Roxy Wahine Comes to Durban

South Africa’s best and most competitive female surfers will battle it out with a host of rookies in the waters of Suncoast Beach, Durban next weekend, as the eighth edition of the Roxy Wahine Cup returns to town in style.

This unique Surfing South Africa tournament is the biggest stand-alone women’s surfing contest in South Africa, and this year a record entry of over 150 competitors will compete in the five divisions.

Although the surf conditions can be testing in KZN during the first week of December, the Wahine Cup has become famous for its good vibe and fine weather.

The surfing is pretty hot as well, and the fact that the Open division is a 3A rated event on the annual Pro Surf Tour, and offers a prize purse of R10000, means that the competition is pretty fierce. An opening function for all competitors will be held at the Suncoast Casino at 7pm on Thursday November 30.

The Open Division of Roxy Wahine Cup offers both prizemoney and ratings points on the annual Pro Surf Tour, so competition among the cream of South Africa’s female surfers will be intense.

This year a new Open division champion will be crowned as ISA World Games bronze medalist Rosy Hodge, who won the big money last year, will be competing in the ASP world Qualifying Series contests in Hawaii when the Roxy Wahine Cup takes place.

This leaves the door open for Durban’s five time winner Tamarys de Maroussem, or previous champion and three time runner-up Sarah Maritz of Warner Beach.

2004 SA team member Tasha Mentasti of Durban North, SA under 23 captain Stacey Guy of Melkbosstrand, WQS campaigner Tammy Lee Smith of Salt Rock and the Robarts twins, Tammy and Penny, of Somerset West are also in top form at present, and could be on the podium at the Awards Ceremony on December 3.

Last years Under 18 champion Nicole Annells of Warner Beach has moved into the Open Division and will be keen to prove herself, while talented 2005 under-16 champion and current SA Under-18 title holder Nikita Robb of East London has entered both the Open and Under 18 categories, and has the pedigree to win both divisions.

In the Under-18 division Lisa Mace and Tarryn Chudleigh of Kommetjie, Kahuna Surf Series winner Sabrina Scott of Glencairn, Danielle le Roux and Amber Kilfoil of Durban are among the favourites, but this division has attracted a host of top national and provincial stars and there could be some upsets.

The competitive Under 16 group will include Tarryn Chudleigh, Tanika Hoffman and Holly Armstrong of Kommetjie, Chantelle Rautenbach of Melkbosstrand, Alice McGregor of East London and Adele Nortje of Plettenberg Bay.

Not to be outdone, the Under 14 division includes SA Champion Sarah Baum of Athlone Park and her rival Heidi Palmboom of the Bluff. This division is also wide open as far as finalists are concerned.

As usual the Roxy Wahine Cup will introduce a host of first-time competitive surfers into Surfing South Africa, thanks to the all-important Novices Division.

Over R24 000 in prize money will be shared by the finalists in the Open, Under 18, Under 18 and Under 14 divisions, while the finalists in the Novices division will share a bunch of really cool prizes, and the winner will receive a 12 month sponsorship from Roxy.

For the first time since the Wahine Cup was introduced onto the Surfing South Africa calendar eight years ago, Roxy will present the Rock Concert On The Beach, which will feature bands such as Love Jones, Driverlane and the massive Parlotones.

The concert gets under way at 7:30 on Saturday December 2 on the Suncoast lawns. Tickets are available at Quiksilver Boardriders Club and TSS Concept Stores country wide, but if you have entered the contest the rock concert entry is free!

As usual the popular Surfing South Africa-sanctioned annual Roxy Learn To Surf Tour, which takes place on the South African East and West coasts during December and January, will be launched during the Wahine Cup.

This tour will attract aspiring surfers who will be coached by SSA accredited coaches at prime beaches along the South African coastline. The annual Learn to Surf Clinics have helped thousands of girls get off the beach and onto surfboards, and over the past five years girls of all ages have learned to ride the waves thanks to the Roxy Learn to Surf Tour.

The East Coast tour gets underway on December 2 at Suncoast Beach and the last clinic will be on January 4 in Mossel Bay. The West Coast Tour starts on December 9 at Table View and ends on December 30 in Hermanus.

Dates of the Roxy Learn To Surf Tour are available on the Surfing South Africa website, and free lessons are available to the media by appointment. Contact Natasha on (031) 313 1427.

The Roxy Wahine Cup, presented by Peugeot and Samsung, is a Surfing South Africa contest that is part of the 2006 Pro Surf Tour, and will be covered by Boardriders TV on Supersport.

Significantly, this year will see women featuring as more than 50% of the officials at the Roxy Wahine Cup, and Surfing South Africa’s goal is to see the event organised and run entirely by women from 2008.