14 December 2005

The 200th pro surfing event held in South Africa, the Gotcha DHL Pro at Umhlanga, produced edge of the seat action as the ASP Africa Pro Surf Tour champions were decided over the weekend.

The event comprised a one-star World Qualifying Series (WQS) men's rating, with a 2A rated pro junior and pro women's event.

The ASP PST title battle was the talk of the town when top-rated Shane Thorne was eliminated in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, second-seed Gavin Roberts advanced to the semi-finals after using controversial paddling tactics to eliminate Dylan Stone.

Helpless and watching
The entire year's results hinged on Roberts' semi-final performance; if he finished third or higher he would snatch the title away from a helpless Thorne, who was relegated to watching.

In what appeared to be a repeat of the quarterfinals, Roberts engaged in another paddle battle which ultimately backfired on him as the judges penalised him for interfering with his opponent's ride and he was relegated to fourth place.

Thorne was ecstatic to clinch his second ASP Africa PST title; he last won in 1996 and at the age of 31 is one of the oldest champions.

"I was really disappointed getting knocked out in 13th place and the title race was out of my hands," said Thorne, who is the reigning SA Champion as well. "It was nail-biting and very emotional watching the semis because I put a lot of hard work in this year. When I realised I had won, I was overwhelmed with excitement at having made a comeback after nine years to get my second ASP year-end win."

Sensational victories
All the attention then focused on the finals where Frankie Oberholzer, Ricky Basnett and Nikita Robb scooped sensational victories in the men's, women's and pro junior divisions.

The men's final was extremely close, with less than a point separating the top three positions. Bluff surfer Shane Warren led the heat until Oberholzer’s decision to paddle to backline paid off.

Oberholzer's vertical attack on the outside wave, which he rode to shore, earned him the day's highest score of 9.17 out of a possible 10. A tussle in the shore break ensued between the nation's finest surfers.

Daniel Redman opted to copy the heat leader and also caught an impressive wave, scoring 7.33-points, but it was not enough to get past third place. Granville West, who had impressed throughout the event, finished fourth.

First WQS victory
Oberholzer left the beach with the winner's cheque of US$2 500 for earning his third ASP PST title and first ever WQS victory in the 17 years he has been competing as a professional.

For the most part, the pro junior final was controlled by Bluff star Ricky Basnett. Damien Fahrenfort, though, produced a late charge and nearly caught up to the heat leader.

Basnett finished with a tally of 13.93 points out of a possible 20 for his slick repertoire of progressive manoeuvres, and Fahrenfort followed with a total of 13.06 points. Third and fourth places were equally close as Rory Beach sneaked past Keegan Nel by 0.53 of a point.

The top two pro junior seeds both bowed out in the semi-finals, but Brandon Jackson had accumulated enough points over the course of the year to ensure he took the 2005 ASP Africa pro junior title.

Robb dominates
16-year-old Nikita Robb had the Gotcha DHL Pro women's title in the bag from the outset of the 30-minute final. She showed the class that has earned her two international junior titles as she outsurfed five-time ASP Africa champion Tamarys de Maroussem, who placed second.

Gotcha team surfer Robb's scores of 7.33 and 6.33-points ensured that she was untouchable. Youngster Nicole Annells finished two points behind De Maroussem, and Sacha Moller proved she is making a comeback by placing fourth in the landmark event.

Basnett's extras
In addition to winning the pro junior final, Ricky Basnett earned some extra money, flying to first place in the DHL Air Show (R4 000). He also pocketed another R1 000 for winning the Zigzag Blowing Up Award.

The blunt Full Throttle Award of R1 000 cash went to talented U20 SA Champion Rory Beach.

Results

Pro Men's Final

	2005 ASP Africa champion Shane Thorne in action

	SA's Bartho wins at Tahiti WC Wright wins pounding Goodwave SA juniors outsurf the best Surfing the Cape's colossal waves Watersports in South Africa Sun, surf & golf

	ASP Africa  Wavescape

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