De Vries Wins TOTKO

The twenty one year old was in top form winning every heat from round one to the final posting scores in the excellent range by executing a variety of innovative and stylish manoeuvres. With good four to six feet surf on offer spectators were treated to a high standard of surfing by the country’s best.

De Vries was rivalled by a determined Michael February of Kommetjie, who to posted three scores in the excellent range in the final. De Vries was against the ropes at a stage in the heat but took to the air to crack the nod from the panel of judges scoring a nine point ride to seal the deal.

“I am super excited about the win, the waves were so good the whole weekend and the level of surfing was amazing, it’s so good to have events like this, it’s just given me more confidence going into the my next few international event,” said an elated De Vries after the win. Casey Grant of Scottburgh and Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay) both surfer phenomenally well throughout the event but were no match for the inform De Vries and February in the mens final.

In the under twenty junior boys final it was Salt Rock resident Shane Sykes who peaked when it mattered most, Sykes opened up with a seven point ride in the twenty five minute final and was untouchable thereafter. Jarred Veldhuis of Kommetjie managed to string a pair of waves together in the increasingly more testing conditions to finish second while Dylan Lightfoot and Slade Prestwich (Durban) were third and fourth respectively.

Sykes, only seventeen years old, has looked menacing throughout the year and finally put it together on a big stage, “My goal was to win one of these events this year and I pulled it off here in Vic Bay, the conditions really suited my surfing and I managed to get on the right waves which paid off. I can’t wait for this series next year,” said Sykes at the awards ceremony.

Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay) was awarded surfer of the event for making both the open mens final as well as the under twenty junior boys final, he surfed a total of six tiring heats on the final day. Beyrick De Vries was named the series winner after back-to-back wins in the series while Diran Zakarian of Melbosstrand claimed the series win in the junior boys division.

Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay) was awarded surfer of the event for making both the open mens final as well as the under twenty junior boys final, he surfed a total of six tiring heats on the final day. Beyrick De Vries was named the series winner after back-to-back wins in the series while Diran Zakarian of Melbosstrand claimed the series win in the junior boys division.

Event sponsors and coordinators Quiksilver were ecstatic with the series, “We are happy to end off the series with an event like this, good waves resulted in good surfing, the surfing was insane! These events and this series has been so well received, it’s so good for South African surfing, the level of surfing has been amazing and we’re definitely looking to replicate this next year,” said Quiksilver marketing and sales manager Dane Patterson.

The Quiksilver Takes One To Know One series events are all 3A Pro Surf Tour rated events with a total of R90 000 paid out as prize money. Sponsors Techniblock Sunscreen, Drift Camera’s, Skullcandy, Zigzag Magazine and Red Bull all played a big role in bringing this series together. The series was sanctioned by Surfing South Africa.

To find see photo’s and videos of the event and series, visit to www.quiksilver/totko. 

Open Mens:
1. Beyrick De Vries (Umhlanga Rocks, KZN)
2. Michael February (Kommetjie, Cape Town)
3. Casey Grant (Scottburgh)
4. Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay)

Junior Boys:
1. Shane Sykes (Salt Rock)
2. Jarred Veldhuis (Kommetjie, Cape Town)
3. Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay)
4. Slade Prestwich (Durban)

Surfer Of The Event:
Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay)