20 March 2006

Dane "Patto" Patterson defeated local hero Frankie Oberholzer to win the inaugural Baggies Surf Pro in Amanzimtoti on the weekend. The 3A-rated ASP Africa Pro Surf Tour (PST) contest was the first event on the 2006 pro surfing calendar, and the first time a pro surfing event has been held in Amanzimtoti.

Patterson didn't waste any time in the pro men's final when he opened up with a strong 7.5-point ride. The entire final was closely contested with the lead changing hands numerous times between Patterson, Oberholzer and Warwick Wright.

A great exchange of rides from all surfers marked the end of a nail-biting affair, as Patterson kept focus and snatched victory on his last wave, just one point ahead of Oberholzer who enjoyed the support from his home crowd. After winning his semi-final clash, Ricky Basnett was forced to settle for fourth overall.

Surfed from round one
"I only decided to enter the Baggies Surf Pro on Wednesday, so I lost my seeding and had to surf from round one all the way through to the final," Patterson said. "It's great to have an event at Amanzimtoti and we've had some fun waves throughout the weekend."

Not only did Patterson win the event, he was also handed the Zigzag Blowing Up Award for his outstanding, consistent performance, and he was even more pleased about pocketing another R1 000, which took his weekend's earnings up to R7 000.

An upset occurred in the second women's semi-final when Sarah Johnston-Maritz fell short by only 0.2 points of advancing to the final.

Early control
In the final, top seed Rosanne Hodge took control early on by posting two good scores (5.0 and 5.5).

Stacey Guy (Melkbosstrand) came within striking distance, posting a 6.33 in the second half of the final, but wasn't able to back it up with another high-scoring ride. With only 45 seconds left, Guy took off on a promising looking wave; unfortunately for her she fell, which left Hodge to catch her last wave with only seconds to go, posting a 6.67 and sealing victory.

"I'm really happy, but also surprised that I won because everyone was getting waves in the final," Hodge said. "The conditions were pretty hard with the wind picking up during the day, so it was tricky to find the right waves. Winning the Baggies Surf Pro is a great start to the year and a confidence booster for upcoming events."

Radical manoeuvre
Mike Varikas won the Seabreeze Home and Builders Expression Session for boosting a spectacular massive air-reverse; he pocketed R2 000 for the radical manoeuvre.

The R30 000 Baggies Surf Pro was deemed to be a major success by event organizer Frank Horn, who is looking forward to staging the contest again in 2007.

2006 Baggies Surf Pro Results

Men's final

	Dane Patterson in winning form

	SA's Baker is Mavericks champ Surf's up for Durban's street kids Sun, surf & golf Tense finish to ASP Africa 2005 Wright wins pounding Goodwave Watersports in South Africa

	ASP Africa  Wavescape