Gavin Roberts : photo Kelly Cestari
Lizzard Nandos Surf Pro Presented by Weekend Witness
Men's 1 Star WQS Event #14 Grade 1 ASP Junior Men's Event SSA Women’s 2A Pro division North Beach Durban South Africa 15 - 18 May 2008
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Lizzard Team Rider Gavin Roberts Set to Dominate Lizzard Nando’s Surf Pro
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 12 May, 2008 : - - Scottburgh local and Lizzard-sponsored surfer Gavin Roberts is looking to dominate in next weekend’s (15-18 May) Lizzard Nando’s Surf Pro, presented by the Weekend Witness. Roberts will be contesting the 1 Star Association of Surfing Professional (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) Men’s division, with other Lizzard team riders such as Antonio Bortoletto (Dbn), David Richards (Cape Town) and Shawn Dennis (Dbn).
The Lizzard Nando’s Surf Pro, now in its sixth year, will be held at Durban’s North Beach from May 15-18, and offers a total of R75 000 ($10 000) prize money in the Men’s division.
Roberts, who is in his second full time year on the ASP WQS, was introduced to surfing by his father, Bruce, at the age of five on a family holiday at Cape St Francis. However, as a Scottburgh local, Gavin has spent most of his time surfing the beach and point breaks up and down the South Coast.
Roberts, who has been on the WQS since 2006, mentions his 17th place in last years Mr. Price Pro, as well as his 9th place in the 4 star WQS Canary Islands 2007 event, as his best WQS results to date. His 2nd place in last years Quiksilver Goodwave has cemented his credibility amongst South Africa top professional surfers.
Mike Frew, Lizzards Marketing Manager, speaks highly of Gavin, referring to him as “one of our top team riders”. Lizzard are clearly fully committed to giving Roberts a chance to shine this year as they “support him full time on the WQS”. Roberts, who works for Lizzard as Team Manager, is obviously well placed to use his experience to help the younger riders develop their own careers, something which Mike Frew of Lizzard says Gavin “is very good at doing”.
Currently Roberts is the 6th highest placed South African on the WQS and is currently sitting in 121st place on the WQS in 2008. Gavin is the 5th seed for the Lizzard Nandos Surf Pro, and has a golden opportunity to do well for his sponsors. A good result in his sponsor’s title event will do his WQS aspirations no harm. Roberts, however, is “going for the win”, something which he is most capable of doing.
Apart from suffering from a knee injury back in 2004, Roberts has remained relatively injury free and his constantly high level of fitness is what allows him to maintain intensity throughout the long surfing season.
The crew at Lizzard are “hoping that Gavin comes through with a big result this year”, and it seems that his breakthrough season is beckoning.
To stay updated visit the Lizzard website, www.lizzardsurf.net, which from Sunday will have a Lizzard Nando’s Surf Pro section. For those unable to make it down to the contest, this page offers daily pictures and updates, as well as regularly updated schedule, heat draws, heat results and future press releases. The ASP Africa website www.aspafrica.com will also carry the daily and current press releases from the event.
The supporting sponsors for the event are Bavaria, Nestle Pure Life Water, and Bokomo. The event is organised by Nerve Events.
Previous reports: # 1 : North Beach Durban set to host Lizzard Nandos Surf Pro # 2 : Lizzard Nando’s Surf Pro Durban announces its wildcards # 3 : South Africa's top WQS surfers to hit Lizzard Nando's Pro # 4 : Coming soon
www.aspafrica.com www.lizzardsurf.net www.aspworldtour.com
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