O’Neill Scottburgh Pro

Surfing South Africa
Scottburgh Beach KZN
29 - 30 March 2008

Surfers Paradise to Co-sponsor 2008 O’Neill Scottburgh Pro

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 27 March, 2008 : - - The O’Neill Scottburgh Pro, taking place at Scottburgh’s main beach this weekend (29 – 30 March), has been boosted by sponsorship from Surfers Paradise, a chain of surf stores operating in the Scottburgh area. The event forms part of the Surfing South Africa (SSA) Pro Surf Tour (PST).

Mark Fessler, a former WQS campaigner and owner of the Surfer’s Paradise stores, is the driving force behind the resurrection of this Scottburgh-based event. The event, operating under different sponsorship, was a great success in 2005 when Scottburgh local and current WQS journeyman Gavin Roberts took the title. Sadly, the following year the sponsors pulled out and the event fell away.

Fessler, at the time, was working for O’Neill and managed to secure sponsorship for the 2007 event, the inaugural O’Neill Scottburgh Pro. Although Fessler is no longer working for O’Neill, his enthusiasm to “do something for a town which has done so much for him” has not waned, and has resulted in the inclusion of Surfer’s Paradise as additional sponsors of the 2008 event.

One of the initiatives taken by the Surfer’s Paradise crew is the Surfer’s Paradise Chill-Out area, where Scottburgh locals and other KZN surfers can relax between heats. Scottburgh is well represented this year, with a number of the local guys taking part in the event.

O’Neill team riders Quinton Shabalala and Kelvin Zehmke will be aiming to do their sponsors proud at their title event, while Gavin Roberts and rising star Casey Grant will also be looking to benefit from their knowledge of the conditions.

Last years event featured men’s Grade 3A and women’s Grade 1A open divisions, won by Josh Redman (Umdloti) and Stacey Guy (Melkbosstrand) respectively. There is an improved itinerary this year, with the addition of a men’s Grade 2A pro junior division.

With last years men’s winner absent from this years event, Paul Canning (Durban) will be looking to improve on the 2nd place he achieved last year. However, surfers such as Frankie Oberholzer (Winkelspruit), Antonio Bortoletto (Durban) and Simon Nicholson (Durban) will also be looking to stake a claim to a portion of the R20 000 on offer in the men’s open division.

As with the men’s open division, last years winner of the women’s division is not taking part in the 2008 event. There is still a very strong field, however, with Tasha Mentasti (Durban), Tara Hossack (J Bay) and Danielle le Roux (Umhlanga) all vying for the R2500 first prize.

The newly-introduced men’s pro junior division is sure to be hugely competitive, with a number of the entrants having competed in the internationally rated Oakley Pro Junior contest last weekend. Klee Strachan (Winkelspruit), Casey Grant, Nic Godfrey (Cape St Francis) and Matt Bromley (Kommetjie) all performed well in the Oakley contest, and are among the favourites to take home the R5000 first prize in the junior division.

As an added incentive the Zigzag Blowing Up Expression Session will award R1000 and a unique hand grenade trophy to the top surfer in this event. Beachgoers will be in for a treat as free ‘learn to surf’ clinics will be hosted by Point Surf Academy under the guidance of Scottburgh local and Surfing South Africa accredited coach Shaun Hague.

On Saturday night Phat Boyz will be hosting a party for all of the surfers and spectators. Co-sponsors for the O’Neill Scottburgh Pro include Surfers Paradise Surf Stores, Wimpy Scottburgh, Phat Boyz, Ocean Minded and Nestle Pure Life Water. The event is organized by Nerve Events.

Previous reports:
# 1 : South Africa's south coast to host O’Neill Scottburgh Pro
# 2 : O'Neill's Casey Grant fired up for O’Neill Scottburgh Pro..
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

www.oneillsa.com
www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za

 
  O'Neill TV | Events | Team | News | Downloads  

More African Surfing News available here
Check the latest Africa Surf Reports and Forecasts

New! B2B News ASBE-Surf   |  Receive News-Alerts

Olivia Jones

Contests - Surfersvillage