With 146 heats to be run in the marathon nine-day 2013 ISA World Surfing Games in Panama, there’s no such thing as a lay day. So when the waves go away, like they did on Day 3 of competition, there are still heats to get through.
Faye Zoetmulder trying to get her board moving through a dull section.
Most competitors, from both the men’s and women’s heats that were surfed yesterday struggled to register double digits with their two-scoring rides. The two South African competitors in Womens Qualifying Round 2, Faye Zoetmulder and Tanika Hoffman were among those, and unluckily dropped into Repercharge Round 2 in waves that looked more like a boat wake than the world-class reefbreak that Santa Catalina had shown it was earlier in the week.
They’ll have a chance to get their momentum going again when competition resumes and they contest their do-or-die Repercharge Round 2 heats. You can bet they’ll be hoping for a bump in swell to assist with their push for an ISA World Games gold medal.
Tanika on a slopey left during a slow day for waves in Panama.
South Africa’s other team members luckily did get to have a lay day, as Mens Qualifying Round 3 is yet to be surfed. They too will be praying for a rise in the surf – which it is forecast to do.
Till then, 70 heats have been surfed, and 76 remain.
Check out http://isawsg.com to watch the 24 countries battle it out in Panama. Competition kicks off approximately 3:00pm SA time, and is webcast live.
You can watch some of the highlights from yesterday’s surfing below, then check out the official press release that follows.
**********************
CHALLENGING CONDITIONS FOR DAY 3 OF 2013 REEF ISA WORLD SURFING GAMES IN PANAMA
New Zealand’s Ella Williams, with radical turns like this one, was one of the Open Women’s standouts of the day. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle
World’s Best Surfers Show Great Display of Surfing in Santa Catalina’s Small Waves. New Swell on the Way.
Day 3 offered challenging conditions for the world’s best surfers in the 2013 Reef ISA World Surfing Games. The morning’s extreme low tide combined with small waves caused for competition to go into a holding pattern. Once the tide increased, the waves improved and competition started at 11am.
The third day of competition featured Open Women’s Repechage Round 1, Women’s Qualifying Round 2 and Open Men’s Repechage Round 1. The Repechage is do or die. If an athlete places 3rd or 4th in this round, they are out of the competition.
“The competition is now reaching its critical stages when athletes can’t afford to lose or they will go home,” remarked ISA President Fernando Aguerre. “I have been watching the world best men and women surfers compete in beautiful Santa Catalina on the live webcast all day. If you haven’t been watching, you are missing out. Make sure to stay tuned all week.”
The day opened with the first Repechage Rounds, where the first athletes of competition were eliminated.
In Women’ Repechage, Pamela Verboonen (MEX, 9.33) defeated her rivals Evelin Centeno (SAL, 6.37) and unfortunately sending out of the contest Valentina Vitale (ITA, 4.90).
Following Verboonen’s heat win, her team mate Leila Figueroa (MEX) earned an 8.50 points, defeating the local Malena Toral (PAN, 5.30) and sending home Greta Dalle Luche (ITA, 3.87).
In Women’s Qualifying, Aussie Codie Klein put on a dominant heat win with the highest total heat score of the day earing 16.50 defeating Maria Lucia Cosoleto (ARG, 5.87), Faye Zoetmulder (RSA, 5.44) and Cristina Vargas (ECU, 1.0).
Another great performance was by Ecuadorian Dominic Barona, who earned 14.67 easily defeating Maia Cheer (ARG, 6.37), Thandi Tipene (NZL, 4.50) and Sofia Alonso (URU, 4.00).
To finish the day, the Men’s hit the water. New Zealand’s Billy Stairmand was the stand out, scoring the Men’s highest heat score of 15.00 defeating Amos Rivera (GUA, 8,57), and George Acosta (URU, 8,57).
Billy Stairmand, from New Zealand was one of the day’s top performers earning the day’s highest single wave score of 8.33. Photo: ISA/Rommel Gonzales
Another standout was Italy’s Angelo Bonomelli, who earned the highest single wave score of the day of 8.33 in the Men’s Rounds. The Italian defeated Nicolas Vargas (CHI, 10.30) and Sebastian Olarte (URU, 9.60).
For a full list of today’s results, click here – http://isawsg.com/results/
The 2013 Reef ISA World Surfing Games resumes tomorrow with a 10am (Panama time) call to assess conditions. The Morning Show, hosted by Chris Ernst will feature New Zealand’s Elle Williams and Sweden’s Freddie Meadows.
Following that, the competition will feature:
Open Men’s Repechage 1 (heats 11-12)
Open Men’s Repechage 2
Open Men’s Repechage Round 3
The live webcast of the entire championship is available on http://isawsg.com/
