Quiksilver Pro Durban 

Men's 6 Star WQS Prime
New Pier Durban South Africa
13 -  20 April 2008

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

Quik Pro Durban: Locals show best at firing New Pier on Day 7

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 17 April, 2008 : - - Durban – A fresh south-west swell with plenty of push arrived on cue for day 7 of the Quiksilver Pro Durban presented by Virgin Mobile in association with Resolution, and it was local knowledge that saw a surge of local surfers advancing through their heats. First heat of the day, in the water just before 7am, saw local powerhouse surfer Shane Thorne blazing through to a victory in the idyllic conditions.

In glassy surf, up to five foot on the sets, Shane scooped two set waves early in his heat. “It was full low tide when I was out there, so some of the waves were running off really quickly,” said Shane of his strategy. “It was hard to work out exactly where to sit. When it gets a bit bigger the waves seem to shift more. Luckily I got that fast wide one that just opened up and I got a really good score on it for the win, so I’m stoked.”

Next up was Durban’s Davey Weare, who also had a great heat and staved off his competitors until the dying seconds. “I was holding first and that last wave came through and I just went,” said Davey of his tactics. “I could have given it to one of the other surfers in the heat but they weren’t far behind me, so I took it to solidify my first.

No more waves came through, and I was lucky enough to hold on to first till the end. Although this is my home break, it is slightly different to normal New Pier. The bank has moved more to the centre and away from the pier, so I’m watching to see what happens as the tide comes in.”

Jordy Smith : photo Quiksilver/Ewing

Cape Town’s Damien Fahrenfort also took a good first place in his heat, as did Durban’s Golden Boy Travis Logie. Travis, who was sidelined in the middle of last year with a knee injury, is amping to be back in the water and winning heats. “Well, it’s my first heat win since last year July at J-Bay,” said Travis on his victory. “I’ve had a bit of a bad start on the World Tour this year so I am going to be concentrating on events on the WQS this year as well.”

When asked about surfing at his home break, Travis enthused about the New Pier. “It’s obviously great to be surfing at the wave where I am most at home in front of a home crowd,” said Logie. “I feel comfortable in the line-up even when it’s shifting a bit like this, and I really want to do well. I am taking this event very seriously.”

South African surfers to advance in second place in their early heats were Jordy Smith, Rudy Palmboom who got through with a massive, do-or-die air reverse in the dying seconds of his heat, and local boy Warwick Wright also advanced.

In the late afternoon heats Josh Kerr from Australia took to the skies in a tightly contested heat against Brazilian Neco Padaratz and the South African duo of Greg Emslie and Shaun Payne. Kerr scored 18.56 (out of a possible 20) for his two scoring waves with a combination of some big airs, solid rail carves and tail slides along the rippable New Pier walls.

Nathaniel Curran : photo Quiksilver/Ewing

Kerr, who was relegated from the World Tour at the end of last year, drew cheers and whistles from the gathered crowds for his go-for-broke approach on outside sections of big waves. His approach worked and saw him scoring the best two-wave average of the day.

There is more excellent surf predicted for the final days of the event. The event has an alternative venue in The Bluff, so please check the event website out to see the location for the day. For live webcasting and live scores log onto quikprodurban.com and follow the live webcasting links.

For people not able to get down to the beach or not able to get computer access, the contest can be viewed live from your mobile phone. Just look for quikpro.mobi on your mobile phone browser to access live video and live scores.

Check the Live Action

- Images from Day 7 -

- More photos from Day 7 -

To watch the event live log onto the event mini-site on quikprodurban.com and follow the webcasting link. The web commentator team comprises former world champion Martin Potter, and former long-time WCT competitor Jake Paterson, as well as mix of competitors and Quiksilver South Africa team members. Check the Live Action

Previous reports:
# 1 : Quiksilver Pro Durban highest rated WQS in South Africa
# 2 : Quiksilver Pro Durban 6-Star Prime set to run at New Pier
# 3 : Quiksilver Pro Durban hosts Komunity Project Future Stars
# 4 : Science Fiction technology airs with Quiksilver Pro Durban 

# 5 : Quiksilver Pro Durban attracting world's top WQS surfers
# 6 : ASP grade 2 Quiksilver Pro Junior contestants gearing up
# 7 : Bo Shabalala wins Kommunity Project Future Stars event
# 8 : Quiksilver Pro Junior scores small perfection at New Pier

# 9 : Virgin Mobile Trials run in small surf at Quik Pro Durban
# 10 : Missing surfers & boards cause a Quiksilver Pro lay day
# 11 : Chris Davidson gets perfect ten at Quiksilver Pro Durban

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www.mxit.co.za/wap
www.quikprodurban.com
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www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za

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Quiksilver Marketing Manager
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Quiksilver South Africa
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