Duo in Line for ASP Tour Spots

South Africans Bianca Buitendag and Sarah Baum maintained their challenge for coveted spots on the 2013 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT) when they finished fifth and ninth respectively in the ASP 6-Star rated Paul Mitchell Supergirl Pro at Oceanside in California on Saturday.

Competing in peaky 0.5 to one metre waves, Buitendag, 18, (Victoria Bay) built on her confidence-boosting victory in Peru a fortnight back by advancing through a strong field of WCT and Star Tour competitors to reach the quarterfinals at Oceanside.

There she was ousted by 2012 ASP World No. 5 Courtney Conlogue (USA), placing fifth overall and earning US $1 100 (approx. R9 000) and an invaluable 1 560 rankings points, her second highest haul of the year to date.

The result sees Buitendag maintain her No. 5 ranking on the ASP Women’s Star Rankings but with an increased lead of 773 points over sixth-ranked Rebecca Woods (AUS). Six women qualify for the WCT from the Star rankings annually and with three of the four women above her in the rankings – Conlogue, Malia Manuel (HAW) and Paige Hareb (NZL) – having already qualified for the 2013 ASP WCT through their elite tour results, Buitendag is now effectively in second spot.

Baum, 18, (Durban) also had a great run in the Supergirl Pro, winning her opening heat ahead of Buitendag and placing second behind Conlogue to reach the last 12 where she was eliminated by ASP World No. 6 Manuel and Buitendag.

Baum earned US $900 and 920 points for her ninth place result, moving her up from No. 12 to No. 10 in the rankings. With four of those ahead of her already qualified, she currently sits in an effective sixth place and on the cusp of giving South Africa two girls amongst the world’s top 17 ranked female surfers on the 2013 ASP Women’s WCT.

Compatriot Rosanne Hodge (East London), the only other South African competing at Oceanside and a former four-year WCT member, produced her best result of 2012 with a 13th place finish. Hodge placed third behind Baum and Conlogue in their Round 24 encounter, finishing 13th overall pocketing $800 and 650 points to climb to No. 28 in the rankings.

There are three 6-Star rated women’s events still be run – one each in Spain, Portugal and the finale in the Azores Islands. The next event is the Cabreiroa Pantin Classic Pro at Pantin in Spain starting12 September.