Team News

Greg Emslie rides to victory in the Cold Water Classic on a Safari Surfboard

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 30 July, 2010 : - - Cape Town -- Greg Emslie, South Africa’s highest earning professional surfer, rode to victory in yet another internationally rated event on a Safari Surfboard shaped by master craftsman Spider Murphy when he won the ASP 4-Star rated O’Neill Cold Water Classic in Cape Town on Thursday.

The 33 year-old East Londoner was in scintillating form throughout the event, using the same board to overcome the near gale-force winds and heaving two metre surf on the Cape Peninsula in the earlier rounds and in the milder conditions and well-shaped one metre surf on the final day.

“I’ve been working with Spider for quite a few years now and we’ve probably been experimenting with more different shapes since I retired from the ASP World Tour last year. But I rode my standard shape, the one I’ve got my best results on, throughout this event” Emslie explained.

“Our relationship is more than just the surfboards though,” he continued. “Spider and I speak virtually daily and he’s so knowledgeable he gives me great advice about everything in surfing.”

Emslie was rightfully chuffed to have defeated current world No 1 Jordy Smith in Round 3, saying “I was stoked about that! Jordy has always been respectful of me and now he’s leading the rankings. I really hope he goes on to win the World Title, but I kept the pressure on him and went on to win the heat.”

Emslie really stepped up his performance on the final day, taking out the dangerous Shaun Cansdell (AUS) in the quarters, outpointing Antonio Bortoletto in the semis and then snatched the event title from Dion Atkinson (AUS) with an outstanding ride of 7.83 in the dying seconds of the final.

“The crowd were all supporting me in the final and I was thinking that after Jordy had won in Durban and J-Bay, we’ve got to keep all the trophies at home. So I’m stoked I managed to do that,” Emslie said of his victory. The win earned Emslie 1 000 points on the ASP World Tour and the ASP Africa rankings and he pocketed US $12 000, taking his career prize-money earnings over the US $626 000 mark.

Despite a shock elimination in Round 3 in Cape Town, fellow Safari Surfboards team rider Royden Bryson has taken the lead in the five-event O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series. The winner of the second event in Scotland a couple of months back, Bryson is marginally ahead of the Aussie trio of Tasmania event winner Stu Kennedy (AUS), Cansdell and Atkinson in the chase for the US $50 000 CWC prize-pool.

“What a great result for Greg in Cape Town,” said legendary surfboard shaper Spider Murphy. “He’s a true professional and pleasure to work with.”

“This result shows that even though he has retired from the World Tour, Greg still has a lot to offer South African surfing and I’m looking forward to seeing him perform as part of the SA Team at the ISA World Surfing Games in Peru later this year.”

Safari Surfboards was established in 1963 and is the exclusive provider of Spider Murphy’s shapes. Contact boards@safarisurf.com for more information.

www.surfarisurf.com

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