2 Down, 2 to Go

In their Round 2 heats on Day 2 yesterday, SA captain Michael February (Kommetjie) and Casey Grant (Scottburgh) both won their heats, while Davey Brand (Kommetjie) and David van Zyl (Glenashley) got thirds, relegating them to Round 2 of the repercharge. This followed a good first day when all four surfers won their opening heats.

February achieved the highest total heat score of Day 2 in a close heat against Argentina’s Leandro “Lele” Usuna. February sealed the victory in his first two waves with a 7.00 and 9.13, for a total of 16.13, followed by Usuna’s 7.83 and 6.50, for a total of 14.33. Both surfers defeated Ecuador’s Sebastian Santos (9.24) and Carlos Goncalvez (7.14).

“I’m really happy, I had a very good heat. Yesterday was a bit slow, but I could put a good heat together today,” said a relieved Michael February. “The waves are really fun, I just want to surf as best as I can and aim to get some good scores. My highest wave was a very good and long wall. There are not many like that, so I’m happy to get that one and get a good score. Tomorrow I want to be on the beach supporting everyone on my team and I hope that everyone goes well.”

On the first day, the surf cranked at 6-8', and the South African quartet were in their element in defence of the ISA Team Gold medal they earned at the corresponding event in Panama last year by going ballistic on the glassy, double-overhead wave faces.

Brand - the first SA team member in action - used his trademark powerful backhand turns to rack up a heat tally of 14.0 out of a possible 20 to advance to Round 2 in the Qualifying stream.

Van Zyl, February and Grant were equally impressive in the epic overhead surf.

Former ISA U18 World Champion, Cristobal de Col (Peru), was the top point scorer on Day 1, recording a total of 15.90 for his top two waves, as three of the four competitors from the host nation stayed in the Qualifying stream. Perennial medalists Australia saw team member Otis Carey drop into the grueling Repecharge rounds when he placed third in his Round 1 clash.

Surfline, the official forecaster of the event, has predicted pumping waves for the opening days of the competition followed by great surf for the whole contest period.

Day 2 was another action-packed day with plenty of swell in the water. Though the SSW swell that provided double-overhead surf on Saturday slightly dropped, the easing surf remained well overhead with long walls of over 150 yards long.

ISA President Fernando Aguerre remarked that: “Today was sunny and the waves were great, a little smaller than yesterday. It was a very good competition day, we ran the remaining heats of Round 1 and then Round 2, and tomorrow (Monday) is the turn for the ladies, early in the morning, it’s going to be amazing.”

In the first heat of Day 2, a surfer from the United Arab Emirates made history as the first to compete at an ISA World Championship. The Dubai native, Mohammad Rahma, learned to surf just a few years ago at the Wadi Adventures Wave Pool in Abu Dhabi.

In the first heat of Day 2, a surfer from the United Arab Emirates made history as the first to compete at an ISA World Championship. The Dubai native, Mohammad Rahma, learned to surf just a few years ago at the Wadi Adventures Wave Pool in Abu Dhabi.

Rahma got injured playing for the Rugby National Team and during his rehabilitation process, would run on the beach where he first encountered surfers. He decided to give it a try and fell in love with the sport.

Another notable performer was Argentina’s Santiago Muniz, who dominated his heat earing a 15.50 score, and is looking to reclaim the Gold Medal he won at the 2011 ISA World Surfing Games.

Team Peru is defending their home court well, with all four surfers advancing to Round 3 of the Main Event. Cristobal de Col (12.17), Gabriel Villaran (13.23), Joaquin del Castillo (11.5), and Sebastian Alarcon (15.1), will be looking to do their part to repeat the 2010 ISA World Surfing Games Team Gold Medal.

Following The Morning Show today (Monday), competition will feature (From around 2.30pm):
6 heats of Open Women’s Main Event Round 1
6 heats of Open Men’s Main Event Round 3
6 heats of Open Men’s Repechage Round 1

Surfline, the official forecaster of the event, has predicted pumping waves for the opening days of the competition followed by great surf for the whole contest period.

All the action from Claro ISA 50th Anniversary World Surfing Games including news, results, video footage, images and live webcasts can be found at www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za and http://isawsg.com

The 2014 South African Surfing Team is competing in Peru thanks to assistance from the Department of Sport and Recreation.

Surfing South Africa (SSA) is a member of the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and recognised by Sport and Recreation SA as the national governing body for the sport. SSA is a member of the International Surfing Association (ISA), the world’s governing body for surfing.