Team News

Bortoletto, Weare and Richards surf into last 16 in Spain; Buitendag into women’s Quarterfinals

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 6 September, 2008 : - - South Africa’s Antonio Bortoletto, David Weare and Dave Richards have advanced to the last 16 in the Movistar O’Neill Pantin Classic, a 5-Star rated, R825 000 ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) event at Pantin in Spain. Bianca Buitendag (George), who turns 15 next Thursday, has also reached the quarterfinals of the 3-Star women’s event which will be completed at the same venue today.

Competing in windy, bumpy and powerful 1.5 to two metre waves this morning, Weare (Durban) and Richards (Kommetjie) finished first and second in their Round 5 heat to eliminate former ASP World Tour campaigner Nathan Hedge (AUS). Weare was ranked No. 8 on the WQS leaderboard going into this event and this result will improve his chances of ending the year amongst the top 15 who automatically qualify to compete on the elite ASP World Tour in 2009. 

Richards, 22, in his second full year on the WQS, is currently No. 157 and has already achieved his career best result in a major WQS event here. Bortoletto (Durban), rated No. 90, won his Round 5 heat yesterday and will be up against Leigh Sedley (AUS) in the man-on-man format used from the last 16 to final in the men’s event. Weare takes on another Australian in Jarrad Sullivan while Richards will be up against 19th seed Michel Bourez (Tahiti). 

Buitendag recently finished runner-up in a Pro Junior (U20) event in France and is the only SA girl in the event. She convincingly won her Round 1 heat in overhead conditions yesterday (Friday) and faces the likes of former ASP Women’s World Tour member Caroline Sarran in the quarters where the top two in the four-person heats will advance to the semifinals.

More African Surfing News available here
Check the latest Africa Surf Reports and Forecasts

New! B2B News ASBE-Surf   |  Receive News-Alerts

Press release

Team - Surfersvillage