Mr Price Pro

ASP 6 Star WQS Event
North Beach, Durban
30 June- 9 July 2006

Scores/Results/Photos/Video etc

Eight Surfers Advance into the Main Event

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 2 July, 2006 : - - After three rounds of intense competition during the Mens trials of the Six Star World Qualifying Series Mr Price Pro at Durban’s North Beach on Sunday, eight talented surfers have earned their places in the main event. Justin Sanders (St Francis Bay) popped the cork early on Sunday when he became the first South African to advance into the main event defeating French World Qualifying Series Campaigner Eric Rebiere, who advanced in second.  

While Rebiere opted to sit wide catching the left running waves, Sanders took hold of the mid peak. Leaving nothing to chance, Sanders's critical surfing and controlled finishes earned him the highest individual wave score of the final round, a 7.17 out of a possible 10.00. “I’m really pleased to make it into the main event, that was my goal here today and even though the waves were quite small I got two really good rides so I’m stoked,” said Sanders who recently moved back to Durban after a ten-year stint in St Frances.  

Surfing this event since 1995, and with an equal 17th place finish in 1997, Sanders is eager to step up his performance this year. “My goal is to get as far as I can in the competition. I’d like to get into the quarterfinals but it’s going to be super hard; every heat from now on is like a final so even if I just get into the money rounds I will be stoked.” 

With a potent combination of top-to-bottom, fin-free surfing, Shane Warren (Bluff) became the third surfer to advance into the main followed by Matt Daniels (Bluff) who was the fourth. A standout from the first round, Warren’s low centre of gravity and vast experience in the powerful waves of the Bluff, made him a firm favourite for the main event.  

“I think the Bluff surfers charge more than the Durban surfers. Growing up there you’re forced to go out when it’s big because there is nowhere else to surf, so it definitely gives you that edge over the town surfers,” said Warren. 

Heat three proved to be a ding-dong battle between Durban surfers Dane Patterson (Morningside) and Ryan Bisset (Musgrave). Exchanging waves a number of times it was Patterson’s explosive front-side surfing and polished finishes that earned him two solid six-point scores over Bisset, with both surfers advancing into the main event.  

Former ASP Africa champion (1995), 32-year-old Seth Hulley (Cape Town) who grew up surfing between the piers of Durban’s Golden mile and has five ASP Africa titles and three WQS titles to his credit, proved he has not lost his touch, despite not surfing an event in months. Hulley, who towers at 1.95 meters, packed a powerful punch in the 1-meter waves, defeating junior surfer Brett Shearer (Cape Town) who finished in second and was the last of the eight surfers into tomorrow’s event. 

“Its been a long time since I’ve surfed a heat so my first round was nerve- wracking but I soon found my rhythm and am really impressed with how I did,” explained Hulley who surfed his first Gunston five hundred back in 1987. With an equal fifth place finish at the Gunston 500 back in 1994, Hulley has a long way to go in the men’s event but, if his performance on Sunday is anything to go by, Mr Price will be pleased they convinced him to enter South Africa’s premier surfing event. 

300 surfers from around the world have arrived in Durban and are preparing to contest for one of the most prestigious titles on the ASP World Qualifying Series tour. With a six star rating for men and five star rating for women, some of the best surfers in the world will contest for R1 Million in prize-money over the next seven days, culminating with the women’s and men’s finals next weekend.  

To watch all the action live from North Beach log-on to www.mrpricepro.com 

Previous reports:
# 1 : Mr Price Pro WQS in Durban expecting a fantastic start
# 2 : Big upsets as Mr Price Pro Junior finalists are decided
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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