2A Rated Hutchinson Handcrasted Pro

Pro Surfing Tour/Surfing South Africa
Balito, KZN North Coast South Africa
15 - 17 December 2006

2A Rated Hutchinson Handcrasted Pro will play a role in  deciding the 2006 PST Champion

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 7 December, 2006 : - - The 2A Rated Hutchison Handcrafted Pro is the final event of the  Professional Surfing Tour (PST) for 2006. It will be held at Surfer’s Point, Ballito, on the KwaZulu Natal North Coast, South  Africa. This stretch of pristine coastline is praised for its beauty  and top quality surfing conditions.

The series of bays that make up  this beautiful holiday town are ideally suited to handle any swell or  wind that the Indian Ocean can dish up, and its because of this that  the event is predicted to take place in excellent conditions for  surfing.

The event consists of three divisions, the Men’s, Women’s and Pro  Junior Division as well as a separate “Retro Expression Session” that  will see surfers compete on the surfboard designs of yesteryear in a  number of fun-filled, high-action heats.

Current International Surfing Association (ISA) Men’s World Champion,  Jordy Smith (DBN), will be competing in both the Men’s Division and  the PRO Junior Division. Smith, who IS currently  fourth place on the  2006 PST ratings , will be on a mission to secure a good result at  the Hutchison Handcrafted Pro in order to make a bid for the title. 

The youngster is fresh off a massive victory at the ISA World Surfing  Games that were held at California’s Huntington Beach and will be  bursting with confidence. Smith’s charge will be met head-on by  reigning PST Champion, Shane Thorne (DBN), and current PST ratings  leader and ASP WQS campaigner Warwick Wright (DBN). The Women’s Division will see  Tamarys de Maroussem (DBN) take on  current PST number two Stacey Guy (Melkbosstrand)

Also in the hunt  for the title is 2005 US Open Junior winner Nikita Robb from East  London. Robb, the current under 18 SA Champion, is fresh off a win in  both the Open and u18 divisions at the Roxy Wahine Cup last weekend  and will be a tough competitor to beat. Local favourite Tammy Lee  Smith (Salt Rock) will hope to exploit her local knowledge of the  conditions and take victory in the final event of the year.

The Junior Division will see tough competition from the next  generation of South Africa surf stars. While current ISA Champion,  Jordy Smith is the obvious favourite in the Junior division, a whole  host of young guns will be making his bid for the double very  difficult indeed.

With R20 000 worth of prize money up for grabs as well as PST ratings  points available, the last  event of 2006 looks set to be an absolute  humdinger. Heat draws will be available on the SSA website  from Monday the 11th December. All competitors need to be at the beach on Friday, 15 December, at  7.30am.

About the Hutchinson Handcrafted Pro
The Hutchison Handcrafted Pro is the final stop ON the 2006  Professional Surf Tour (PST) and is a Surfing South Africa (SSA)  sanctioned event. The Hutchison Handcrafted Pro is proudly supported by: Bedboys  Ballito, Furnishings by Conrad, Friendly Supermarket, Sailors Bottle  Store, Dream Nails, U Investing in Health, Secret Spot.  The revamped SubZero nightclub is the official party host for the event.

Previous reports:
# 1 : 2A rated Hutchinson Handcrafted Pro amps for Balito SA
# 2 : Coming soon
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

www.hh-surfboards.com
www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za 

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Brendon Thomas

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