The SA Team got off to a good start at the 2014 Claro ISA World Surfing Games at Punta Rocas, Peru. On Day 1, all four of the Men’s division surfers won their Round 1 heats to advance to Round 2.
The waves have been highly contestable at Punta Rocas so far.
David Brand kicked things off for the defending World Champs by defeating Nicolas Moreda (PUR) and Michael Zaugg from Switzerland to advance. David Van Zyl then won his heat against Japanese surfers, Yoji Osedo and Ryota Matsushita.
Davey’s powerful approach suited the waves at Punta Rocas on Day 1.
Michael February also faced competitors from the Japanese team, and took out the win over Sasuke Kawatani and Kan Watanabe. In the final match-up for Team SA on Day 1, Casey Grant scored high against Puerto Rico’s Ricardo Delgado and Swiss surfer, Philip Mappes, to clinch the heat win and jump to Round 2.
Faye Zoetmulder and Tanika Hoffman meanwhile, spent Day 1 and 2 showing their support to their teammates as Round 1 of the Women’s division only starts on Day 3 (Monday, 27 October).
Team SA are pumped-up and ready for this year’s challenge.
On Day 2 of competition, David Brand and Davey Van Zyl were unable to keep up the 100% winning record so far, and dropped to the Repercharge Round 2 after finishing third in their respective heats. David Brand couldn’t find the scores in his heat and Tane Wallis (NZL) and Felipe Suárez from Argentina advanced. Meanwhile Davey Van Zyl was outscored by Ecuadorian Jonathan Zambrano and Gabriel Villaran (PER).
Things got back on track just two heats later though, when Michael February blasted Round 2’s highest score (16.13pts) and took out victory in his heat against Carlos Goncalvez (ECU), Leandro Usuna (ARG) and Sebastian Santos (ECU).
Mikey February has flown to Round 3 of the main event.
Casey Grant was up two heats later and left Jose Luiz Rodriguez (PAN), Santiago Muniz (ARG) and Zen Wallis (NZL) scratching for a score. Another solid heat win to round out the day.
With six days still remaining in the 2014 Claro ISA World Surfing Games, it’s still a long slog through many rounds for the team from SA to navigate. Stay updated with their progress on isawsg.com.
