O'Neill Scottburgh Pro

SSA Pro Mens and Womens event
Scottburgh Beach, KZN Coast South Africa
24 - 25 March 2007

25 -Foot Swell Damage Threatens To Halt the O’Neill Scottburgh Pro This Weekend

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 20 March, 2007 : - - The O’Neill Scottburgh Pro which is scheduled to take place in Scottburgh on the Kwa Zulu Natal south coast at the weekend may be postponed due to the onslaught of the mammoth 25 foot swell that has wreaked havoc in KZN over the past few days.

The freak swell combined with the equinox destroyed beaches, buildings and roads along the coastline and caused enormous damage. Representatives from Surfing South Africa, sponsors O’Neill and Event Coordinator Nerve Events will make a final decision to run the event or postpone it, at 15h00 on Tuesday, March 20.

“It is by far the biggest swell we have ever seen in Scottburgh. Our main beach has handled the dramatic high tides and gigantic swell fairly well in comparison to some of the other beaches on the KZN coast. However there is fairly extensive damage to the main beachfront especially the public pool and the kids’ beach train whose railway track has literally been ripped apart by the swell.

We are praying that the O’Neill Scottburgh Pro will still be able to be held this weekend and hope the ocean will settle as soon as possible,” commented Scottburgh resident and O’Neill spokesperson Mark Fessler. Sea conditions are expected to worsen on Tuesday which may make it impossible for organizers to erect any scaffolding for the contest tower.

“Numerous calls have come into the Nerve Centre which indicate that the waves on the South Coast are out of control. Construction of the event tower has been halted due to unsafe conditions and it is definitely not safe for a contest at this time," said Paul Godwin of Nerve Events.