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

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

Top seeds progress to final day of Lizzard Nando’s Surf Pro.

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 17 May, 2008 : - - The third day of the internationally rated Lizzard Nando’s Surf Pro, presented by the Weekend Witness, saw many of the top men’s surfers advance to the round of 16 in the 1 Star ASP WQS Men’s division. The event, now in its sixth year, is held at Durban’s North Beach between 15-18 May, and offers a total of R121 500 ($15 000) prize money.

With every heat in the men’s round of 32 featuring South Africa’s top surfers, there was bound to be some explosive action on offer. Shane Thorne (Durban), recent winner of the Quiksilver Goodwave, and Dave Weare (Durban), currently third on the WQS rankings, were the first to secure their place in tomorrows (Sunday) round of 16.

Casey Grant (Scottburgh), who claimed his maiden contest victory in yesterdays Grade 1 ASP International Pro Junior division, was out surfed by in-form Lizzard team rider Antonio Bortoletto (Durban), although both still qualified for the next round.

The third heat of the round of 32 saw Dan Redman (Durban) and Rudy Palmboom (Bluff) exchanging high scoring rides, with Palmboom going on to win the heat with a score or 16.5 out of a possible 20, the highest heat score of the day at that stage.

After the great contestable conditions experienced yesterday, the swell today was comparatively smaller, with the rising tide flattening the waves out even more. In the fourth heat, Damien Fahrenfort (Durban) did well in the small surf in compiling a heat score of 16.25, including a 9 point ride. Warwick Wright (Durban) blitzed through his heat, although Klee Strachan (Winkelspruit) also did enough to qualify for tomorrows round of 16.

In the final heats of the round of 32, Lizzard rider Gavin Roberts (Scottburgh) took control to win his heat ahead of Clinton Gravett (East London), with both riders advancing to tomorrow mornings round of 16. Shaun Payne (Cape St Francis) and Lyle Botcher (Durban) took first and second place respectively in the seventh heat, with Greg Emslie (East London) and Shawn Dennis (Durban) ensuring their participation in the round of 16 with a top two finish in the last heat of the day.

The Surfing South Africa (SSA) Pro Surf Tour (PST) 2A rated Women’s division got underway this morning with the round of 24. Last years women’s winner Nikita Robb (East London) snuck into the quarterfinal round, along with Tamarys de Maraussem (Westbrook) who won the first heat.

Lizzy team rider Chanelle Botha’s (Warner Beach) performance in the fourth heat belies her eleven years, and she looks to be a definite prospect for the future. Botha, however, was up against experienced contest surfers in Alice McGregor (East London) and Penny Robarts (Somerset West), and it was ultimately McGregor and Robarts who made it into the women’s quarter finals.

Colin Fitch, Contest Director, admitted that ”the conditions were very difficult” but also observe that “the caliber of surfing was so high that contestants were able to make the waves look good”. The men’s and ladies finals and prize giving will be held tomorrow (Sunday 18 May).

Keep your eyes on the Lizzard website, www.lizzardsurf.net, which has 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 : Lizzard surfer Gavin Roberts set for Lizzard Nando's Pro  
# 5 : Lizzard Nando's Pro Day 1 sees Matt Bromley score a 10  
# 6 : Casey Grant wins Pro Jr on Day 2 of Lizzard Nando's Pro

www.aspafrica.com
www.lizzardsurf.net
www.aspworldtour.com

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