Dave Weare dominates final day of O'Neill Scottburgh Pro

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Dave Weare (Durban) was the standout surfer on the final day of the O'Neill Scottburgh Pro presented by Surfers Paradise, and out-surfed Antonio Bortoletto (Durban) on his way to clinching the men's open division final for 2008. Tasha Mentasti (Durban) had her unbeaten run from the previous day ended by Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbos), who blasted her way through the semi's and final on her way to claiming the women's open division title.

The men's pro junior division was fiercely contested, but ultimately it was Kyle Lane (Durban) who prevailed over Shawn Dennis (Durban) and Casey Grant (Scottburgh) to capture the pro junior title. With a mere 0.25 points separating the top three juniors in the final, the pro junior division proved to be a most thrilling final.

Bortoletto had an interesting altercation with a confused fisherman, who snagged him, in the men's open final and was unlucky to have much of his time unnecessarily wasted. Dave Weare, however, turned in a performance which emphasizes his status as a former WCT campaigner. Weare, speaking after the dramatic men's open final was "ecstatic with the result". After recovering from a surfing injury, and with a WQS event looming, Weare was using this event as a warm-up and is "stoked to be back on a high". Weare is aiming to get back onto the WCT and, based on his current from, it looks increasingly possible.

This Surfing South Africa (SSA) Pro Surf Tour (PST) event ran from March 29-30, and included men's Grade 3A, Women's Grade 1A and a men's Pro Junior Grade 2A divisions with a total of R27 500 prize money on offer. Dave Weare, as men's open champion, took home R6000, while women's division winner Rautenbach pocketed the R1000 winners purse. Men's pro junior winner Kyle Lane won a tidy R2000.

The day started with perfect 3-5 foot offshore conditions. Although a light north-easterly picked up around midmorning, the swell held its shape and size and allowed for some volatile surfing.

Mark Fessler, owner of the Surfers Paradise stores who were the presenting sponsors for the event, was "really really stoked with the event and the turnout on the beach". The conditions, according to Fessler, were "the best contest conditions at Scottburgh for a long time". The good conditions, and the high quality of surfing, make it hard not to "look forward to next year", says Fessler.

The men's open division quarter-finals were the first heats to be contested on Sunday, with Scottburgh local and title contender Gavin Roberts getting eliminated by strong performances from both Dave Weare and Gary van Wieringen (Warner Beach) in the second heat of the day. The fourth quarter-final was an extremely tight affair, with big guns Antonio Bortoletto and Simon Nicholson (Durban) tied up on 15.9 points each at the end of the heat. It was Bortoletto, however, who took first place after having the highest single wave score, an 8.0.

The pro junior quarter-finals were next on the agenda, and Klee Strachan (Winkelspruit) wasted no time in securing a semi-final place with another heat victory. Scottburgh's young up-and-comer Slade Prestwich was unfortunate to lose out to a close battle between Shawn Dennis and Matt Bromley (Kommetjie), who were separated by a mere 0.25 at the end of the heat. The fourth pro junior quarter-final was dominated by Scottburgh local and O'Neill rider Casey Grant, who posted the second highest single wave score of the event (a 9.0) on his way to a heat total of 16.25 out of a possible 20 points. Kyle Lane followed closely with a heat total of 15.5.

The women's division went straight into the quarter-final round, and it was Tasha Mentasti, Michelle Imeson (Warner Beach), Tam De Maraussem (Westbrook) and Chantelle Rautenbach who won their heats and progressed to the semi-final round. Mentasti, Imeson and Rautenbach again emerged victorious from the semi-final round, as did Nicole Annels (Warner Beach).

In the first semi-final of the pro junior division, Matt Bromley again out-scored Shawn Dennis, although both still progressed to the final. The second semi-final saw local boy Casey Grant and Kyle Lane (Durban) ease their way into the final.

Klee Strachan continued his unbeaten run in the men's open division as he and Antonio Bortoletto topped the second semi-final. The other semi-final saw Dave Weare and Devyn Mattheys (East London) advance at the expense of Manfred Adrio (Durban) and Kelvin Zehmke (Scottburgh).

The Zigzag Blowing Up Expression Session was surfed as a prelude to the women's, pro junior and men's open division finals. The prize of R1000, and the unique hand grenade trophy, was awarded to Antonio Bortoletto who was adjudged to be the top surfer in this event. Bortoletto, on a day where he arguably lost the men's open title due to a thoughtless fisherman, was a worthy winner of the Expression Session, after busting out a massive front side air.

