GEORGE NEWS - Sarah Baum (Amanzimtoti) emerged victorious in the open womens division at South Africa’s biggest stand-alone women’s surfing event, the Roxy Wahine Cup, but was earlier beaten by George’s Bianca Buitendag.

She has beaten Baum in the u.20 Pro Junior division convincingly.

Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbosstrand) and Tasha Mentasti (Cape Town) finished 3rd and 4th respectively in the open final.

In the u.20 ASP Pro Junior division final it was Buitendag who got the better of fierce rival Baum by posting two high scores in the 8 point region. Buitendag won herself R7 000 in prize money and an automatic slot in the ASP World Pro Junior Series to be held later in the year. Baum managed to place second with a heat total score of 13.25 points,
Heidi Palmboom (Bluff) and Faye Zoetmulder (Cape St Francis) placed 3rd and 4th respectively.

In the girls u.16 division final Gina Smith of Jeffreys Bay clinched the title ahead of Nicole Pallet (Cape Town), Inge McLaren (East London) and Courtney Ellish (Aman-zimtoti).

The u.14 girls final was tightly contested and they did extremely well in testing conditions. Chanelle Botha (Amanzimtoti) claimed first place ahead of Mahe Javengny (Reunion Island), Teal Hogg (Durban) and Kelly Simkiss (Durban).

A new addition to Roxy Wahine Cup was the girls Iron Nippers division. Alice Edward from Pirates Surf Lifesaving Club won the u.12 division while Michaela Ferreira from Umhlanga Rocks Surf Lifesaving Club emerged the winner of the u.14 division.

For more information, photos and results visit the event’s mini site: www.wahinecup.roxy.co.za.


Podium Finishes (L-R) Roxy Wahine Cup Open Womens Champion Sarah Baum, u.16 Champion Chanelle Botha, u.14 Champion Gina Smith and Pro Junior Champion Bianca Buitendag won their respective divisions in testing conditions at Durban’s New Pier at the weekend. Photo: Kelly Cestari