Sealife Halts Play – ISA World Junior Champs (Day 3)

“It’s pretty crazy to see an empty lineup with fun waves running down the point when you have over 300 of the world’s best junior surfers all in the same town. Was it a shark? Was it a sea lion? Either way let’s rather be safe than sorry.” explained SA Junior Team coach, Tasha Mentasti, on Day 3 of the 2014 Vissla ISA World Junior Champs.

Empty Gazebos on Day 3 of the 2014 Vissla ISA World Junior Surfing Championships.

The event was put on hold halfway through the day’s proceedings after a small shark was reported by lifeguards and a few surfers to be feeding near the lineup.

“Athlete safety is the ISA’s number one priority at the World Championships. We take that very seriously and always will” said ISA President Fernando Aguerre.

With that in mind, contest organisers called it a day.

Under 18 Girls team member, Teal Hogg, awaits her heat on Day 3.

The first half of Day 3 saw the Under 16 and Under 18 Girls in action at La Fae Beach. The swell was weak, which made things difficult for competitors – including SA Team members, Teal Hogg and Chanelle Botha, who couldn’t find the scores to advance out of their Under 18 Qualifying Round 2 heats. Both now drop into Repercharge Round 2, where they’ll look to ensure they stay in the event by finishing first or second in their respective heats.

Cana Foster surfed hard, but failed to advance from her Under 16 Qualifying Round 2 heat.

In the Under 16 Girls division, Ruth Armstrong advanced to Repercharge Round 2, where she will meet up with teammate, Cana Foster, who dropped into the Repercharge draw after failing to advance from her Qualifying Round 2 heat.

The Boys Under 18 and Under 16 team members did not get a chance to surf before the event was put on hold. Although, Adin Masencamp did manage to see some action during an ambulance ride to the local hospital – during which his grimaces were drowned out by the blaring sirens.

Adin Masencamp, on his way to hospital with sirens blaring.

“Today’s drama continued with Adin having an infected finger. We had it seen to by medical staff at the contest site, who then took us to the local hospital for a general anaesthetic. The fun part was the ambulance racing to the hospital with its siren. It could have been that they had no action for the last few days. Adin’s finger is on the mend and he is ready to continue in the event” reported SA team Manager, Isaac February.

The entire team is still in the event and amped to bring home Gold.

Action will continue on Day 4 of the 2014 Vissla ISA World Junior Surfing Championships, with all of Team SA’s members still in the event.

Check out highlights, results and more on www.isawjsc.com

Or keep up to date with happenings from the SA Junior Team on their official Facebook page.