Saffa Girls Rock

Bianca, who hails from George in the Southern Cape, recently won the ASP 6 star Movistar Women’s Pro in Peru, a result that has catapulted her to fifth on the ASP World Star Ranking, from which six surfers will qualify for the 2013 World Tour. Sarah Baum from Durban came third in the same event, and our hopes on the Women’s World Tour are looking strong.

When Wendy Botha won the World Tour and became World Champion four times, she carried an Australian passport. This takes nothing from her roots as an East London girl who learned to surf at Nahoon Corner, and competed through the South African amateur ranks, in girls and boys divisions.

Due to the sport boycott imposed on South Africa during apartheid, she had to change her citizenship to embark on a world tour career. It worked for her, with four eventual World Titles, as well as a cover feature in Playboy Magazine Australia.

Heather Clark was the next South African female surfer to turn heads. Heather was an excellent competitor who relished the big stuff. When other surfers were cowering in the channel at massive Sunset in Hawaii, Heather, or ‘Ferg’ as she is affectionately known, was in the bowl, taking off late and going square off the bottom. Heather continues to compete (most recently for southern KZN at the SA Masters Champs on the weekend), and continues to win events.

Rosy Hodge also hailed from East London and represented on the WCT for a number of years. Rosy has a smooth and flowing natural-footed style, groomed on the right-hand points and reefs of East London, and was also comfortable in big waves. She was on the WCT for a number of years and has progressed to a role of live commentating, webcasting and doing post-heat TV interviews at WCT events. Our Rosy has done well.

The new crop is starting to show their faces and to come through on an international level. While Sarah Baum has been bubbling under for a year or so now, and has come agonizingly close to qualifying, it seems like all eyes are on Bianca Buitendag right now. Bianca has a red-hot backhand, nurtured on the punchy waves of Victoria Bay, and her thin and tall figure translates to all sorts of waves, from tiny slop to big and solid point waves.

Bianca is totally comfortable in all conditions, has a full aerial arsenal, which is fairly rare amongst the fairer sex, and is also a competent and savvy competitor, as can be seen in her recent victory at the 6-star Movistar Women’s Pro in Peru. The event was held at Lobitos, in Piura, Peru, a long and winding left-hand pointbreak that perfectly suited Bianca’s style.

With Bianca now occupying 5^th slot, there is every chance that she could qualify. If she doesn’t qualify this year, she will qualify the next year, and when she does she will stay on the tour for a very long time.

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