitt from Constantia and newcomer Roche Louwrens from Melkbos picking up third and fourth places respectively.

Armstrong was awarded a near perfect 9.0 point ride (out of 10) in the U14 final and then secured a solid 7.0 point second ride to run out a comfortable winner in the U14’s, with rising star Danielle Johnson from Muizenberg snatching second place ahead of Palmboom and Buitendag, who showed their skill and determination by qualifying for two finals.

Chudleigh’s competitive skills were evident with victory over national team member Nikita Robb from East London in the U16 division. Despite very few rideable waves during the final, Chudleigh still managed to rack up 8.5 and 7.0 point rides, relegating Robb, who has just returned from competing in Tahiti and Australia, to second place.

Lisa Mace from Somerset West showed she is going to be a force to be reckoned with in this division by snatching third place from a plucky Grace Rheeders (Morningside, Durban). Rheeders was knocked unconscious during the ‘I’m a Surfer Girl’ event in Margate last December and still went on to reach the semi-finals there.

Chudleigh was as impressive in winning the U20 final from surprise package Tanika Hoffman, an U14 competitor from Kirstenhof, who earned the best result of her short career by finishing ahead of the more experienced Robb and Melkbosstrand’s Chantelle Rautenbach. Hoffman was presented with a ‘Special Award’ at the prize-giving ceremony in recognition of her achievement.

The contest was efficiently run by Western Province Surfing with Gary Shearer and Mark Hoffman as the contest directors. The competitors all received great giveaways including a custom event T-shirt, the latest issue of Saltwater Girl magazine, Mrs Palmers surf wax and Mentholathium products Soft Lips and Deep Heat while spending their free time ‘hanging out’ in the Red Bull wigwam and energy centre.

This Billabong “I’m a Surfer Girl” event was the last of four such events staged in Muizenberg last February, Ballito, just North of Durban in September, and Margate on the KZN South Coast in December. Billabong will be revamping the format and introducing an even more exciting new series of events for girls later in the year. Contact Laureen Payne on 042-200-2600 or laureen@billabong.co.za for further details.

Results
U/12 Girls
1. Bianca Buitendag (Victoria Bay, S/Cape) R400
2. Heidi Palmboom (Bluff, Durban) R300
3. Jessica Levitt (Constantia) R200
4. Roche Louwrens (Melkbosstrand) R100

U/14 Girls
1. Holly Armstrong (Kommetjie) R500
2. Danielle Johnson (Muizenberg) R400
3. Heidi Palmboom (Bluff) R300
4. Bianca Buitendag (Victoria Bay) R200

U/16 Girls
1. Tarryn Chudleigh (Kommetjie) R600
2. Nikita Robb (East London) R500
3. Lisa Mace (Somerset West, W/Cape) R400
4. Grace Rheeders (Morningside, Durban) R300

U/20 Girls
1. Tarryn Chudleigh (Kommetjie) R1 200
2. Tanika Hoffman (Kirstenhof) R 900
3. Nikita Robb (East London) R 700
4. Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbosstrand) R 500

Special Award for Outstanding Performance
1. Tanika Hoffman (Kirstenhof)

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