Chris Bertish, O'Neill South Africa's Brand Manager, was ecstatic with the success that the second annual O'Neill Scottburgh Pro enjoyed. Speaking at the end of the contest, he said that O'Neill would "definitely be back next year with a bigger and better event". With plans to upgrade the Scottburgh-based event to "a 5A or even a WQS event", it looks as if the O'Neill Scottburgh Pro is poised to become a cornerstone of the South African, and possibly even the international, surf calendar.

Beachgoers were in for a treat as free ‘learn to surf' clinics were hosted by Point Surf Academy, under the guidance of Scottburgh local and Surfing South Africa accredited coach Shaun Hague.

Ocean Minded, a footwear company who were co-sponsors of the event, once again ensured that Scottburgh's Main Beach remained in pristine condition. They hosted a beach clean-up operation at 1pm on both days of the event, and rewarded all volunteers for their efforts.

On Saturday night, beachfront restaurant and cocktail bar Phat Boyz hosted a party for all of the surfers and spectators.

For updates please visit www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za

O'Neill Scottburgh Pro gets underway in perfect conditions

Saturday, March 29, 2008

The opening day of the O'Neill Scottburgh Pro, took place in near perfect 3-4 foot offshore conditions at Scottburgh's main beach on Saturday 29 March.

Chris Bertish, Brand Manager for O'Neill South Africa, said O'Neill were "excited to be hosting the second annual Scottburgh Pro". This year's event has been upgraded to include a pro junior division, a move which has resulted in some amazing surfing conditions with great support for the event at the beach".

The point at Scottburgh's main beach presented some classic long right handed waves, providing the first heats of the day, the men's open division round of 40, with good quality and potentially high-scoring rides. The round of 40 affords unseeded entrants an opportunity to progress into the round of 32, and surfers like Gavin Roberts (Scottburgh), David Weare (Durban), Klee Strachan (Winkelspruit) and Simon Nicholson (Durban) took full advantage. Weare posted the highest combined heat score of the round, achieving 16.5 out of a possible 20 points.

The men's open division round of 32 was a predictably explosive affair, with a number of big names coming up against each other. The second heat was particularly tight, with a mere 0.65 points separating the top 3. Here, Ryan Bisset (Durban) and Gary van Wieringen (Warner Beach) progressed at the expense of Shaun Payne (Cape St Francis) and Shane Thorne (Bluff).

Scottburgh's Kelvin Zehmke, an O'Neill team rider who Bertish identified as a title contender, has been going about his surfing without much fuss. He finished second in a tough heat, knocking out Frankie Oberholzer (Warner Beach) and Matt Bromley (Kommetjie) in the process. His extensive knowledge of the local conditions have left him feeling very confident ahead of the final day of competition, although he did identify Klee Strachan as potential threat, saying that Strachan "has really been ripping, he's surfing very well".

The Pro Junior division kicked off with a trials round and the round of 24, with seeded competitors such as Klee Strachan, Shawn Dennis (Durban) and top O'Neill Team riders Nicky Godfrey and Casey Grant (Scottburgh), among others, having the advantage of progressing straight into the quarter-finals. At the time of going to press, Brendon Gibbens (Kommetjie) and young Scottburgh local Slade Prestwich had won their heats and secured pro junior quarter final places.

As an added incentive, the Zigzag Blowing Up Expression Session will award R1000 and a unique hand grenade trophy to the top surfer in this event which is scheduled for midday on Sunday.

Ocean Minded have ensured that this event does not impact negatively on the beach environment by conducting a daily beach clean up at 1pm, with prizes for all involved.

Tonight Phat Boyz restaurant & bar will be hosting a function for the surfers, so I'm sure there will be a couple of weary heads in the early hours of the tomorrow morning.

So as we go into the final day on Sunday, we are prepared to see South Africa's best tearing more epic surf which is expected, with only the Quarter, Semi's and finals left to run. The action is going to be red hot as we see some of the most innovative and explosive surfing seen this year thus far.

Update of the final day will get posted late tomorrow afternoon, after the event is completed. So check in tomorrow for all the results and photo's of the days highlights.

O'Neill Scottburgh Pro 2008 presented by Surfers Paradise