Lizzard Nandos Surf Pro
presented by the Weekend Witness

ASP 1 Star Mens & Womens WQS
New Pier, Durban
14- 17 April 2006

Tube Time for Lane and Nel at Lizzard Nandos Surf Pro

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 15 April, 2006 : - - Pro Junior surfers found themselves in the money on Saturday morning as day two of the Lizzard Nandos Surf Pro dawned on 1- 1.5 meter clean, gaping barrels - the stuff surfing dreams are made of. Kyle Lane (Durban) and Keegan Nel (East London) sounded morning alarm bells, earning near perfect 9.50 out of a possible ten point scores, for two of the most spectacular barrel rides of the competition.

Lane was the first to disappear into a deep backhand barrel that held out perfectly, as clear sheets of glassy water slid overhead, spitting him out seconds down the line and 9.50 points richer. In the very next heat Nel slipped past junior surfing sensation Jordy Smith (Umbilo), darning his way through three barrel sections to take the heat win with a 9.5 and a 5.33 out of a possible twenty points.

“I battled to find waves out there and that was my first one. It started off small and then just opened up and I came straight out,” said Nel. 2005 ASP Africa Junior Champion and top seed Brandon Jackson (Durban North) looked razor sharp and well in tune with the waves, defeating the morning’s top scorer Lane as well as Brett Shearer (Cape Town), and Brian Palmboom (Uvongo).  

Australian Junior Series campaigner Josch Schmeltzer (Westville) put in a strong showing with fluid maneuvers and photo finish turns on the bigger set waves, that saw him rise to the top of the heat sheet with a convincing win, ahead of second place Rudy Palmboom (Bluff).

Number four seed Brandon Roberts (Cape Town) wasted no time in aligning himself with the front runners with two seven plus rides that saw him defeat Chad du Toit (Durban), Justin Grey (Port Elizabeth) and Ryan Klynsmith (Durban). 

Unfortunately, conditions turned bumpy on the high tide as the women took to the surf for the first time in the afternoon. 

Former South African Champion Sacha Moller (Bluff) locked in the highest heat score of the women’s division, posting a 15.50 out of a possible twenty points for her swift committed surfing. 

Taking off deep and racing down the line with a series of powerful turns, earned Moller  two seven plus rides to defeat Danielle Le Roux (Durban); Bronwyn Coote (Durban) and Chanelle Botha (Durban). 

Womens top seed Stacey Guy (Melkbosstrand, Cape Town) came back strong after being stuck in some fishing line at the end of New Pier at the start of her heat. Guy flew down the line building momentum for a massive floater and a big white water re-entry, finishing with an excellent 8.50 out of a possible ten point score. 

Former Lizzard Nandos Surf Pro champion Sarah Johnston-Maritz’s (Warner Beach, KZN) power gauging turns and in the pocket surfing earned her the second highest wave score an 8.0, stealing the win from Michelle Hill (St Francis) by just 0.13 points.  

Lynne Mackey (Westville) caused a surprise upset when she defeated South African junior champion Tammy Lee Smith (Salt Rock). Mackey, who is relatively new to the contest scene, took a gutsy approach to her first heat, scoring a 7.00 and a 6.00 for a satisfying victory. 

“I was really lucky out there, all the waves came to me and I played it hard – I am stoked it went my way,” said Mackey. 

Other girls to advance where Tamarys de Maroussem (Westbrook); Tammy Robarts (Strand, Cape Town); Tasha Mentasti (Durban North); Tarryn Chudleigh (Cape Town), Tammy Lee Smith (Salt Rock), Michelle Immerson (Warner Beach), Jessica Mathews (St Francis), Heidi Palmboom (Bluff), Nicole Annells (Warner) and Penny Robarts (Strand, Cape Town). 

The Lizzard Nandos Surf Pro continues tomorrow with the Mens round of 40 at 08h00 followed by the Womens Quarterfinals at 13h00 and the Pro Junior Quarterfinals at 14h40. 

RESULTS

Pro Junior Men Round of 32
Heat 1: Dave Richards (Cape Town) 13.33; Devon Mundow 8.64; Beyrick de Vries 7.5; Adam Hansen 7.26
Heat 2: Brandon Roberts 14.94; Chad du Toit 11.84; Justin grey 8.34; Ryan Klynsmith 7.46
Heat 3: Clinton Gravett 12.50; Rory Beach 12.40; Mark Shepperson 8.24; Blake Freeguard 7.84
Heat 4: Brandon Jackson 15.50; Kyle Lane 14.50; Brett Shearer 12.17; Brian Palmboom 6.26
Heat 5: Keegan Nel 14.83; Jordy Smith 14.64; Steve Friedman 9.84; Shawn Dennis 5.83
Heat 6: Klee Strachan 12.67; Josh Redman 10.67; Gary Muller 9.14; Chris Leppan 7.64
Heat 7: Josch Schmeltzer 15.57; Rudy Palmboom 9.70; Lungani Memani 8.90; Jopseph Kroone 6.80
Heat 8: Kyle Jacobs 12.50; Wesley Grey 11.10; Casey Grant 9.30; Brendon Gibbens 8.47 

Womens Round of 32
Heat 1: Nicole Annells 9.53; Tasha Mentasti 8.33; Nastuzia Less 3.83; Candice Mentasti 0.93
Heat 2: Penny Robarts 10.17; Tarryn Chudleigh 7.00; Sarah Baum 5.60; Amber Kilfoil 4.40
Heat 3: Lynne Mackey 13.00; Tammy-Lee Smith 10.50; Puvashnee Naidoo 2.00; Heather Klug 0.50
Heat 4: Stacey Guy 15.17; Michelle Immerson 10.67; Kate Goldreich 9.6
Heat 5: Tamarys de Maroussem 12.57; Tammy Robarts 12.5; Grace Rheeders 3.17
Heat 6: Jessica Mathews 11.00; Heidi Palmboom 6.23; Leslee Salzman 5.67; Laura Oppel 2.40
Heat 7: Sarah Johnson 12.30; Michelle Hill 12.17; Chantel Rautenbag 7.70; Telana Flanagan 6.66
Heat 8: Sacha Moller 15.50; Danielle le Roux 9.66; Bronwyn Coote 5.50; Chanelle Botha 0.77

Mens Round of 40
Heat 1: Keegan Nel 15.33; Stanley Badger 12.43; Lee Bissett 11.07
Heat 2: Shane Warren 13.60; Justin Maisch 10.34; Manfred Adrio 9.67
Heat 3: Josch Schmeltzer 15.53; Michael Varikas 14.50; Rudy Palmboom 11.26

The Lizzard Nandos Surf Pro is a One Star rated World Qualifying Series event for Men and includes a Grade One Pro Junior and 2A Rated Womens divisions. The event holds a R92 000-prize purse. The event co-sponsors are Bavaria, Nestle Pure Life Water and Durban Africa

Previous reports:
# 1 : Top seeds set to compete in Lizzard Nandos Surf Pro..
# 2 : Smith and Logie Standouts at Lizzard Nandos Surf Pro..
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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Kirstin Scholtz

WQS Contests - Surfersvillage