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Epic conditions for day two of ISA World Masters Surfing Championship
(Tuesday 1st April, 2008): Solid two to three metre plus conditions continued to lash Peru’s southern coastline today for day two of the 2008 ISA World Masters Surfing Championship at Punta Rocas, Lima.
The world’s premier masters surfers revelled in the epic point break waves, carving the Punta Rocas line-up to shreds across all divisions.
Round two of the Masters (Over 35), Grand Masters (Over 40) and Kahunas (Over 45) divisions kicked off the morning’s proceedings before the Master Women (Over 35) and Grand Kahunas (Over 50) hit the water in the afternoon for opening round heats.
Epic surfing conditions were on hand today
in Punta Rocas and Heather Clark relished
Former WCT surfer Heather Clark (South Africa) stole the show in her round one Masters Women’s heat, netting the tournament’s equal highest individual wave score (9.00) to beat Brazil’s Brigite Mayer.
Clark, the undisputed ‘Queen’ of South African surfing, looked at ease in the triple-overhead conditions, unleashing multiple backhand maneouvres to land a final two-wave total of 15.50 to Mayer’s 10.00.
“I’m feeling absolutely tired,” said Clark, who last competed on the ASP women’s word tour in 2006.
“It’s a long paddle out and there was a lot of water moving around. I’m glad I stuck a little wide and got the bomb sets that walled up on the inside. “
The 36-year-old Port Shepstone surfer is excited about the prospect of competing in the prestigious tournament and doing well in Peru.
“I came to Peru a couple of years ago for the WCT event, so I really wanted to come back and compete in this event,” she said.
“Peru’s waves are so fun and rippable. It seems that every time I come here the waves are good.”
Tahitian ripper Heifara Tahutini maintained his fine form from round one of competition, pocketing the Master division’s highest combined heat total to rocket through to round three.
Tahutini, the ISA world champion in 1990, led the way with a polished forehand attack, locking in a 7.17 and 8.17 to amass a final two-wave combined total of 15.34.
The stocky regular foot was in dominating form, beating Australian Jay Sharpe (10.27), South African Andrew Banks (9.17) and United Kingdom’s Clayton Lidster (8.57).
“I’m over the moon with my performance so far,” said Tahitini.
“I’m feeling confident and hopefully the waves will stay big and glassy for the rest of the event.”
Joining Tahutini in round three was Puerto Rico’s Juan Ashton, South Africa’s Justin Healy and Brazil’s Jair De Oliveira, who all enjoyed convincing round two victories.
The surfing action in the Kahunas division was just as hot with South Africa’s Marc Wright top scoring (15.90) to breeze through to round three of competition.
Wright beat Mark Lloyd (12.50) (Australia) and Michel Gutierrez (Puerto Rico) (6.24) to lay the perfect platform for an assault on this year’s crown.
Australian Rod Baldwin kept his winning
form and advanced to the third round
of the Kahunas division
Other Kahuna round two winners included Australian Rod Baldwin, South African Nick Pike and Peru’s Jorge Posso.
Reigning Grand Masters champion and seven-times national champion Magoo De La Rosa (Peru) proved why he’ll be a force to be reckoned with in this year’s tournament, posting the division’s highest combined heat score, for the second day running.
De La Rosa, a Peruvian surfing legend, relished the powerful conditions, throwing out his incredible backhand repertoire to narrowly defeat the Brazilian pairing of Jojo De Olivenca and Roberto Cavellero and Argentina’s Horacio Ipucha.
Final scores: De La Rosa (15.87), Olivenca (15.50), Cavellero (12.27) and Ipucha (7.8).
The afternoon action commenced with the opening round of the Grand Kahuna division being run.
The ‘old boys’ of the surfing world didn’t disappoint, busting out several excellent scoring rides in the challenging conditions. South African Chris Knutsen topped today’s leader board, jagging the day’s highest combined heat total, a 17.16 out of a possible 20.
Going to press, round one of the Kahuna repercharge division was completed.
A large southerly swell is expected to pulse tonight with 2.5 plus metre waves expected to continue tomorrow.
The 2008 ISA World Masters Surfing Championships will be broadcast live on the Internet, at the ISA website, www.isasurf.org. Photos, news and results will be updated continuously throughout each day of competition.
The ISA World Masters Surfing Championship is a team competition. The nation who places highest in each division will win the gold medal in the team standings, earning the status of the best over 35 surfing country in the world. Individual standings will add points towards the team totals.
The divisions are:
Masters: Over 35 years old
Grand Masters: Over 40 years old
Kahunas: Over 45 years old
Grand Kahunas: Over 50 years old
Masters Women: Women over 35 years old
A complete team is formed by eight athletes: two Masters, two Grand Masters and two Kahunas, a Grand Kahuna and a Master Woman.
The top four finalists in each division are awarded gold, silver, bronze and copper medals, as well as the top four national teams.
Media Contact.
All media interested in getting information about this event, please contact Pablo Zanocchi: pablo@isasurf.org. High resolution copyright free usage images will be available everyday at the disposal of the media.
About the International Surfing Association:
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for surfing, bodyboarding and surfriding. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964 and the Junior World Championships since 1980.
ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of over 50 countries on six continents. Its headquarters are located in San Diego, California. It is presided by Fernando Aguerre, first elected in 1994 in Rio, and re-elected six times since. The ISA's four Vice Presidents are Alan Atkins (Australia), Robin de Kock (South Africa), Maile Aguerre (Hawaii) and Mike Gerard (USA).
International Surfing Association (ISA) / tel: 7609310111 - www.isasurf.org - news@isasurf.org
