Border Blitz SA Champs

HEAT SHEET and resultsDay 1

Border sent an ominous sign to the other seven provinces as they began their defence of the 2010 team title with heat wins in the Men’s Open and Boys U20 divisions.

The dynamic well-drilled team - lead by defending champ Greg Emslie - got straight down to business when the Opens Men’s division kicked off just after 7am in the clean conditions. Emslie's impressive win in Heat 1 set the tone for the rest of the day with most top seeds advancing into Round Three.

After lunch, with the point still delivering long, clean rippable walls, it was the turn of the Under 20 boys to open up their respective accounts. Western Province’s Matt Bromley powered his way to a win with an 8.95, the highest individual wave score of the day. KwaZulu-Natal’s Beyrick de Vries, fresh off his recent win at the Quiksilver Pro Junior in Durban, also stamped his claim early as he cruised to a trouble-free win in Heat 2.

Eastern Province’s Steve Sawyer and Dylan Lightfoot, Jean du Plessis (Border) Max Armstrong (Western Province) and Davey van Zyl (KZN) joined Matt and Beyrick as they advanced into the third round. Stylish Seal Point local Nick Godfrey - surfing for Western Cape - capped things off for the Under 20 boys with a comprehensive win in the last Round One heat.

The notorious ‘Full Stop’ rock claimed its fair share of over-zealous victims.

The last eight heats of the day were reduced to 15 minute affairs as the surfers slogged it out to avoid elimination in the repo-style Round 2 of the Open Men’s division. The surf continued to pulse despite the dropping tide, although the notorious ‘Full Stop’ rock claimed its fair share of over-zealous victims. Those who managed to avoid the exposed rock by linking together the top and bottom section of the wave got the judge’s approval,  enabling them to progress  to round 3 and the chance to fight another day.

KZN’s Casey Grant was one of the surfer’s who dodged the proverbial round 2 ‘bullet’, earning himself a coveted spot in tomorrow’s round 3. Joining Grant were Devin MacNicol (Southern KZN), Adin Jeenes (Southern Cape), Philip Malherbe (Border), Bertie Stuurman (EP) and Peder Christensen (Boland), amongst others.

The Billabong SA Surfing Champs 2011 was officially declared open by Surfing South Africa General Manager, Robin de Kock at the opening function at the Cape St Francis Resort last night. The 46th edition of South Africa’s premier domestic surfing event sees teams from all eight provincial associations descend on Seal Point for four days of competitive surfing rivalry.

The Billabong SA Surfing Champs is proudly presented by Zigzag, fuelled by Monster, coordinated by Surfing South Africa, supported by the Cape St Francis Resort and hosted by the Eastern Province Surfing Council.

Updated heat sheets, results and daily image galleries are available at the official SA Champs 2011 portal hosted at www.zigzag.co.za

Day 2’s action is scheduled for a 7am start with round 3 of the Open Men.