Corona Durban Surf Pro Wrap

Michael February and Zoe McDougall claimed the Men’s and Women’s titles at the Corona Durban Surf Pro presented by Quiksilver and Roxy. The contest was held in the Dairy Beach bowl as the New Pier banks are yet to settle back into place after Cyclone Enawo in March.

February and McDougall both nailed the win by producing high scoring rides in the pressure-packed dying minutes of their finals to lift the trophies, pocket the bulk of the prize-money and add 1,000 precious points to their WSL Qualifying series rankings.

Up against fellow QS campaigner Matt McGillivray (Jeffreys Bay), February started the final with a couple of mid-range scores before being overtaken by his opponent, but came back with an excellent nine point ride in the last couple of minutes to secure his second victory in April.

MFeb is now ranked 15th on the QS leaderboard – a spot that makes qualification look highly probable. He successfully holds onto the zebra striped Skullcandy rankings leader’s vest, being the most consistent of the field as this is his third successive final in the City Surf Series.

“I started the final with two mediocre rides while Matt overtook me with a 7.8 that he got under my priority, and then he backed that up with a 6.3,” said February. “After sitting for nine minutes with priority I lost it on a small wave, so I was super nervous. But with three minutes to go I got the best wave of the heat and it gave me the chance to get that 9.0.”

“I’m super happy to get another win and extend my rankings lead,” MFeb enthused. “These City Surf Series events have been great, they fill the gap between the two QS6,000 events in Australia early in the year and the bigger events here and overseas still to come. The momentum I’ve built up will really help me in Japan next month.”

McDougall came into the event ranked No. 13 in the WSL Women’s QS standings, and dominated her heats on the way to the final. The Hawaiian started strong with a 7.17 but a see-saw battle ensued when reigning WSL Africa Women’s champion Faye Zoetmulder (Cape St Francis) grabbed the lead and then former WCT campaigner Nikita Robb (East London) took over with back-to-back rides. 

Without priority McDougall caught a wave in the dying seconds that walled up and she produced the manoeuvres that earned her a 7.57 and launched her into the lead.

“It was a pretty slow heat for waves and with the high tide all four of us were close to the pier trying to get the lefts,” said McDougall. “I swung on that last wave without priority and Emma (Smith) didn’t use her priority to drop in on me, so I guess I owe her one. I’m glad to pick up the 1,000 points and am going to spend another month here in Jeffreys Bay – my dad is coming over for a surf trip – before going to Mexico and El Salvador for QS6,000 events early in June.”

The JQS 1,000 titles went to Adin Masencamp (Strand) and Kayla Nogueira (uMhlanga) both of whom led for the majority of their final encounters, with Masencamp posting a pair of nine point rides that left his rivals in combination. Masencamp found the best waves and employed his full range of carving and above the lip manoeuvres that relegated his three fellow finalists to fighting for second place.

“I’m super happy to get the win here after struggling to get it together in the last two events,’ said Masencamp. “I feel like I’m fully in tune with the rhythm of the ocean and I’m surfing really well, so I’m looking forward to the next events in Cape Town and Lamberts Bay.”

Nogueira displayed great surfing throughout the Junior Women’s event, posting excellent scores in every heat and adding the Durban title to the one she collected in Port Elizabeth a fortnight ago.

“There were very few waves in the final and we sat for nearly five minutes before catching anything. But once I had that 8.17 I led all the way to the end,” said Nogueira. “I really wanted to do well in this event so it feels good and I’m really stoked to be back at the top of the rankings again.”

After three back-to-back events on consecutive weekends, February has a significant 1,200 point lead at the top of the 2017 WSL Africa Men’s rankings, with Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay) and Beyrick de Vries (uMhlanga) within 200 points of each over in second and third places.

The other three leaderboards are all much tighter with Emma Smith (Jeffreys Bay) holding a slender 50 point lead over Crystal Hulett (St Francis Bay) among the Women, Jake Elkington just 70 points in front of Masencamp in the Junior men and Nogueira a slightly more comfortable 250 points ahead of Sophie Bell (Salt Rock) in the Junior Women.

The competing surfers will be heading home to regroup and fine-tune their surfing for the next event in a months time at Lambert’s Bay. The City Surf Series has been deemed invaluable as the athletes gain points, experience and knowledge that will hopefully see the level of surfing jump and land another Zaffa or two on tour.  

Corona Durban Surf Pro presented by Quiksilver and Roxy 

Men’s QS1,000 Final Results

1. Michael February (Kommetjie)  15.17              R12,000         1,000 pts
2. Matt McGillivray (Jeffreys Bay)  14.16              R  6,000            750 pts

 

Women’s QS1,000 Final Results

1. Zoe McDougall (HAW)  14.74                           R8,000           1,000 pts
2. Faye Zoetmulder (Cape St Francis)  14.60     R4,000              750 pts
3. Nikita Robb (East London)  13.54                    R2,500              560 pts
4. Emma Smith (Jeffreys Bay)  10.50                   R2,000              525 pts       

 

Junior Men’s JQS1,000 Final Results

1.  Adin Masencamp (Strand)  18.03                    R8,000           1,000 pts
2. Joshe Faulkner (Jeffreys Bay)  14.53              R4,000              750 pts
3. Jake Elkington (Kommetjie)  11.10                   R2,500              560 pts
4. Luke Malherbe (East London)  9.70                 R2,000              525 pts

 

Junior Women’s JQS1,000 Final Results

1. Kayla Nogueira (uMhlanga)  14.0                    R4,000           1,000 pts
2. Kirsty McGillivray (JBay)  10.76                      R2,000              750 pts
3. Tayla de Coning (East London) 9.20              R1,110                560 pts
4. Taghiti Gericke (Wilderness)  8.66                 R 900                 525 pts

 

Men’s QS1,000 Semifinals Results (2^nd = 3^rd place; R3,000; 560 pts)

SF1:  Michael February (Kommetjie) 18.0 def. Antonio Bortoletto (Durban) 14.50

SF2:  Matt McGillivray (Jeffreys Bay) 16.83 def. Shane Sykes (Salt Rock) 11.14

 

2017 WSL Africa Rankings (Top 5 after three events)

Men

1          February,Michael     Kommetjie                 2750

2          Sawyer,Steve           Jeffreys Bay              1560

3          De Vries,Beyrick      uMhlanga                  1365

4          Lightfoot,Dylan         Jeffreys Bay              1330

5          Faulkner,Joshe        Jeffreys Bay              1155

 

Women

1          Smith, Emma            Jeffreys Bay              1670

2          Hullett, Crystall         St Francis Bay          1620

3          Bell, Sophie              Salt Rock                   1500

4          Zoetmulder, Faye     Cape St Francis       1445

5          Pallet, Nicole                        La Lucia                     1375

 

Junior Men

1          Elkington,Jake         Kommetjie                 2120

2          Masencamp,Adin     Strand                                    2050

3          Oberholzer,Koby      Warner Beach          1815

4          Elkington,Max          Kommetjie                 1575

5          Faulkner,Joshe        Jeffreys Bay              1330

 

Junior Women

1          Nogueira,Kayla        uMhlanga                  2395

2          Bell,Sophie               Salt Rock                   2145

3          McGillivray,Kirsty     Jeffreys Bay              1800

4          De Coning,Tatla       East London             1400

5          Gericke,Taghiti         Wilderness                1340