14 August 2007

Rookie Foster's ASP World Tour campaigner Royden Bryson and fellow East Londoner Nikita Robb, in her rookie season on the ASP World Qualifying Series, were the top South African surfers at the Rip Curl Boardmasters in Newquay, England at the weekend.

Bryson advanced to the semifinals of the five-star-rated R700 000 Rip Curl Boardmasters on Sunday, before being ousted by the eventual winner Ben Bourgeois of the USA. It was the South African's third top-10 WQS event finish in as many weeks.

Following his fifth place at the six-star-rated US Open in Huntington Beach, ninth in the six-star Yumeya Billabong Pro in Japan last week, and his third in England, the 24-year-old has jumped from 62nd to 28th on the WQS ratings.

Current form
On current form, and with eight six-star-rated events still on the calendar before the top 15 in the rankings who qualify for the elite World Tour in 2008 are decided, Bryson is on track for another year at the highest level of pro surfing.

In small waves at Newquay, which saw the event postponed on Thursday, he was seeded into the third round (round of 96) after ending 2006 ranked fourth on the WQS.

Bryson cruised through his first two heats before placing second behind Bourgeois in their round of 24 encounter. He then won his round of 12 and quarterfinal match-ups before being eliminated. His efforts were rewarded with earnings of R24 500 and 1 500 ratings points.

Disappointing
Disappointly for South African star, he failed to find any rhythm in the semifinals, posting a low 8.97 two-wave combined heat score, to all but give Bourgeois the win.

"That heat wasn't easy and neither of us got any great waves," said Bryson afterwards.

"It's definitely a good result as it is the first and smallest event of the European summer leg. I'm looking forward to the two six-star WQS and the Super Series events coming up, and I hope I can do as well there."

Other SA results
Durban's Antonio Bortoletto, who won at Newquay in 2005, was the next highest placed SA surfer, reaching the round of 12 before having to settle for equal-ninth place overall. Daniel Redman, meanwhile, achieved his best result of 2007 by placing equal 37th.

Defending champion David Weare, another of a host of Durbanites, was shockingly eliminated in the round of 96. However, he earned enough points to hold onto his 13th-place WQS ranking.

Ironically, Weare finished third in Japan last week, an event won by Bryson in 2006, while Bryson was third in the Newquay event which Weare won last year.

Women's event
In women's action, Robb, who turned professional at the start of the year after matriculating in 2006, advanced through three rounds in a top class field in the five-star R175 000 Davidoff Cool Water Wave event. Her progress was stopped by the in-form Jacqueline Silva in a one-on-one heat in the quarterfinals.

Silva, who went on to win the event and move to the top of the WQS women's ratings, defeated Robb by 13.0 to 9.50. That left the South African in fifth-place overall, with earnings of R6 000 and 1 220 points, which matched her best result of the year to date.

Robb maintained her 13th spot on the WQS rankings. She needs to rise at least three places to move into the top 10 of the ratings, which would earn her a place on the top level ASP Women's World Tour next year. Rosanne Hodge, also from East London, qualified last year by finishing ninth on the WQS ratings.

Opportunities
Robb has only two more opportunities to move up in the ratings. Later this week she will be in action in the four-star Billabong Girls in Brazil. Then, after a long break from the WQS tour, she will be in action at the six-star-rated Reef Hawaii Pro in mid-November.

Hodge, who goes into the third World Tour event of the year, starting on 20 August in Brazil, is ranked equal 12th on the elite tour. She placed equal-ninth in England after being eliminated in the round of 12.

ASP World Qualifying Ratings (after 32 of 46 events)

The top 15 at the end of the year qualify for the Foster’s ASP World Tour in 2008.

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