Mr Price Pro

ASP 6 Star Mens WQS Event
ASP 5 Star Womens WQS Event
North Beach, Durban
30 June- 9 July 2006

Scores/Results/Photos/Video etc

Rautenbach Leads SA Girls Charge at Mr Price Pro

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 5 July, 2006 : - - Entering the water for the first time on Wednesday, South Africa’s female contingent made first impressions last with six girls advancing through six heats, in the first round of the women’s five star World Qualifying Series Mr Price Pro.  

Pitted against a host of international talent, Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbosstrand), Sarah Maritz (Warner Beach),  Sarah Baum (Warner Beach), Tarryn Chudleigh (Scarbourgh), Nicole Annels (Margate) and Telana Flanagan (East London) all advanced into the first round of money, the women’s round of 48 at Durban’s North Beach.  

Leading the charge was National Junior team member Chantelle Rautenbach who, at 16, rose to the challenge of her first ever WQS event, posting the second highest individual wave score of the women’s contest so far,  an 8.33 out of a possible ten points.  

With a series of lightening fast snaps, finished off with a closeout re-entry, Rautenbach defeated the Japanese duo of Kaori Mayaguchi and Erina Taniguchi as well as South African Champion Penny Robarts (Somerset West).  

“I’m so stoked because I got knocked out in Pro Junior event, so I’m just glad I made it through that last heat,” grinned Rautenbach. Twelve-year-old Sarah Baum, the youngest competitor in the even, turned heads in heat four when she advanced in second position behind French surfer Amandine Sanchez.

Defeating girls almost twice her age, including Papa Luana (Caribbean) and local surfer Lynne Mackey (Westville) Baum said, “That’s the first time I’ve made it through a heat in a pro event. I’m going to get some money so I’m stoked! I’ll try my hardest to make it through some more heats, but mainly I’m trying to go out there and just have fun.”

Another Warner Beach surfer to advance on Wednesday was multiple runner-up at the South African Championships, Sarah Maritz who took charge of heat five with a good five-point ride.  

Maritz held onto the lead until the last few minutes when the feisty Juliana Quint (Brazil) managed to step into first place, defeating Maritz by less than a point. Both surfers advanced into the next round.  

A round one victory from world-renowned Stephanie Gilmore (Aus) was no surprise, the Australian youngster defeating Telana Flanagan (East London), Bronwyn Coote (Durban) and Lindsay Brown (USA).  

With a surfing style increasingly compared to some of the best male surfers in the world, Gilmore already has a World Championship Tour title to her credit, winning the Roxy Pro, Australia as a wildcard in 2005. Gilmore posted the highest individual wave and two wave heat total scores of the women’s event and could be a title contender at this year’s Mr Price Pro.  

Others to advance were Jenny Quam (USA), Tais Almeida (BRZ), Juliana Quint (BRZ) and Kaori Mayaguchi (JPN). Top seeds enter the water for the women’s round of 48 at 11h10 am tomorrow (Thursday). The Mr Price Pro women’s division is a five star WQS event which holds a $25,000 (R172, 500) women’s prize-money purse and is one of the most prestigious events on the women WQS. 

The defending Mr Price Pro champion is Melanie Bartels (Hawaii) who has returned to Durban to defend her title.

Results Womens Round of 60 

Heat 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS); Telana Flanagan (EL)
Heat 2: Jenny Quam (USA); Nicole Annels (Margate)
Heat 3: Tais Almeida (BRA); Tarryn Chudleigh (CT)
Heat 4: Amandine Sanchez (FRA); Sarah Baum (Warner Beach)
Heat 5: Juliana Quint (BRA); Sarah Maritz (Warner Beach)
Heat 6: Chantelle Rautenbach (CT); Kaori Mayaguchi (JPN) 

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 : Eight surfers advance into the Mr Price Pro main event
# 4 : Jordy Smith an early standout at Mr Price Pro in Durban

# 5 : Four South Africans ‘in the Money’ at the Mr Price Pro...
# 6 : Coming soon
# 7 : Coming soon
# 8 : Coming soon    

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For more information Contact;

Mr Price Sports Marketing
Clynt Lund
clund@mrpricegroup.com

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kirstin@tostee.com

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