Andre Malherbe : photo Jake White

Team News

International Surfing Association
Punta Rocas, Peru
29 March - 6 April 2008

Andre Malherbe leads the way as SA surfers dominate on Day 4 in Peru

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 4 April, 2008 : - - Andre Malherbe produced a powerful performance at the ISA World Masters Surfing Championships in Peru on Thursday, top scoring with an outstanding 18.0 points out of 20 as Team South Africa dominated proceedings on Day 4 of the event.

Competing in solid two metre waves in Round 3 of the winners stream in the Grand Masters (Over 40) division, the younger of the East London based Malherbe brothers, utilised manoeuvres honed at his home break of Nahoon Reef to post an early 8.5 point ride before racking up a near perfect 9.5, the joint highest single ride of the event, to accumulate the day’s best heat tally.

“It was good to get a good win under my belt and be one step closer to the final,” Malherbe said. “I’m so exited about the prospect of making my first final. I was in the Masters division last year, so I’m ready to go hard in my Round 4 heat. I’m looking forward to it.”

He now meets his brother David, Peruvian surfing legend Magoo De La Rosa and former ASP World Tour campaigner Jo Jo De Olivenca (Brazil) in Round 4 where the top two progress directly to the Grand Masters Grand Final.

Team South Africa, winners of the team gold medal at the inaugural ISA World Masters Surfing Championships at Puerto Rico in 2007, whitewashed Thursday’s action with the Malherbe brothers joined by Marc Wright  and Nick Pike (Kahunas), Chris Knutsen (Grand Kahunas) and Heather Clark (Master Women) in netting big wins in their respective divisions.

Heather Clark again looked in good touch, backhand blasting her way past Peru’s Rocio Larranga and Puerto Rico’s Beck Taylor to setup a Round 3 Masters Women showdown with Australia’s Sandra English, winner of the other Round 2 heat. Clark was credited with four of the top 10 highest scoring rides of the day with the best two scores matching her Round 1 heat tally of 15.50 out of 20.

Team SA’s only casualty of the day was Justin Healy in the Masters division. The Capetonian placed fourth in his Over 35 division Round 3 heat to drop into the repecharge rounds where he gets another chance to qualify for Saturday’s finals.

Former Pipeline Masters winner Rob Page, who is contesting both the Masters and Grand Masters divisions, fellow Australian Jay Sharpe, Peru’s Titi De Col and Puerto Rico’s Jaun Ashton advanced to the last four in the winners stream of the Masters division.

Marc Wright (Durban), who is undefeated after three rounds, and East London’s Nick Pike are into the last four of the Kahunas (Over 45) winners stream while 2007 Kahunas gold medalist Chris Knutsen (Durban) again outscored all his opponents in the Grand Kahunas (Over 50) to reach the last four.

The afternoon’s action saw South Africa’s Andrew Banks (Masters) keep his campaign alive with another high scoring repecharge heat victory. Banks comes up against compatriot Healy and Tahitian duo Noel Chave and former ISA Open Men’s champion Heifara Tahutini in Round 4 where the top two will move into the last eight in the division.

After four days of competition, Team SA surfers now hold three of the 10 highest single ride scores and four of the top 10 heat totals across all men’s divisions while Clark owns the top three rides and top two heat totals in the women’s event. The 2008 ISA World Masters Surfing Championships is webcast live on isasurf.org starting at approximately 15h00 SA time daily. The event runs until Saturday 5 April.

The divisions are:
Masters: Over 35 years old
Grand Masters: Over 40 years old
Kahunas: Over 45 years old
Grand Kahunas: Over 50 years old
Masters Women: Women over 35 years old
 
A complete team is formed by eight athletes: two Masters, two Grand Masters and two Kahunas, a Grand Kahuna and a Master Woman. The four finalists in each division are awarded gold, silver, bronze and copper medals, as are the top four national teams.

The South African team at the event has been supported Jeep Apparel, Sport and Recreation South Africa and the Lotto.

Previous reports:
# 1 : South African Team ready for ISA World Masters Champs
# 2 : South Africa team arrives in Peru for ISA World Masters
# 3 : South Africa on track to defend the ISA World Masters title
# 4 : Coming soon  

www.isasurf.org
www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za

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