The three South African girls who have campaigned on the 2007 ASP Women’s ASP World Qualifying Series, which ended with Haleiwa local Megan Abubo winning the Reef Hawaiian Pro in her home break on Thursday last week, have all missed the cut for qualification for the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour.
Nikita Robb was the best of the SA contingent, ending 2007 ranked 19th in her first full year on the WQS. The 18 year-old East Londoner, who matriculated at the end of 2006, was rated as high as 7th after placing fifth in the Mr Price Pro in Durban in July, and added another fifth place result in England a month later, but could not maintain her position in the stretch.
Rosanne Hodge (East London) and Tammy-Lee Smith (Salt Rock) ended 24th and 32nd respectively in the WQS ratings, where the top six qualify.
Hodge (East London), who is in her rookie year as SA’s sole representative on the elite tour, still has a chance to re-qualify if she can equal or better her best result so far this year in the remaining two World Tour events in Hawaii and force her way into the top 10 in the rankings.
Currently rated World No. 14 and with a best result of fifth in Europe in September, Hodge needs to finish fifth or better in her sponsor’s event, the Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach, and the season ending Billabong Pro at Honolua Bay on Maui, otherwise 2008 may see no SA presence at the highest level of women’s surfing for the first time since Heather Clark burst onto the scene in 2000 by winning the Triple Crown at her first attempt.
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