Copper for SA in France

FINAL HURDLE: Bianca Buitendag couldn't find the waves she needed. Photo ISA / Evans

France's two surfers, Pauline Ado and Johanne Defay, took first and second in the four-person heat to make it a double for France, with Costa Rica's Leilani McGonagle taking third. The two French women powered to a lead early in the piece, without relinquishing their grip on gold and silver. Bianca, who irritatingly was called Bianca "Bootendagg" by the American commentary team, had to settle for copper, with weak 2 foot beach break bumps making conditions difficult.

The first #ISAWorlds to be staged since the sport was included in the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan has attracted a record 245 competitors from 47 nations, many of whom are participating in the event for the first time.

The women’s event started on the weekend in challenging conditions with rain squalls, a stiff onshore wind and overhead surf making it difficult to find waves with high scoring potential, before the contest was put on hold for the spectacular Opening Ceremonies.

EARLY EXIT: Tanika Hoffman made Round 1 but sadly not Round 2. Photo ISA / Evans

Buitendag came out firing after the ceremony as the skies cleared and the wind dropped and the former Championship Tour campaigner posted a near perfect 9.0 score. Backing that up with a 4.83 for a 13.83 heat total, the fourth highest of the opening round, Buitendag left her rivals from Korea, Ecuador and Ireland trailing in her spray.

"Coming to an event like this, let alone the Olympics, is a huge opportunity. It's an opportunity to celebrate your heritage and your sport, but also the power of sport that can make many things possible like it has in our lives," said Buitendag at the media conference that preceded the start of competition.

Tanika Hoffman (Sea Point) followed her captain’s example four heats later, grabbing the runner-up spot in her opening encounter behind Ecuadorean standout Dominic Barona to advance directly to Round 2 where she was knocked out.

DRONING ON: The lay of the land at the ISA World Surfing Games. Photo ISA

The colourful opening ceremonies included the Parade of Nations through the thronged streets of Biarritz by the flag waving teams before the stirring Sands of the World Ceremony on the beach attended by local dignitaries.

Buitendag and vice captain Dylan Lightfoot were the two South Africans who took to the main stage and poured sand from their local beach into a glass container while waving the national flag, symbolizing the peaceful gathering nations of the world through Surfing.

"Today we come to Biarritz as the true and only ISA, the United Nations of Surfing, to these World Surfing Games, which are truly the Olympics of Surfing,” said ISA President Fernando Aguerre. “In these times of violence, wars and conflicts, we celebrate our diversity in union. We have all come together, bringing our symbolic Sands of the World, to symbolize the unity of world in peace through Surfing.”

SANDS OF TIME: Team captain Bianca Buitendag and Dylan Lightfoot Photo ISA / Reed

In a departure from the usual double elimination format used at previous ISA events, only one Repecharge Round will be run and thereafter the event will have straight elimination heats with the top two advancing to the next round. Competitors finishing third and fourth are out of the competition.

Gold, silver, bronze and copper medals will be awarded to the top four in the Men’s and Women’s divisions, as well as the top four national teams at the event. South Africa won the team title in 1978, 2001 and 2013. The men’s event starts today, with South Africa represented by Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay), Shane Sykes (Salt Rock), Davey van Zyl (Glenashley, Durban) and new cap Brandon Benjamin (Steenberg, Cape Town).

Women's Final Results:
1 Pauline Ado (FR) 12.17
2 Johanne Defay (FR) 10.43
3 Leilani McGonagle (CRC) 8.4
4 Bianca Buitendag (RSA) 7.47