Volcom Elephantfish

VQS
Port Alfred South Africa
8 - 9 November 2009

Shaun Payne Takes Volcom Elephantfish VQS Event Win In Port Alfred

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 9 November, 2008 : - - Excellent surf running down the Port Alfred sandbanks greeted the Totally Crustaceous Tour competitors gathered for the Volcom Elephantfish event. With some unfavourable weather looming on the forecast, the contest organisers had no hesitation in sending out the surfers in dawn's early light on the first day of competition, in order to get through the majority of surfing before the weather turned.

Surfers who were blowing up from their first round heats were the likes of Shaun Payne from St Francis, Brandon Jackson from Durban, East Londoner Devyn Matthys and Warwick 'Wok' Wright from Durban. The girl surfers who were ripping in the predominant righthanders were Capetonian Tarryn Chudleigh, who finished first in the Ladies Division, ahead of Faye Zoetmulder, Karen McDonald and Alice MacGregor.

Groms were also finding the Port Alfred waves to their liking, and it was Dylan Lightfoot who set the pace in the final, winning ahead of Steve Sawyer, Matthew MacGilroy and Benji Brand

The junior surfers were cutting loose, and showing the other surfers and spectators alike where the next South African surfing push is going to be coming from. It was Davey Brand's turn for victory, placing ahead of Grant Beck, Jean Du Plessis and Phillip Britz.

It was the Open Division that saw the big hitters racking up some top scores, with Shaun Payne doing some of the massive hits for those high scores. The final was all about Payne, as he was the only surfer to find an elusive barrel-ride for the highest score of the heat that saw him clinch victory.

Warwick 'Wok' Wright from Durban, surfing with a creased board after breaking his other board earlier, was pushed into second. The final two slots were owned by the East Londoners, with Tyrell Johnson placing third and Devyn Matthys coming in at fourth.

"There were some good waves in the final and I got a couple of them," said a happy Payne post-prizegiving. "I was lucky to get that barrel as well. I think I scored a nine point five (out of a possible 10 points) for that one and that was it for me. Thanks to Swanky and the Volcom crew, it was a sick event and I'm looking forward to the final event next weekend in Cape Town."

Electric awarded their Electric Visuals Bolt Thrower Move Of The Day Award of a pair of Electric Sunglasses and R500 hard cash to Warwick Wright who had been executing some big hits throughout on his backhand.

The next event is the Volcom Baboonfish event set for Cape Town next weekend. The finalists of all three qualifying events will be invited to the VQS Finals to be held in Durban early next year. This event will be closely-fought as the prize is a free ticket to the USA for the VQS World Championships at Newport Beach, California.

Volcom Supplied the chow for all competitors, and energy levels were replenished by Red Bull. The event was filmed for an upcoming episode of the Volcom TV - "Let The Kids Ride Free TV." Look out for it on the box soon. The Volcom Totally Crustaceous Tour is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa. The VQS tour is co-sponsored by Electric Visuals, Red Bull, EA Games, Eastpak and Future Fins.

www.volcom.co.za
www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za

What's your take on this?
Post your thoughts: SV Forum

New Survey: Map Surfing’s future 

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

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

Swanky Swanepoel

VQS Contests - Surfersvillage