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SA's best for surfing showdown

9 May 2008

South African surfing fans will have the rare opportunity to watch the country's top surfers in action from 15 May to 18 May at the Lizzard Nando's Surf Pro, presented by the Weekend Witness, thanks to a gap in the World Qualifying Series, which allows the "Saffers" to return home.

The Lizzard Nando's Surf Pro is a one-star Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) men's division, one star ASP International Pro Junior division, and Surfing South Africa Pro Surf Tour 2A-rated women's division contest.

New venue

The venue has moved a little way up the Durban beach front for this year's event, from New Pier to North Beach, where the inaugural Lizzard Surf Pro took place. The event is now into its sixth year.

Lizzards Marketing Manager Mark Frew says the sponsors "are very excited about the new venue as it promises a clean, natural amphitheatre with all the facilities".

The top 10 South African men in the WQS will be competing in Durban, led by local star David Weare, who is currently in third place on the WQS.

'Wow factor'

Lizzard's Frew is thrilled with the high standard of entries. "It is also awesome to have Dave Weare surfing; he is killing it on the WQS so it adds a wow factor to the event," he commented.

Weare will be the man to beat. His form on the WQS, which has him flying high in third place, has him in a strong position to win a spot on the prestigious and elite World Championship Tour (WCT).

His recent results on the WQS have been excellent. They include winning the six-star-rated Quiksilver Pro in Durban in mid-April and then placing third in the six-star-rated O'Neill Highland Open by Swatch later in the month.

Back-to-back wins

Weare has also recorded back-to-back wins on the South African Pro Surf Tour and will be aiming for a hat-trick in his home break.

With other top entrants, such as Greg Emslie, Damian Fahrenfort, Warwick Wright, Antonio Bortoletto, Gavin Roberts, Daniel Redman, and Rudy Palmboom, Colin Fitch, the event's contest director and the ASP Operations Manager reckons "the standard of surfing is going to be extremely high".

Two wildcards have been given to youngsters Shawn Dennis and Mark Shepperson, who will try to upset their more established rivals.

Home surfers

Dennis is a member of the South African junior squad, while Shepperson finished second in the recent Billabong Junior Series in Durban. It will be a great experience for the pair to face up to many of the country's top guns, but the likely winner will come for the WQS competitors, especially as the majority of them call Durban home.

The Lizzard Nando's Pro claims the "focus for the event is on the surfers" and the mid-May scheduling of the event backs up this claim; early winter offshore winds should provide excellent conditions for the surfers.

SAinfo reporter