Fri Jul 03 2009 21:00:00

BALLITO, KwaZulu-Natal (Friday, July 3, 2009) - South Africa’s hopes of crowning a 2009 Mr Price Pro Ballito champion lie firmly in the hands of three talented KwaZulu- Natal South Coast surfers, all of whom advanced into the final 16 surfers during the ASP WQS 6-Star event this morning.

Gavin Roberts (Scottburgh), ASP WQS campaigner Rudy Palmboom (Bluff) and former ASP South African Pro Junior Champion Klee Strachan (Winkelspruit) are the last remaining South African surfers in this year’s ASP WQS 6-Star Mr Price Pro Ballito and will fly the flag high, as they take on some of the world’s finest over the weekend.

Netting their collective best ever results at both the Mr Price Pro Ballito and on the ASP WQS tour, the three surfers have proven sensational in everything from powerful three meter (8-10ft) barrels to punchy one meter (3ft) beach break conditions seen at this event, holding equal ninth place positions as they advance into the Round of 16.

Roberts continued his relaxed, yet polished form during his Round of 24 match-up, earning just enough to advance in second place behind today’s top scorer Alejo Muniz (BRA) 15.33 (out of 20.00).

Roberts’ powerful turns off one of the last waves of the heat were awarded with a 7.67 (out of 10), the South Coaster edging out Jean da Silva (Bra) thanks to Alejo Muniz, who pulled off one of the last good waves of the heat allowing the South African the opportunity to solidify his second place with a heat score of 13.20 (out of 20.00).

“There’s no pressure on me, every heat is like a free surf and it seems to be working so I’m going to keep on doing it and hopefully make the final,” said Roberts. This is the furthest I have made it at the Mr Price Pro and it’s the most points I’ve ever got in a WQS event before. It’s kind of funny after doing the tour for three years, I finally quit and now I’m getting more points than ever!”

Palmboom and Strachan took a similarly relaxed approach to their heats, the pair of youngsters advancing convincingly in first place.

Palmboom opened up strong with a 6.33 (out of 10.00) on his first wave and then backed it up on a running left to score a 7.17 (out of 10.00), taking a convincing heat win over one of Australia’s finest young surfers Matt Wilkinson (Aus) and yesterday’s standout William Cardosa (Bra).

“This is my best result in the Mr Price and possibly my best ever result in a WQS contest,” said Palmboom. “I’m just so stoked to be making some heats for a change. I’ve just been taking it heat by heat and I’ve been lucky to get some bombs and some fun on the waves.”

Strachan joined Palmboom in taking down another of Australia’s finest, big wave charger and respected free surfer Wade Goodall. Strachan advanced in first place with a combination of powerful turns and a cleanly d front side air, to eliminate Mark Mathews (Aus) from this year’s event.

“It’s pretty fun out there! There’s one or two good ones, you just have to sit right by the rocks and wait for the waves,” explained Strachan. The waves were fun and I’m just stoked I made it through. This is the best I’ve done in a WQS event. It’s my first year on the ‘QS so I’m stoked to get this result.”

Former ASP World Tour campaigner Nathan Hedge (Aus) emerged as the day’s top performer netting one of the highest heat scores of the event so far a 16.00 (out of 20.00) to advance in first place ahead of Tanner Gudauskas (USA), the pair eliminating South African Royden Bryson (East London) in a wave starved heat.

Surfing tight and fast, fitting in a lot of maneuvers, the Australian surfer proved well suited to the smaller conditions posting a 7.17 and an excellent 8.83 for his victory.

“I had pretty much a dream start to my heat, opening up with two great scores in the first three minutes and I could have come in after that because I didn’t actually ride another wave for the rest of the heat,” said Hedge. This is my first time in Ballito, it’s refreshing and it’s produced some very good waves so I think everyone’s happy and there’s a really good vibe here.”

Alejo Muniz (Bra) opening up strong on a clean right hander to score a near perfect 9-point ride thanks to his explosive yet perfectly linked front side turns.

“It was a hard heat. The waves are kind of flat and not a lot of sets were coming through, but I was lucky to score a 9 and I’m pretty proud of myself,” said Muniz. “I thought maybe I’d get an 8 or 8.5, but it was a difficult wave to ride and I did two powerful maneuvers so I think that’s what made the score so high.”

ASP WQS No. 2 Daniel Ross (AUS) emerged as the last remaining Top 10 ASP WQS surfer in this year’s event, putting himself in a very strong position to capture the ASP WQS ratings lead from current ASP WQS No. 1 Owen Wright (Aus) after this event.

Ross advanced in first place ahead of James Taipan Wood (Aus) and Jarrad Howse (Aus).

Also advancing in first place today were consistent Californian surfer Austin Ware who took another solid win over Dylan Graves (Peurto Rico) with Brazilian Paulo Mauro bowing out in third Leigh Sedley (Aus) who defeated Marco Giorgi (Bra) and Rodrigo Dornelles (Bra) and Hawaii’s Granger Larsen taking the win from Hodei Collazo (Bra) and Dave Richards (ZAF).

The men’s Mr Price Pro Ballito action will resume tomorrow morning with a 06H30 call at Surfers for a possible 07H00 start.

RESULTS
Men’s Round of 24:
Heat 1: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 15.33 Gavin Roberts (ZAF) 13.20 Jean da Silva (BRA) 10.20
Heat 2: Daniel Ross (AUS) 13.50 James Taipan Wood (AUS) Jarrad Howse (AUS) 4.34
Heat 3: Rudy Palmboom (ZAF) 13.50 Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 11.63 William Cardosa (BRA) 5.00
Heat 4: Austin Ware (AUS) 10.77 Dylan Graves (PRI) 9.66 Paulo Moura (BRA) 7.09
Heat 5: Leigh Sedley (AUS) 11.67 Marco Giorgi (URY) 6.84 Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 6.48
Heat 6: Klee Strachan (ZAF) 10.86 Wade Goodall (AUS) 8.57 Mark Mathews (AUS) 8.00
Heat 7: Nathan Hedge (AUS) 16.00 Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 11.67 Royden Bryson (ZAF) 9.14
Heat 8: Granger Larsen (HAW) Hodei Collazo (EUK) 7.33 Dave Richards (ZAF) 7.00