Reef Wetsuits South African Surfing Champs

Surfing South Africa
Victoria Bay South Africa
24 - 27 July 2008

Day Three of the 2008 Reef Wetsuits South African Surfing Champs sees top class surfing

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 26 July, 2008 : - - As predicted, big 6 - 8 foot waves arrived at Victoria Bay on Day Three of the 2008 Reef Wetsuits SA Championships and contestants who began the event surfing in 2 foot marginal waves on Thursday faced completely different conditions as the solid swell wrapped around the Victoria Bay point all day long.

A major highlight of the contest was provided by Bianca Buitendag (Southern Cape) when the 14 year-old posted a 9.50 ride in her third round heat. Ignoring the difficult conditions she ended her heat with 18.50 points, this despite being one of the youngest and smallest surfers in the championships.

Buitendag is through to the semifinals of the Under 20 Girls Division along with defending champion Chantelle Rautenbach (Boland), Alice Mc Gregor and her twin Laurie (both Border), Faye Zoetmulder (EP), Tanika Hoffman and Holly Armstrong (both WP) and Danielle Le Roux (KZN).

In the Men's division Matt Kruger (KZN), defending SA Champion Devyn Mattheys (Border) and  local Llewellyn Whittaker (Southern Cape) maintained their record of finishing first in all their heats at this event and are through to the quarterfinals along with fellow heat winners Devan MacNicol and Gary Van Wieringen (both Southern KZN) and Ryan Payne (EP).

Joining them in the last 12 are Neil Zietsman (WP), Simon Fish and Shaun Payne (both EP), Josh Redman (KZN) and Border surfers Wayne Monk and Gary Muller. Defending Under 20 Boys champion, Klee Strachan (Southern KZN), continued to impress the judges with his power surfing and his 9,25 ride in the solid waves shows that he is peaking at the right time.

Another surfer who is in fine form and who has all the credentials to win this division is Shaun Joubert (Southern Cape) who not only knows Victoria Bay like the back of his hand but is also a surfer who regularly posts 9 point plus rides.

Joining Strachan and Joubert in the quarterfinals of this division are heat winners Clinton Gravett (Border), Nick Godfrey (EP), Mikey February (WP) and Avro Johnson (Boland) and runners up Craig Johnson (KZN), Jaco Steyn (WP),Justin Grey and Dominique Abersalie ( both EP) and Southern Cape surfers Indi Rooken-Smith and Peder Christensen.

Heather Clark (Southern KZN), Adele Nortje (Southern Cape), Kirsty Delport (KZN) and Stacy Guy (WP) won their quarterfinal heats to advance to the semi finals in the Women’s division. Defending champion Sarah Maritz (Southern KZN), Penny Robarts (Boland), Telana Flanagan (Border) and Roxy Towill (WP) will join them there.

The 2008 Reef Wetsuits SA Championships ends on Sunday July 27 with the crowning of the individual champions in the Men’s, Women’s, Under 20 Boys and Under 20 Girls Divisions. The final day's surfing will also decide which of the seven provincial teams competing in the championships will win the 43rd edition of the event and take home the Presidents Cup.

Heat results and upcoming heats as well as the daily schedule are available on surfingsouthafrica.co.za

www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za

Previous reports:
# 1 : Reef Wetsuits South African Surfing Champs to hit V-Bay
# 2 : Small surf kicks off Reef Wetsuits South African Champs
# 3 : Good surf Day 2 of Reef Wetsuits South African Champs
# 4 : Coming soon  

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Contests - Surfersvillage