WQS 6 Star Mens Event
Cave Rock/New Pier Durban South Africa
16 - 22 April 2007

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

QUIKSILVER PRO AFRICA – DAY FOUR 

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 18 April, 2007 : - -  Amidst rain squalls and gusting winds some red-hot surfing took place in the round of 96 of the Quiksilver Pro Africa. The conditions fluctuated between three to four-foot, and the rain hit the beach sporadically throughout the day. The surfers took to the water with gusto despite the sometimes difficult conditions, with a fair smattering of good-to-excellent high scoring rides being awarded by the judges.

After the storm that hit last night there were a few hiccups with the live feed, but the stats for the www.quikpro.com website for yesterday peaked at 21,000 hits, proving the effectiveness of this medium as a way of allowing people the world over to view all the action going down.

The first heat in the water was straight into a major upset situation, with hot favourite local surfer Travis Logie bowing out of the event, in a heat that saw blinding rain, few waves and some fierce paddle battles. Durban North surfer Brandon Jackson vindicated his wildcard into the event by taking the heat, against Jorge Spanner from Brazil in second, Bacalso Kekoa from Hawaii in third and Logie in fourth.

“The waves weren’t too good for that heat, so it all came down to competing,” said a stoked Jackson after his heat. “Quiksilver gave me this opportunity by providing me with a wildcard and I’m not going to waste that opportunity. I gave nothing in that heat, despite the hassling.”

TJ Barron : photo Barry Tuck/Quiksilver

In contrast, South African surfer Dylan Stone from Port Elizabeth won his heat with relative ease, seeming not to even notice the other competitors in the water. Dylan, who came up against American Darren O’Rafferty, and Simao Romao and Bernado Mirando, both from Brazil, hooked into some great waves to take the win.

“I was trying to get some of the waves close to the pier, but could see that there were some good wide ones coming through as well,” said Stone. “It seemed like there were waves for everyone. There was no-one near me when I got the good ones. I’m stoked to get this far but for sure I want to go a lot further.”

Heat eight was a really high-scoring and tight heat, with the two South Africans Ricky Basnett and Rudy Palmboom both from The Bluff, coming up against American Ben Bourgeois and Shaun Gossman from Australia. Gossman, previously from Durban and a former local at New Pier, went head-to-head with the young Rudy Palmboom, with WCT surfer Ricky Basnett as well as Bourgeois struggling to find any waves or rhythm.

“It was quite difficult out there. The rain came down and it was difficult to see where the sets were going,” said Gozzy on the beach. “The waves near the pier were looking so good during my heat. They were a bit thicker, and were throwing a bit, where some of the wide ones were looking quite flat. It was a really high-scoring heat, so I’m stoked to get through.”

In heat 10 Mason Ho decided not to surf after incurring a serious injury during his heat the previous day. Hawaiian Ho, son of Hawaiian legend Michael Ho, was pulling his board back after a wave when it shot at him and sliced his foot, resulting in a laceration that needed nine stitches.

Travis Logie : photo Barry Tuck/Quiksilver

“It wasn’t that painful at the time,”said Ho on the beach today, sporting a heavily bandaged foot. “I was planning on surfing today, but as the day progressed it got more and more painful so I decided against surfing my heat.” Ho was philosophical about his decision though. “Yeah, everything happens for a reason, and I’m having a great trip anyway.”

The waves remained stormy, but were improving throughout the day. Heat 15 was a cracker, with Dane Reynolds coming up against the Hawaiian duo of Nathan Carrol and TJ Barron, as well as Tanio Barreto from Brazil in good conditions.

“The waves were fun out there. I had a bit of a slow start to my heat, and my board felt a bit funky underfoot, but I eventually got going,” said Dane in the pouring rain after his heat. “I was just looking for some space out there. I don’t really like to hassle with the other competitors so I was just looking for empty waves. If the surfers go wide I tend to go deep, and if they go deep I tend to go wide.”

As stated earlier, due to the heavy downpour of rain, the live webcast, presented by John Shimooka and Martin Potter had a bit of a wonky start, but was up and running by lunchtime. Those people who can’t get down to the New Pier can enjoy live streaming of the event from their computers on the website

The contest starts again tomorrow at 9 o’clock sharp with the round of 48. The event runs through until Sunday 22 April, when the finals will be held. This weekend also sees the Virgin Mobile text therapy massage facility, where text addicts who have been accessing the Quik mobi site (quikproafrica.mobi)  can come and get a complimentary hand and foot massage from the Virgin Mobile gazebo on the beach. 

About Quiksilver:
Quiksilver, Inc. (NYSE:ZQK) is the world's leading outdoor sports company, which designs, produces and distributes a diversified mix of branded apparel, winter sports and golf equipment, footwear, accessories and related products. The Company's apparel and footwear brands represent a casual lifestyle for young-minded people that connect with its boardriding culture and heritage, while its winter sports and golf brands symbolise a long standing commitment to technical expertise and competitive success on the mountains and on the links.

Check the Live Coverage 

- Action from today - 

 - More photos from today -

Previous reports:
# 1 : Quiksilver Pro Africa by Virgin Mobile coming to Durban
# 2 : Quiksilver Pro Africa by Virgin announce event wildcards
# 3 : Quiksilver Pro Africa to host revolutionary live technology
# 4 : SA locals Wok, Fahrenfort get Quik Pro Africa wildcards 
# 5 : South Africa surf city Durban backs Quiksilver Pro Africa

# 6 : Quiksilver Pro Africa by Virgin Mobile readies for action
# 7 : Quik Pro Africa expecting good waves: website goes live
# 8 : Shea Lopez starts off strong at the Quiksilver Pro Africa 
# 9 : Clean offshore conditons for Quiksilver Pro Africa Day 2
# 10 : Small, fun surf for day three of the Quiksilver Pro Africa

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