Over 60 girls have already entered the second edition of the SSA Women’s Pro, and with the surfing year winding to a close, this contest is not only an important one for those surfers in the running for 2012 Pro Surf Tour honours, but also gives every competitor the chance to win a spot prize or share some of the R7,500 in prize money on offer at each event.
There is still time to enter the nation-wide event, taking place simultaneously at three top venues around the country on Sunday 25 November, with Surfing SA having extended the closing date to Thursday, 22 November.
Applications can be submitted online at the Surfing South Africa website.
The largest entry is in Durban where top international campaigner Sarah Baum, SA Under-20 champion Heidi Palmboom, former two-time World Masters Champion Heather Clark and former national junior team members Nikita Kekana, Nicole Pallet and Chanelle Botha head up a strong field. The Durban contest is scheduled to get under way at 8am on Sunday, at the Bay of Plenty.
In Cape Town, Tanika Hoffman, who won both the Open and Under 20 divisions at the first Women’s Pro at Long Beach, will be aiming at securing the double and the 2012 Under 20 Pro Surf Tour title.
Other top surfers in the Cape Town field are Holly Armstrong, Women’s Day champion Danielle Johnson and talented up and coming surfers Nina Woermann and Anoush Zakarian. Double World SUP medal winner Anna Notten has also entered the event. Surfers must meet at Long Beach Kommetjie at 8am to determine the venue for the Cape Town contest.
Top Eastern Province surfer Faye Zoetmulder, who suffered a horrific leg fracture almost a year ago, will make her return to competitive surfing at Kitchen Windows in Jeffreys Bay on Sunday.
The field includes two recently crowned SA Junior champions in Gina Smith and Crystal Hulett, as well as former SA Junior Team member Emma Smith and 2011 SA Under 15 Champion Tahra Uren. Contestants will meet at 8am at Kitchen Windows in J-Bay on Sunday.
All three venues feature 1A rated PST events for Open Women, Under 20 and U16’s. There is R2 500 in prize-money at stake in each division at each event while the Rookies, who have not previously represented their respective Provinces or competed in a national event before, will win prizes.
The heats and schedule for the contests will be posted on the Surfing South Africa website on Friday, 23 November.