Saffas Rise on Qualifying Series Rankings

SA’s Qualifying Series campaigners enjoyed a successful week internationally; with Beyrick De Vries making the final and finishing third at the QS3000 Vans Pro in Virginia Beach; Slade Prestwich recording a solid 13th-place at the QS3000 Soöruz Lacanau Pro; while Dylan Lightfoot, Dale Staples, Davey Van Zyl and Matt McGillvray all moved up the rankings with a good points haul in France as well.

Beyrick was stoked on his third place finish at the Vans Pro in Virginia Beach, USA.

By finishing third at the Vans Pro, Beyrick collected 1680 Qualifying Series points to move up eight spots to 35th place on the rankings – the highest placed South African. The rest of the crew, meanwhile, shifted up the order too:

• Slade Prestwich (equal 13th at Lacanua) – jumped an impressive 41 places to 152nd.
• Dylan Lightfoot (equal 25th at Lacanua) – jumped three spots to 133rd.
• Dale Staples (equal 33rd at Lacanua) – moved up four places to 101st.
• Davey Van Zyl (equal 49th at Lacanua) – leap-frogged five other surfers to sit at 142nd.
• Youngest of the crew, Matt McGillivray moved up 63 places to 336th with an equal 65th in Lacanua.

Dylan Lightfoot finished equal 5th in the Airwalk Pro Junior this week as well.

This upturn in results comes after SA’s Qualifying Series campaigners received a lot of flack on social media following some tough losses in home waters at the Ballito Pro presented by Billabong, with many fans claiming they were ‘blowing it’. The criticism appears to have been taken to heart and it’s showing in the results.

“You’ve gotta put the criticism in a blender and drink it like a protein shake,” Beyrick explained. “The boys are learning fast and are all hungry to win. I think the tide has turned and the results will continue upwards thanks to the positive support of the SA crew!”

Go to worldsurfleague.com to keep up with their progress.