M-Feb slices a path through to the next round.
All eight members of the South African Surfing Team advanced through their heats on Day 2 of the 2013 ISA World Surfing Games in Panama. It wasn’t quite the 100% efficiency of Day 1, as only David Van Zyl and Mikey February clinched first place in their heats, but Shaun Joubert, Tanika Hoffman, Faye Zoetmulder and Davey Brand all surfed well enough to see themselves through to the next round and safe from dropping into the do-or-die repercharge rounds.
Davey Van Zyl swoops through to Round 3 of Mens Qualifying.
It was always going to be a bit more difficult on the second day, as the overhead swell from the days leading up to the event and into Day 1 dropped to shoulder-high, but the perfect contour of Santa Catalina’s reef made sure there was more than enough juice for competitors to get their rails wet with some big turns.
With competition running till Sunday, there’s a good chance another swell could fill in before the tense affairs of the later rounds. Until then the SA team will look to keep the momentum going with a solid group effort and some good old-fashioned team spirit.
Team members Tanika Hoffman and Davey Brand talk tactics with SA Team coach Etienne Venter after Davey’s heat.
Watch the entire ISA World Surfing Games LIVE via the webcast on isawsg.com, starting around 3:00pm SA time, and running all the way through to this Sunday.
Here’s the video highlights from Day 2, with the official press release below:
********************
CLEAN CONDITIONS AND SMALLER SURF FOR DAY 2 OF 2013 REEF ISA WORLD SURFING GAMES IN PANAMA
South Africa’s Shaun Joubert, with this critical air, earned a 9.87 on this wave advancing to the next round of competition. Photo: ISA/Rommel Gonzales
Australia’s Dimity Stoyle Earned the First Perfect 10 of the Championship
Day 2 offered smaller surf than yesterday’s picture-perfect waves and with clean conditions at the 2013 Reef ISA World Surfing Games in Playa Santa Catalina, Panama.
Round 2 of the Open Men’s Qualifying and the Opening Round of the Open Women’s were on the schedule.
“The performance level from the world’s best men and women was great today,” remarked ISA President Fernando Aguerre. “The camaraderie between all the National Teams and the local Panamanians has created a great vibe amongst the surfing tribe. With tropical air and water temperatures, Santa Catalina is a surfer’s dreamland. Stay tuned all week and don’t miss a minute of the live webcast. And if you can’t, just log in and watch the photo albums and the video highlights, capturing the essence of this incredible event.”
In the Open Men’s, Australia’s Thomas Woods, once again, was the standout of the day, posting the highest total heat score of 16.47. The smaller conditions suited his powerful surfing style and aerial maneuvers. Woods defeated Davey Brand (RSA, 12.66), while Lucas Santamaria (ARG, 11.54) and Miguel Tudela (PER, 9.20) fell into the Repechage Round.
In a high scoring affair and heat of the day, Mexico’s Adrian Gonzales (16.00) narrowly defeated South Africa’s Shaun Joubert (15.70), sending Wade Carmichael (AUS, 8.50) and Carlos Goncalves (ECU, 4.14) into the Repechage.
Other Men’s standouts were Brazil’s Alan Johnes, who had the second highest heat score of the day, 16.33, as well as local surfer Jean Carlos “Oli” Gonzales, who earned a 14.66, making Panama proud as he advanced to the next Qualifying Round.
Team Panama celebrating after Jean Carlos “Oli” Gonzales’ win, helping keep the team spirit alive. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle
On the Women’s side, Australia’s Dimity Stoyle, Copper Medalist from the 2011 ISA World Surfing Games, had the first perfect 10 of the competition, while posting the day’s highest heat score, 17.67. Stoyle was dominant in her win over Sofia Alonso (URU, 6.10) and Evelin Centeno (SAL, 6.10).
Other standouts were Ecuador’s Dominic Barona and New Zealand’s Ella Williams. Barona, with a 14.50 total heat score, defeated Valeria Sole (PER, 11.87) and Nao Omura (JPN, 11.50). Williams had a dominating performance with a total heat score of 14.33, defeating Faye Zoetmulder (RSA, 8.60), and sending into the Repechage Leah Oke (CAN, 5.93) and Greta Dalle Luche (ITA, 4.10).
For a full list of today’s results, click here- http://isawsg.com/results/
The 2013 Reef ISA World Surfing Games resumes tomorrow at 7:40am (Panama time) with The Morning Show hosted by Otto Flores. His guest will be Costa Rica’s Gilbert Brown and Peru’s Valeria Sole.
Following that, the competition will feature:
Open Women’s Repechage Round 1
Open Women’s Qualifying Round 2
Open Men’s Repechage Round 1
The live webcast of the entire championship is available on http://isawsg.com/
