SA surfers star in California
What started as a low-scoring affair in the one metre waves at Huntington Beach ended with an exciting exchange that unfolded in the final minutes. Moore posted a 5.60 but the South African netted a 7.60 to steal the lead and take victory over the two-time event winner.
The result is Buitendag’s best ever at the US Open, marking the second time that she has eliminated the Hawaiian this season and will see Moore relinquish the Jeep rankings leader’s yellow jersey to Courtney Conlogue (USA).
“I was keeping my cool and being patient,” Buitendag said. “I’m not going to say I expected to be here, it’s pretty shocking for me and I’m stoked. The whole heat I was waiting, which was frustrating. That one wave popped up in the last two minutes and I was just dying to surf. I’m taking things one event at a time after a tough start to the year. I’m so blessed and I’m just going with it.”
Buitendag narrowly outpointed Coco Ho (HAW) in their Round 4 duel earlier in the day and faces a semi-final clash with close friend Johanne Defay (FRA) when competition resumes. Ranked No. 6 coming into the US Open, the 21-year-old from Victoria Bay will move into the Top 5 with four events left on the 2015 CT schedule.
The bottom half of the draw sees Huntington Beach local Conlogue take on Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) after they defeated Malia Manuel (HAW) and Nikki van Dyk (AUS) in their respective Quarterfinal bouts.
In the QS10,000 Vans US Open of Surfing men’s event, Umhlanga’s Beyrick de Vries advanced to the last 24 when he finished second to a rampant Filipe Toledo (BRA), the current World No. 4 and defending event winner, in Round 2. While the super confident Brazilian surfed without a leash and took to the air at every opportunity, netting a pair of nine-point rides in the process, de Vries stuck with his powerful rail turns, earning the first excellent ride of the heat, an 8.17.
He then used the priority system intelligently to add a 7.77 before clinching the runner-up berth with an 8.34 that eliminated third and fourth placed Granger Larsen (HAW) and Caio Ibelli (BRA) from the event.
De Vries, the only South African in the men’s draw, will be up against Miguel Pupo (BRA) and Maxime Huscenot (FRA) in a three-man Round 3 encounter where the winner progresses directly to the Quarterfinals. Those placing second and third will contest man-on-man Round 4 heats with the winner advancing and the loser ousted from the event in equal 9th place overall.
Competition will continue today, starting at approximately 5pm CAT with Men's Round 3 followed by the Men’s Pro Junior Quarterfinals where South Africa’s Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay) and Shane Sykes (Salt Rock) will take on HB local standout Kanoa Igarashi (USA) and Barbados based Joshua Burke (BRB) in Heat 4.
(Photo by Michael Lallande)
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