Wayne Monk : photo Sacha Specker / Mr Price Group

Mr Price SA Open

SSA Rating - 3A Mens, 2A Womens, 2A Junior
Nahoon Reef, East London
12 - 13 September 2009

Monk, Strachan and Buitendag crowned Mr Price SA Open winners

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 13 September, 2009 : - - It was experience which prevailed over youth at Nahoon Reef today when reigning South African Masters Champion Wayne Monk from East London surged to victory in the Mr Price SA Open in perfect one 1-2 metre surf conditions at his fabled home break.

Throughout the event Monk relied on his vast local knowledge of Nahoon Reef and appeared to play the patience game to ensure that he caught the best set waves. 

His strategy worked from the round of 32 all the way through to the Open final where he eclipsed fellow East Londoner Clinton Gravett, 21, and Klee Strachan, 19, from Winkelspruit (KwaZulu-Natal) with a massive nine point ride (out of a possible ten) in the dying seconds of the final.

“I played that game the whole contest and it really worked for me… I didn’t want to have to wait until the last minute for the best waves but that’s just the way it ended up,” said the father of two children aged 11 and 14.

Although Monk has added several Masters titles to his name today’s win marks his maiden Pro Surf Tour victory which comes years after attempting to win the elusive Open title.

“I’ve competed in the SA Open for the past five years and actually haven’t done too well but this year I wanted to do well and put more practice time in so I’m stoked that it happened,” explained Monk who owns the retail surf store ‘Just Surfing’ in East London.

Klee Strachan : photo Sacha Specker / Mr Price Group

In the hotly contested under 20 junior division rising star Strachan proved too strong for his contemporaries. Strachan opened up his bid for the title with a massive eight pointer on his first ride and never looked back. The talented teenager secured first place ahead of Nicholas Godfrey (Cape st Frances) and Jaco Steyn (Cape Town).

“After opening up with a good score on my first wave in the junior final all I needed to do was back it up with another good wave, which I did,” said Strachan who stepped onto the podium in both the open and junior division.

“I was hoping to do the same in the open final but things didn’t work out… either way third in the open division is a good result and I’m happy with the way both events went for me today.”

Teeange prodigy Bianca Buitendag, 15, from Victoria Bay (Southern Cape) was also a clear winner in the womens division. Buitendag signaled her intentions for the title in the quarter finals and continued to build momentum through to the finals where she outclassed former SA Champion Heather Clark (Port Shepstone, KZN) and Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbos, Cape Town).

“I caught a lucky wave in the first five minutes of the final which boosted my confidence,” explained Buitendag who was referring to a ride which netted her a massive 8.5 score (out of a possible ten) from the judges.

“It’s good to start off well in a heat,” she continued, “it not only boosts your confidence but also takes the pressure off you and puts it on your competitors.”

The Mr Price SA Open enjoyed two perfect days of surf and weather for the competition which was protected with Shark Pod devices placed strategically in the line-up throughout the duration of the two day event. 
               
Pierre Tostee
Mr Price Sports Marketing
www.mrprice.co.za

Nick Godfrey : photo Sacha Specker / Mr Price Group

Mr Price SA Open kicks off in ideal surf at Nahoon Reef

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 12 September, 2009 : - - Solid two metre swells and sunny skies welcomed over 50 of South Africas’s top surfers to the Mr Price SA Open at Nahoon Reef in East London today.

The flawless surf conditions allowed the Open title contenders to revel in the long right handers at Nahoon with the likes of Dale Staples (Cape St Frances), Matthew Kruger (Durban), Jaco Steyn (Cape Town), Klee Strachan (Winklespruit) and Nick Godfrey (Cape St Frances) progressing into the quarter finals.

Junior sensation Dale Staples was one of the standouts of the day in his round of 32 heat with Chris Leppan (Umlanga), Bruce Campbell (East London) and Phillip Malherbe (East London) by netting a near perfect score from the judges on his last ride. Staples threw caution to the wind on his final ride by pushing the limits with his powerful surfing and new school moves rarely seen at Nahoon.

“On my second and third turns I grabbed my rails and spun 180 degrees… I was lucky to hold on and make the turns,” said a delighted Staples who also drew attention to his big wave surfing earlier this year by posting a perfect ten point tube ride in the six star rated Mr Price Pro Ballito.

In his quarter final heat Staples will have to be at his peak once again as he is matched with rising stars Strachan and Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga Rocks) and the experienced Gary van Wieringin (Warner Beach).

Another standout was Jaco Steyn who, Like Staples, also progressed into the quarter finals of the Open Men and the semi finals of the Juniors. Steyn recently returned from a two month stint in Indonesia and impressed all with his fast fluid surfing at the Reef today.

In his round of 32 heat Steyn outclassed Wayne Monk (East London), Shawn Dennis (Durban) and Grant Beck (Port Elizabeth) and will now take on Matthew Kruger (Durban), Simon Fish (East London) and Nicholas Godfrey (Cape St Frances) in his quarter final clash.

“I am super stoked, I am just taking it heat by heat and will see how it goes from here,” said the humble 19-year-old from Blouberg (Cape Town). “This is some of the best Nahoon I have ever had for an event. The forecast wasn’t good for today but we woke up to perfect waves for the competition.”

The womens division also witnessed ideal conditions for their heats as they took to the waves first and enjoyed the brunt of the swell.

While Bianca Buitendag (Victoria, George) and Heather Clark (Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal) are at opposite ends of their careers and separated by some 23 years they both delivered winning performances in their quarter final clashes.

Former ASP Dream Tour competitor and multiple SA Champion Clark, now 38, last won at Nahoon as far back as 1989 and is still in the hunt for more titles at the fabled surf break. Clark is now matched with many girls less than half her age but draws on her vast experience to progress through the rounds.

“It’s a good wave here at Nahoon and in ways quite similar to my home break at St Michael’s (KwaZulNatal),” said Clark. “You have to be on your game here and choose your waves carefully.”

Fifteen-year-old Buitendag also made her SA Open title intentions clear today when she was one of the top scorers in the quarter finals. “Bianca’s wave selection was great – she caught two really good waves – she did the basics and when you do that you come away with scores of eights and nines (out of ten),” commented her coach and former SA champion Quinton Jones.

Day two of the event scheduled for September 13 is expected to see the two metre swell disipate overnight but with favourable winds and a good swell direction the Mr Price SA Open is expected to enjoy another perfect day in East London as the Open, Womens and Junior titles are wrapped up.

www.mrprice.co.za

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Pierre Tostee / Mr Price
patostee@mrpricegroup.com

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