Neptune Provides the Goods for the VQS Finals.

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 12 March, 2006 : - - Love was in the air for Volcom’s Woodstone ’06 and the ocean enjoyed that fact, as Durban’s Dairy Beach seemed to turn to liquid-gold for Volcom’s Qualifying Series Finals that were held on Sunday, 12 March 2006.

The 60’s inspired theme, “Woodstone”, was an absolute hit amongst the beachgoers and surfers alike and the near-perfect 3-4ft conditions were just an added bonus to a chilled day in the blazing sunshine.

It was Durban’s Warwick “Wok” Wright made the most of the superb conditions and comfortably surfed his way into first position in the Open Men’s Final, earning himself a healthy part of the R10 000 cash purse that was up for grabs during the event.

Wright also earned himself a free air-ticket to Los Angeles to compete in the VQS World Championships that will be held at California’s Newport Beach on 12-14 May 2006. His win makes him eligible to compete for the $20 000 cash purse available in that event.

But Wright’s victory wasn’t made easy thanks to a spiritually in-tune Mathew Kruger who surfed superbly in the dying minutes of the final. Kruger, who mended well after his painful slippery-slide accident earlier in the day, was still riding on a high from his Blow-Up-Boat-Race victory over St. Francis Bay’s Ryan Payne, who finished an eventual 4th place in the Open Men’s Final ahead of The Bluff’s Shane Warren, who filled the gap in 3rd position.

Volcom Team rider and Schalk Burger look-alike, Josh Redman, took the top honours in the Junior division and fell only one heat short of making the Men’s Final as well. Redman was in superb form throughout the event and dominated the 25 minute Junior Final ousting Capetonian’s Brett Shearer (2nd), Klee Strachan (3rd), and Rudy Palmboom from The Bluff.

The girl’s, who spent most of the day hiding from the harsh sun under one of the giant tepee’s that were erected for the event, made the most of their time in the water and put on an excellent display of progressive surfing. It was eventually Stacey Guy who took the Women’s title honours from Tasha Mentasti (2nd), Sarah Maritz (3rd) and Tamarys de Maroussem (4th).

But undoubtedly the highlight of the day was witnessing the Grom Division Finals for boys 15 years and younger. The display put on by all the competitors in this division was totally far-out. Shaun Joubert was the standout of the entire event and sealed the deal with an emphatic win in the final.

The young Capetonian took to the reeling right-handers like a hippie to a campfire sing-along and wowed even the most seasoned spectators. His win was even more remarkable when one considers the kind of surfing talent that he had to overcome from the likes of Dale Staples (4th) and Volcom team-riders Haydon MacNicol (3rd) and Nick Godfrey (2nd).

Godfrey, who hails from St. Francis Bay, also claimed Zigzag’s Blowing-Up award for the most progressive surfing throughout the event and pocketed a R1000 cash prize for his dazzling display of high-performance surfing from the very first heat of the event.

The “Hippie Expression Session” was also well attended as surfers, dressed in the most ludicrous of 1960’s inspired outfits, took to the water to express their individuality in the ocean’s waves. Michael Varicas was the man who expressed himself best and took first place amongst an absurd looking display of surfing.

Volcom, who work under the credo, “Let the Kids Ride Free” charged no entrance fee to any competitors in the event and even provided them with a sweet-toothed breakfast of chocolate croissants and frosted donuts, followed by free Pizza for lunch.

The top three finishers in each division are invited to compete in the Volcom World Championships to be held in California’s Newport Beach (USA) from 12-14 May.

Open Men's.
1. Warwick Wright.
2. Matt Kruger.
3. Shane Warren.
4. Ryan Payne. 

 Women.
1.Stacey Guy.
2.Tasha Mentasti.
3.Sarah Maritz.
4.Tamarys de Maroussem.
 
Juniors.
1. Josh Redman.
2. Brett Shearer.
3. Klee Strachan.
4. Rudy Palmboom. 

Groms.
1. Shaun Jubert.
2. Nick Godfrey.
3. Haydon MacNicol.
4. Dale Staples. 

VOLCOM.
Woodstone ’06 is the final stop on the South Africa leg of the Volcom Qualifying Series and is exclusive to wildcards or surfers who made the finals at one of the three regional events that Volcom hosted in 2005.

www.volcom.com

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For more information holler at Simon Nicholson on
(031) 313 1471 or for you tech-dudes e-mail to simon@volcom.co.za.

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