Pallet and Woolf Take Honours

HAPPY DAYS: Both are stoked because both won titles: Pallet and Woolf. Photo WSL / Thurtell

Woolf (Jeffreys Bay) appeared in both finals, but could not pull off the double in clean 4-5' waves and overcast weather at Nahoon Reef after big surf failed to materialise yesterday. She won the Pro Junior Women's event, and made it to the final of the Open Women's event, but that went to Pallet (La Lucia).

Reigning WSL Africa women’s champion Pallet and Woolf surfed three times before meeting the QS1,000 Women’s final. The Jeffreys Bay teenager battled to a hard-fought semi-final victory over local favourite Zoe Steyn (East London) in the top half of the draw while Pallet came out ahead in a see-saw struggle with Faye Zoetmulder (St Francis Bay) in the bottom half

The final saw Pallet rack up scores of 5.0 and 6.25 while her younger opponent could only manage a pair of four point rides during the 25 minute encounter, leaving Pallet to celebrate her earnings of R8,000 and 1,000 that saw her leap frog into the lead in the 2018 WSL Africa Women’s rankings after three events.

LOCAL LONGBOARD: Faye Zoetmulder won the SSA longboarding event. Photo WSL / Thurtell

In the Junior Women, Woolf narrowly escaped elimination in the semi-finals, finishing second behind Nina Harmse (Herold’s Bay) and just 0.20 of a point ahead of Olivia Izzard (La Lucia). Once in the final Woolf was unstoppable, using her patented backhand attack to rack up almost double the score of runner-up Kirsty McGillivray (Jeffreys Bay) and well ahead of Zoe Steyn and Nina Harmse.

The QS1,000 Men’s and JQS1,000 Junior Men’s events were each whittled down to the last 16 who will battle for supremacy on Sunday. Jordy Maree, winner in Port Alfred last weekend, was again on form and along with Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay) was responsible for eliminating defending event winner Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay). The final is being contested between Matt McGillivray (JBay) and Dale Staples.

More available on www.WorldSurfLeague.com and on the WSL App, with highlights on the WSL QS Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

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Mitchum Buffalo City Surf Pro Women’s Final Results
1. Nicole Pallet (La Lucia) 11.25
2. Kai Woolf (Jeffreys Bay) 8.15

Mitchum Buffalo City Surf Pro Women’s Semi-Final Results
SF1: Kai Woolf (Jeffreys Bay) 8.50 def. Zoe Steyn (East London) 5.15
SF2: Nicole Pallet (La Lucia) 11.50 def. Faye Zoetmulder (Cape St Francis) 7.10

Mitchum Buffalo City Surf Pro Junior Women’s Final Results
1. Kai Woolf (Jeffreys Bay) 11.25
2. Kirsty McGillivray (Jeffreys Bay) 6.50
3. Zoe Steyn (East London) 3.85
4. Nina Harmse (Herold’s Bay) 3.80

WSL Africa Women’s Rankings
1 Pallet, Nicole 2310
2 Woolf, Kai 2050
3 Steyn, Zoe 1870
4 Hogg, Teal 1280
5 Smith, Emma 1255

WSL Africa Junior Women’s Rankings
1 Woolf, Kai 2000
2 McGillivray, Kirsty 1145
3 Steyn, Zoe 964
4 Izzard, Olivia 945
5 Bell, Sophie 750