It was a 50/50 day for the defending champs at the 2014 Claro ISA World Surfing Games, as Team SA registered two heat wins and two losses on Day 3 at Punta Rocas, Peru.
Faye Zoetmulder got her campaign off to a cracking start in Round 1.
After watching from the sidelines for the first two days, Faye Zoetmulder and Tanika Hoffman finally got to hit the water for Women’s Round 1. Faye was up first in Heat 4 and put together a solid heat total of 13.40pts, which was easily enough to beat Pamela Verboonen (MEX), Christina Vargas (ECU) and Sofia Loewy (COL). She advances to Round 2 of the main event, another step closer to the final.
In the very next heat, Tanika Hoffman didn’t have it her own way as Ecudorian Dominic Barona scored the day’s highest heat total – 18.23pts – to advance with Karelle Poppke (TAH). Tanika unfortunately drops into Repercharge Round 1, where she’ll have to make her way through two extra rounds to reach the final.
Tanika Hoffman faced tough opposition in the form of Dominic Barona (ECU) in her first heat.
Round 3 of the Men’s main event was also surfed on Day 3, and Michael February again registered a solid heat total. His 15.44pts was enough to outscore Gabriel Villaran (PER), Diego Salgado (PAN) and Jean Carlos Gonzalez (PAN) and see him advance to Round 4. M-Feb then became the lone Saffa in the Men’s main event two heats later, when Casey Grant had to settle for fourth as Australians Nicholas Squires and Shane Holmes advanced.
Casey drops into Repercharge Round 3, where he’ll hopefully be joined by David Van Zyl and Davey Brand, who still have to navigate their way out of Repercharge Round 2.
Mikey February continued to slice his way through the main event.
With all six team members still in the event and with a shot at gold, confidence will remain high in the SA camp as the 2014 Claro ISA World Surfing Games continues on Day 4 at Punta Rocas, Peru. Stay updated with their progress on isawsg.com. The LIVE webcast should start at 3:00pm (SA time).