Perfect Ride for McGillivray

TENNER: McGillivray scored the only 10 of the event. Pic WSL

The on-form teenager Matthew McGillivray posted the only 10 in the QS1,000-rated event in the World Surfing League.

Competing in punchy 4-5' beach break surf at Taharu‘u Beach, McGillivray completed two frontside air reverses on the same wave in his semifinal match-up against Shane Holmes (AUS) before battling through a see-saw final with eventual winner Dimitri Ouvre, the only professional surfer from the small Caribbean island of Saint Barthelemy.

“I’ve been working on my air reverses tons at home,” said McGillivray of his perfect score. “Today the wind was perfect for airs, it was blowing to the wave face. That wave had a bit of power so I managed to build up a nice bit of speed. I already had two scores so I just wanted to try and go for broke and get a better one.”

WINNERS: Matt McGillivray, second from left. Photo: WSL

In the final, McGillivray had a good start with a 6.25 on his first wave to take an early lead. Ouvre started with a 5.25 and added a 7.75 to take the lead. The two surfers then exchanged rides with a 7.9 for Ouvre followed by a 7.6 for the South African, with Ouvre ultimately securing the title by 15.65 points to McGillivray’s 13.85 (both out of 20).

In his first full year on the WSL Qualification Series (QS), McGillivray was the highest rated South African in the rankings in the 62nd place (out of 569) coming into the Papara Pro. He finished fourth in the Burleigh Pro in Australia in February, won the trials event at the QS6,000 Newcastle Surfest and placed third in the Rangiroa Pro in Tahiti last week.

At Papara he was again on fire and advanced in first place through five consecutive heats to reach the final. His earnings of US $1 000 (approx R15 500) and 750 rankings points will see the 18 year-old move into the top 40 on the QS rankings.

Slade Prestwich (Durban) and Shane Sykes (Salt Rock) were the only other Saffas in Tahiti and finished 33rd and 25th respectively.

OPEN CEREMONY: Photo: WSL

 Final
1st – Dimitri Ouvre (BLM), $2,000 and 1,000 points
2nd – Matthew McGillivray (ZAF), $1,000 and 750 points

Semifinals – 1st advances, 2nd=3rd place
SF1: Matthew McGillivray (ZAF), Shane Holmes (AUS)
SF2: Dimitri Ouvre (BLM), Enrique Turo Ariitu (PYF)

Quarterfinals – 1st advances, 2nd=5th place
QF1: Matthew McGillivray (ZAF), Taumata Puhetini (PYF)
QF2: Shane Holmes (AUS), Eli Olson (HAW)
QF3: Enrique Turo Ariitu (PYF), Finn McGill (HAW)
QF4: Dimitri Ouvre (BLM), Shayden Pacarro (HAW)

Round of 16 – 1st and 2nd advance, 3rd=9th place, 4th=13th place
H1: Matthew McGillivray (ZAF), Eli Olson (HAW), Jocelyn Poulou (PYF), Steven Pierson (PYF)
H2: Shane Holmes (AUS), Taumata Puhetini (PYF), Marc Lacomare (FRA), Mateia Hiquily (PYF)
H3: Turo Ariitu (PYF), Dimitri Ouvre (BLM), Kekoa Cazimero (HAW), Noa Mizuno (HAW)
H4: Shayden Pacarro (HAW), Finn McGill (HAW), Makai McNamara (HAW), Dylan Goodale (HAW)