Tammy Lee Smith : photo Cestari/Mr Price

Mr. Price Pro

ASP 6 Star WQS Men's Event #19
ASP 5 Star WQS Womens Event #7
3A Surfing South Africa Pro Junior
North Beach Durban South Africa
29 June - 26 July 2008

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

Women to compete on international stage at Mr Price Pro

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 25 June, 2008 : - - Durban -- Over fifty of the world’s most revered female surfers will make their way to Durban shores for the upcoming 5-Star ASP World Qualifying Series Mr Price Pro, which hits the Durban beachfront on Monday 30 June, 2008.

Renowned as the only ASP Women’s WQS stop in Africa, the Mr Price Pro boasts a prize money purse of R240 000, exposing South Africa’s top female surfers to their international counterparts, whilst providing them with a platform to compete against the world’s best.

Flying the flag for South Africa on the international circuit is current World No. 11 Roseanne Hodge (East London), who has shot up to the No. 2 position on the ASP World Qualifying Series ratings in recent months.

Hodge, who is now in her second year on the prestigious ASP Women’s World Tour, is simultaneously campaigning on the World Qualifying Series tour in 2008 in order to secure her spot on the top tier tour in 2009; a strategy that has paid off handsomely, with second and third place finishes at 5 and 6-Star events in Australia already.

As the tour moves to Durban, Hodge will be looking to capitalise on the 5-Star ratings points on offer, as she chases down runaway ratings leader Sally Fitzgibbons (Aus).

“Last year I had a really close call and almost didn’t re-qualify,” admitted Hodge, “so this year I have committed whole heartedly to both tours and it’s paying off. I am feeling more focussed than ever and I can’t wait to improve on my previous results and make the final at the Mr Price Pro.”

Hodge claimed equal third at the event in 2006 and remains one of the highest placed South African surfers in the history of the women’s event, while ASP WQS No. 20 Nikita Robb (East London) finished equal fifth here in 2007.

“The WQS tour is much harder than everyone thinks,” Robb said. “You’re out of your comfort zone most of the time and you lack the support you have at home. The Mr Price Pro is one event where I feel comfortable because I’ve been competing at New Pier for years, so it’s a real opportunity to come away with a big result.”

Former South African Junior Champion and WQS No. 19 Tammy Lee Smith (Ballito) will be another formidable competitor in the New Pier line-up next week. Smith has been campaigning on the WQS for three years and has extensive international experience which should stand her in good stead at next week’s event.

“I had a bad run last year so I took a break from the WQS tour,” Smith said. “I hope to do well here this year because it is in my home town. I have been training very hard and working on my mental strength, I feel fit and am looking for a big result.”

The local contingent will be further strengthened by the likes of ASP Masters World Champion Heather Clark (Port Shepstone), Western Province champion Stacey Guy (Melkbosstrand), soon to be WQS campaigners Tarryn Chudleigh (Kommetjie) and Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbosstrand) as well as junior star Sarah Baum (Warner Beach).

The international field includes some 31 campaigners from all corners of the globe, including five of the world’s Top 17 women. ASP World Junior Champion Sally Fitzgibbons (Australia) holds nearly a 3000 point lead on the WQS ratings, winning two of the six events this year already, as well as nearly every event on the Australian Pro Junior Series.

Fitzgibbons will be joined by the likes of Page Hareb (NZL), ASP World Tour campaigner Rebecca Woods (Aus) and Alana Blanchard (Haw) who complete the top five positions on the WQS ratings. World tour campaigners, World No. 9 Jessi Miley Dyer (Aus), World No. 6 Rebecca Woods (Aus), World No. 11 Jacqueline Silva (Bra) and World No. 11 Silvana Lima (Bra) make up the top tier tour athletes competing in this year’s event.

Shark attack survivor WQS No. 9 Bethany Hamilton (Haw), Lee Ann Curren (France) daughter of 3X World Champion Tom Curren, and USA NSSA Champion Erica Hosseini (USA) are just a few others who have exploded into the limelight and will be competing here this year.

The women’s competition kicks off with the Round of 50 on Monday June 30, 2008 and will see the top three surfers from each heat advance into the Round of 24. The final takes place at approximately 14h45 on Saturday June 5, 2008.

The Mr Price Pro is proudly brought to you by The Beach Café, Glodina, VW South Africa, Southern Sun, Daily News and Internet Solutions.

Previous reports:
# 1 : Durban's Mr Price Pro preps for action, celebrates year 40
# 2 : Mr. Price Pro welcoming Shaun Tomson back to Durban..
# 3 : Juniors to kick off South Africa's 6-Star WQS Mr Price Pro
# 4 : David Weare favoured South African for the Mr. Price Pro 
# 5 : ASP 6 star Mr. Price Pro WQS event goes live at New Pier 

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