O'Neill SA Open of Surfing

2A Men's, 2A Pro Junior & 1A Women's ASP Africa Pro Surf Tour event
Nahoon Reef, East London
27 - 28 May 2006

Defending champions Stone, Hodge and Nel to defend their titles

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 23 May, 2006 : - - 2005 SA Open champions Dylan Stone, Rosanne Hodge and Keegan Nel to defend their titles in the 2006 O'Neill SA Open of Surfing in East London this weekend.

Defending Men's Division champion Dylan Stone of Port Elizabeth, two time Women's champion Rosanne Hodge and fellow East London surfer Keegan Nel, who won the Pro Junior crown last year, will all be back to defend their titles at the 2006 O'Neill SA Open of Surfing which takes place at Nahoon Reef in East London this weekend.

Also in the lineup is 2004 Men's winner Royden Bryson of East London, who won the WP Open in Cape Town in March. Bryson is an experienced ASP World Qualifying Series campaigner and a Nahoon Reef local and he is determined to secure a second SA Open win.

Some of the big names among the 64 surfers entered in the premier Men's division of this 2A rated ASP Africa Pro surf Tour Event are WQS surfers Warwick Wright, Dan Redman, Ricky Basnett (all Durban), Gavin Roberts (Scottburgh), newly crowned SA Champion Quintin Jones of WP and his runner up Simon Fish of East London, former SA Champion and current ASP Africa champion Shane Thorne of Durban, Ryan and Shaun Payne of St Francis, Baggies Pro winner dane Patterson of Durban, Orrin, Tyrell and Jethro Johnson of East London, Granville West of PE, former SA Champ and national team captain Wayne Monk of East London and Jordy Smith of Durban, who just over a week ago won the silver medal in the Under 18 division of the ISA World Junior championships in Brazil.

Other surfers who could challenge for a place in the final are Matt Kruger (Dbn), East London local Devyn Mattheys, David Richards of Kommetjie and Frankie Oberholzer of Warner Beach.

Joining Nel in the Pro Junior Division is Josch Schmeltzer of Durban who was the Pro Junior champion in 2004.They will come up against the likes of David Richards, Brett Shearer and Josh Salie of Kommetjie,Jordy Smith and fellow Durban Under 20's Josh Redman and Rory Beach and a talented crop of East London locals such as Clinton Gravett, Gary Muller and defending champion Nel.

Lungani Memani from Port Alfred is also in the lineup as is Rosanne Hodge who has decided to compete against the boys.

In the Women's Division Hodge will find the going tough when she comes up against  former SA Champion Tamarys de Maroussem, former O'Neill Cold Water Classic winner Tasha Mentasti (both Durban) fellow East London surfers Nikita Robb and Telana Flanagan and Stacey Guy of Melkbosstrand but Hodge knows Nahoon Reef like the back of her hand and has a great record at this difficult break.

The Women's division will feature two sets of twins in SA Champion Penny Robarts and her sister Tammy from Somerset West and East London twins Alice and Laurie Mc Gregor

The 2006 O'Neill SA Open of Surfing offers a total of R17500 in prizemoney to the surfers in the 2A rated Men's and 1A rated Women's and 2A rated Pro Junior Divisions.

The Zig Zag Blowing up Award, which consists of a unique trophy and R1000 in cash and goes to the surfer who performs the best at the event in the opinion of the Atoll Media crew, will also be awarded at this event. 

An opening function for will be held at Buccaneers at Eastern Beach at 18h30 on Friday May 26 and all are welcome. The O'Neill SA Open of Surfing is the fourth contest on the 2006 ASP Africa Pro Surf Tour.

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Robin de Kock

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