It's the big 40 for the Mr Price Pro
Brad Morgan
27 June 2008
If life starts at 40, as they say, then this year's edition of the Mr Price Pro is set to be the best yet. Founded in 1969, the event formerly known as the Gunston 500 has brought the world's top surfers to Durban's shores for four decades, and 2008 will be no different.
Over 200 international surfers are set to converge at New Pier Beach for the ninth edition of the six-star Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) Mr Price Pro, which runs from 27 June to 6 July.
Marking the halfway stage on the prestigious ASP WQS (the qualifier for the top tier ASP World Tour), the six-star rated Mr Price Pro will see tension running high as surfers contend for valuable ASP ratings points, and a spot alongside the world's top 45 surfers at the end of the year.
Wildcard entry
1992 Gunston 500 champion and 2000 ASP world champion, Hawaiian Sunny Garcia, has been granted a wildcard entry into this year's event and will be gunning for a solid result in the hope of returning to top tier competition.
"I'm in training everyday so I can do well on the WQS this year," Garcia said. "It's awesome to come back to Durban and I always look forward to surfing and hanging out with my friends here."
Among the list of high-profile surfers, like Garcia, planning to make their mark in Durban next month are 2006 Mr Price Pro champion Durbanite Ricky Basnett, last year's winner Brazilian Jihad Khodr, as well as a whole host of Durban's most accomplished wave riders, including last year's WQS winner Jordy Smith, former ASP World Tour campaigner Davey Weare, former South African champion Antonio Bortoletto and current world No. 41, Travis Logie.
Former ASP World Tour campaigner and Mr Price Pro finalist Greg Emslie and current World No. 35 Royden Bryson lead a talented field of national surfers planning to make the pilgrimage to Durban this July.
Weare's challenge
Among the strong South African surfing contingent, the challenge of Durban local Davey Weare stands out.
He is currently lying sixth on the men's WQS rankings and, following his stunning victory at the Quiksilver Pro Durban in April, he is the favoured to become only the second South African to win the Mr Price Pro in nearly three decades.
Weare said he is absolutely "amped" for the event. "It's absolutely awesome to take part in another big event at home; it just makes it one step easier for us local surfers.
"I have been fortunate enough to have travelled the world as a surfer but, for me, I just love coming back home to Durban where I grew up. It's my favourite break and I just love surfing here."
Weare has had an incredible start to the year and said he hopes to maintain his run of good form.
"My aim this year was to finish first on the WQS, and obviously a win at the Mr Price Pro would go a long way in ensuring I achieve that."
Women's event
The R1 380 000 Mr Price Pro is one of three ASP WQS events staged in Durban each year but is unique in that it is the only event to incorporate three individual events under one 'umbrella', including the only ASP five-star women's WQS event in Africa.
Introduced back in 1992, the women's division forms part of the fiercely competitive ASP Women's WQS Tour, boasting a prize money purse of R240 223, as well as valuable ASP ratings points.
South African stars such as World no. 11 Rosy Hodge, WQS no. 19 Tammy Lee Smith, WQS no. 23 Nikita Robb, and current ASP Masters world champion Heather Clark will join a host of international female surfers in the internationally-renowned New Pier waves.
Juniors
In 2001, the Mr Price Pro extended its reach even further to include many of South Africa's best junior surfers by providing them with their very own event, the 3A-rated Mr Price Pro Junior. Klee Strachan and Nikita Robb will be out to defend the crowns they won at last year's event.
In addition, there is an exciting new addition this year. The R20 000 Glodina Expression Session will take place on the final two days of competition – 5 and 6 July.
ASP Africa Operations Manager Colin Fitch said: "The Mr Price Pro has established itself as one of the premier events on the WQS globally, and is an invaluable platform for local surfers who are hoping to qualify for the ASP World Tour."
All the action will be broadcast live on the web cast on the Mr Price Pro Website, which also includes live video and audio clips, up-to-date scoring, results, interviews, images, profiles and more.
Source: Mr Price Pro
