What Happens on Tour ...
Friday 20 September 2019 South African surfers have been getting good results around the world, but what are our realistic chances of getting more Saffas on the CT? asks Craig Jarvis.
HAIR STYLE: Chad du Toit lays into a sharp cuttie on the end section at Nias. Photo WSL / Masurel
It was a great spectacle to see surfers like Chad Du Toit charging at Nias, and then for goofy-footed Jordy Maree to charge from behind in the final to take the win for South Africa.
Three thousand points is a great knock for a QS hopeful, and let’s hope that Maree uses the impetus and the momentum to greater results in the back half of the qualifying year.
Let’s have a look at what’s going in the international QS ranking for our boys and girls. The highest placed South African surfer on the QS is Matthew McGillivray at 23rd, with 9690 points. Matt, from JBay, knows his way around the podium and recently placed 5th at the ABANCA Galicia Classic Surf Pro 10,000 recently, netting 5,000 points. Considering you need close to 20,000 or so to be totally safe for CT qualification, Matty needs another big one in the bag.
BACK ATTACK: Jordy Maree smashed his strongest QS win at the 3,000 Nias Pro. Photo WSL
At 37th with 7610 points on the board, Beyrick needs to get to work. The big results are totally in his game, and he also has one of the best waves in the history of competition at Sunset Beach in Hawaii under his belt, so the North Shore is advantageous to him.
After a great early start to the year, including the win at the Volkswagen SA Open Of Surfing 1,000, 61st placed Adin Masencamp was on a roll. But with 5,750 points, he also needs to kick in with a big win, and his current surfing is on-point, so he just needs to find the hunger again that he had in Port Elizabeth.
Jordy Maree is just below Masencamp with 5,590 points and a 62nd rating. His recent win at Nias will give him a massive confidence boost and he needs to carry this through to his next event. Maree also needs to do some damage in Hawaii, which he is more than capable of doing.
BEYRICK BMT: Beyrick de Vries has some huge results to his name. Photo WSL / Jimenez
At 37th on the ratings and with 7610 points on the board, Beyrick needs to get to work. The big results are totally in his game, and he also has one of the best waves in the history of competition at Sunset Beach in Hawaii under his belt, so the North Shore is advantageous to him. He needs to go big.
After a great early start to the year, including the win at the Volkswagen SA Open Of Surfing 1,000, 61st placed Adin Masencamp was on a roll. But with 5,750 points, he also needs to kick in with a big win, and his current surfing is on-point, so he just needs to find the hunger again that he had in Port Elizabeth.
Jordy Maree is just below Masencamp with 5,590 points and a 62nd rating. His recent win at Nias will give him a massive confidence boost and he needs to carry this through to his next event. Maree also needs to do some damage in Hawaii, which he is more than capable of doing.
LIGHT FOOT: Dylan Lightfoot is another who has immense future potential. Photo WSL / Masurel
Despite two wins this year so far in the Vans Surf Pro Classic and the Royal St Andrews Hotel Port Alfred Classic, Dylan Lightfoot is sitting at 70th with 5,390 points to his name. He has BMT and all the moves, and just needs a good rhythm in the bigger events.
Mikey February is at 96th spot, and doesn't seem to be too perturbed about it all, having fun free surfing the best waves in the world instead. What a life.
In the women’s QS, Bianca Buitendag sits at 43rd, and continues to rip whenever she enters an event. Choosing not to compete full time, Bianca is also enjoying herself on tour, doing what she needs or wants to do.
Sarah Baum at 64th is one of the most under-rated surfers on tour, and capable of big wins on any given day. Her results are sporadic and if she were to find the consistency and still do the big moves that she is so capable of, she could still do amazing things on tour.
UNDER-RATED: The hugely talented Sarah Baum has plenty of gas in the tank. Photo WSL / Evans
Ceara Knight at 98th has a bright future ahead of her, provided she holds her game, and continues to stay focused and fit. She is a confident surfer, with a fast and exciting backhand approach, and has a world of opportunity. Ceara could be the next big thing for South African women surfing, along with Zoe Steyn, the East London sensation with oodles of talent and a huge career ahead.
There are a few Saffas surfing in the QS6,000 Azores Airlines Pro with mixed results. Let’s have another look after the shuffle.