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

O'Neill SA Open of Surfing starts in great surf and perfect weather

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 27 May, 2006 : - - Light north west winds, sunshine  and excellent 1.2  to two metre (4 - 6 foot) Nahoon Reef surf greeted contestants on Day One of the 2006 O'Neill SA Open of Surfing this morning (Saturday), but by late afternoon the wind had changed to a fresh south-wester and the sets had increased to over six foot. 

Contestants in the late afternoon heats also had to battle a strong rip tide and the contest director, Cyril Nel, reports that the wind and surf could well be even more challenging on the final day of surfing (Sunday). 

Surfers advancing from the competitive early rounds of Men’s, who will come up against the top 16 seeds in the round of 32 include East London locals Devyn Mattheys, Simon Fish, 2004 SA Open Champion Royden Bryson and 2005 Pro Junior winner Keegan Nel, Warren Tuck and Lyle Meek (both Jeffreys Bay), Shaun Payne (St Francis Bay), Justin Maisch (Scottburgh), Warwick Heny (Port Alfred), Granville West (PE) and Scott Venter (Bluff). 

Talented teenager Jordy Smith (Durban) was unexpectedly eliminated in the round of 48 but is still in contention in the Pro Juniors where he advanced to a match up with the top eight seeds in the quarter finals. Others to reach the last 16 were Kyle Galloway and Aaron Reilly, (both EL), Brett Shearer, Josh Salie (both Kommetjie), Joseph Krone (Mossel Bay), Brendan Booth Jones (PE) and Rory Beach (Dbn). 

East London local Rosanne Hodge, the only girl competing in the Pro Junior boys event, advanced to the quarter finals there as well as reaching the semi finals of the Women's event, where she is the defending champion. 

Others who battled the tough afternoon conditions to reach the Women's semis were Stacey Guy (Melkbosstrand), Sarah Maritz (Warner Beach), Michelle Hill (Cape St Francis), Tasha Mentasti and Tamarys de Maroussem (both Durban), Tammy Lee Smith (Salt Rock) and  Nikita Robb (EL) who in fact beat Hodge into second place in their heat.

Penny Robarts (Somerset West), the recently crowned SA Champion was a surprise elimination in the first round of the girls event. 

According to the swell report for the Eastern Cape region, the East London area can expect the surf to increase to well over 10 foot overnight and the final day of the third edition of the O'Neill SA Open of Surfing is bound to sort out the champions from the also rans.

The 2006 O'Neill SA Open of Surfing offers a total of R17 500 in prize-money in the 2A rated Men's and 1A rated Women's and 2A rated Pro Junior events. 

The Zig Zag Blowing up Award, comprising a unique trophy and R1000 in cash, goes to the surfer who performs the best at the event in the opinion of the Atoll Media crew.  

The O'Neill SA Open of Surfing is the fourth contest on the 2006 ASP Africa Pro Surf Tour.

Previous reports:
# 1 : O'Neill SA Open sees Stone, Hodge & Nel defend titles
# 2 : Coming soon
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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