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

Outstanding Surfing by WCT Trio at Mr Price Pro

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 6 July, 2006 : - - South Africa's ASP World Championship Tour trio of Greg Emslie (East London), Travis Logie (Durban) and David Weare (Durban) are safely through to the men's round of 48, all three surfers advancing at the Mr Price Pro on Thursday. 

As azure 1- 1.5-meter waves poured into Durban's North Beach on one of the hottest days at the Durban Beach Africa festival, the saffa trio added to a total eight South African men who have advanced into the next round. 

Top South African seed Travis Logie set the ball rolling in the second heat of the day, blitzing his competition with an excellent 8.5 out of a possible ten-point ride, on one of the best-set waves of the morning, which he tore apart in true Logie fashion.

“When I took off on that wave, I knew that if I didn't get above an 8, I'd blown it because it was such a good wave. So I did what I normally do and I got an 8.50, I'm stoked!' said Logie who is former world number 20 and currently in his second year on the WCT. 

Four heats later and inspired by his fellow CT'ers performance, South Africa's top surfer on the WCT Greg Emslie, currently rated 16 in the world, stamped his dominance against a tough international field of Troy Brooks (Aus), Jeremy Flores (Reunion) and French surfer Tim Boal.

Lying second at the five minute mark, Emslie took off on one of the bigger set waves performing two huge off the top turns, throwing buckets of spray and riding almost all the way to the sand to score a 7.67 (out of 10.00) which sent crowds into thunderous applause. Emslie moved straight into first place and advanced ahead of Brooks into the next round. 

In an amazing heat of high-flying scores and an extremely close shave for Davie Weare, South Africa's third addition to the WCT tour just scraped through behind former Mr Price Pro champion Beto Fernandes (Brazil) in their round of 96 match-up.  

Falling down to fourth position after a solid 8.83 by Fernandes, followed by a 6.50-barrel ride by Hank Gaskell, Weare was in desperate need of a miracle. Bouncing back with a spicy combination of floater, cutback and 180 aerial manuevers, Weare earned a 7.83 and moved up to third. 

But with another impressive ride by Luke Munro, Weare was in need of another average score and with two minutes remaining, took off on a good looking wave, posting a powerful re-entry and speedy tail slide, earning slightly more than his required 5.4 score and a ticket into second place.  

Durban's Warwick Wright was the fourth South African to advance, finishing second behind heat winner Nathaniel Curran (USA) to join yesterdays advancing surfers Antonio Bortoletto (Durban), Ricky Basnett (Bluff), Jordy Smith (Umbilo) and Clinton Gravett (East London) in the men's round of 48 on Friday. 

The women's round of 48, which took to the water at 11h 00, saw some surprise upsets for the South African contingent. Top seed and ASP World number five Heather Clark (Port Shepstone), number one on the ASP Africa Pro Surf Tour Stacey Guy (Cape Town) and Pro Junior champion Nikita Robb (East London) were all eliminated from the competition.  

Clark was the biggest of the day's disappointments and despite opening up with three powerful turns and a respectable 6.83, found herself out of place in the line-up, allowing the defending Champion Melanie Bartels (Hawaii) and talented Silvana Lima (Brazil) free reign on the main peak, and a first class ride into the next round.

Nevertheless, five South African girls have advanced.  Five times ASP African champion Tamarys de Marroussem (Westbrook) and former South African junior champion Rosy Hodge (East London) won their respective heats, de Marroussem advancing ahead of Lindsay Baldwin (USA), while Hodge snatched first over Sarah Maritz (Warned Beach). 

Advancing in second place was world number 10 on the WQS Tammy Lee Smith (Ballito) and Sarah Baum (Warner Beach) who at only 12-years-old, surprised all by advancing through three rounds of competition at her first ever-pro event.

Compeition resumes tomorrow with the men's round of 48 followed by the womens round of 24

Results

Men's Round of 96 Heat No. 15- 24

Heat 15: Frederic Robin(Reu)- 12.83; Marcelo Trekinho(Bra)- 12.80
Heat 16: Travis Logie(Rsa)- 14.57;Patrick Gudauskas(Usa)- 13.34
Heat 17: Kai Otton(Aus)- 14.67;Paulo Moura(Bra)- 10.00
Heat 18:Nathaniel Curran(Usa)- 12.63;Warwick Wright(Rsa)- 12.50
Heat 19:Brett Simpson(Usa)- 14.50;Shaun Gossman(Aus)- 13.73
Heat 20:Greg Emslie(Rsa)- 13.07;Troy Brooks(Aus)- 11.53
Heat 21:Nic Muscroft(Aus)- 11.56;Victor Ribas(Bra)- 11.36
Heat 22:Beto Fernandes(Bra)- 14.23; David Weare(Rsa)- 13.63
Heat 23: Joel Centeio(Haw)- 13.86; Maz Quinn(Nzl)- 11.00
Heat 24: Dayyan Neve(Aus)- 14.50; Alex Grey(Usa)- 11.17

Women's Round of 48 

Heat 1: Caroline Sarran(Fra)- 14.34;Stephanie Gilmore(Aus)- 13.50
Heat 2: Melanie Bartels(Haw)- 15.20;Silvana Lima(Haw)- 15.16
Heat 3: Sheridan Sheilds(Aus)- 12.17;Laurina McGrath(Aus)-  10.50
Heat 4: Lauren Sweeney(Usa)- 15.24;Megan Abubo(Haw)- 14.16
Heat 5:Carina Petroni(Usa)- 15.00;Suelen Naraisa(Bra)
Heat 6:Tamarys de Maroussem(Rsa)- 8.90; Lindsay Baldwin(Usa)- 8.70
Heat 7: Amee Donohoe(Aus)- 14.10; Tammy lee Smith(Rsa)- 10.66
Heat 8: Rebecca Woods(Aus)- 12.10; Sarah Baum(Rsa)- 6.40
Heat 9:Jaqueline Silva(Bra)- 12.60; Juliana Quint(Bra)- 11.00
Heat 10:Rosy Hodge(Rsa)- 12.00; Sarah Maritz(Rsa)- 8.73
Heat 11:Jessi Miley –Dryer(Aus)- 12.84; Anali Gomez(Per)- 9.90
Heat 12: Jaimee Wheatly(Aus)- 13.33; Kaori Mayaguchi(Jpn)- 9.70

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 : Rautenbach leads SA girls charge at Mr Price Pro '06
# 7 : Durban duo Bortoletto & Smith on a roll at Mr Price Pro
# 8 : Coming soon    

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