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Winners: Shane Thorne
from Bluff (Pro-Am),
Tasha Mentasti from
Dbn North (Girls),
from Bluff (Pro-Am),
Tasha Mentasti from
Dbn North (Girls),
Tasha Mentasti (Dbn North)Karen Wilson/
Tostee.com
Tostee.com
| 2004/ 2005 Volcom Qualifying Series (VQS) Championship Final Nationwide Surfing Tour - Surfing South Africa (SSA) Sanctioned Specialty Event Dairy Beach – Durban, South Africa Sunday, 13 March 2005 Thorne Bound for California (USA) to Surf VQS World Champs |
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In two months time Bluff surfer Shane Thorne will
be packing his bags for Newport Beach (California)
to compete in the VQS World Championship
following his first class performance at today’s
VQS National Final which took place at Dairy Beach
in Durban.
1.5-metre (3 to 4ft) waves were the order of the day
complimented by hot, sunny weather and light winds.
“I feel stoked! I am very happy about winning especially
now that I can look forward to competing in the VQS
World Champs,” commented 31 year old Thorne who
said he would also be taking the lady in his life, Melain
Scrooby, with him to the USA.
Thorne out surfed 15 of the country’s hottest
competitors in the Pro-Am division in crumbling surf
conditions to claim victory. Stanley Badger (St Francis)
who is known for his progressive surfing style finished as
runner up. Despite impressing the crowd with two
exceptional waves, 27 year old Shane Warren from the
Bluff finished third. The youngest finalist, 21 year old
Matt Kruger (Queensburgh), put up a tough fight but
finished fourth.
“I was really patient and got lucky; despite getting only
two waves I still won. When I was out there it felt like a
match up between Shane (Warren) and I because we
kept having wave exchanges but then Stan caught that
wave at the end of the heat which changed things,” said
Thorne.
The Junior final proved to be a tussle between top ASP
Africa Pro Junior surfer Brett Shearer (CT) and former
U16 ISA World Champion Jordan Smith (Umbilo). With
less than a point separating them Smith walked away
with top honours earning another opportunity to
compete internationally as he returned home from the
Junior World Tour less than a week ago. Josch
Schmeltzer (Westville) who won the Grom division at last
year’s event has moved up an age group to surf against
the Juniors where he placed third ahead of defending
Junior event champion Brandon Jackson (Dbn North).
Cape St Francis’s Dale Staples was unmatched in the
Grom division scoring 8.5 out of a possible 10 points for
one of his waves. Dane Monks (Umhlanga), who was
awarded a late wildcard on the morning of the event,
proved he was a worthy recipient with his second place
finish. Kyle Whitaker (St Mikes) slipped into third ahead
of Volcom team rider Haydn Mac Nicol of Bazley Beach.
In May the South African winners consisting of Thorne
(Pro-Am), Smith (Junior) and Staples (Grom) will be up
against surfers from America, Australia, Japan, Europe,
Brazil and Indonesia to determine the ultimate world
champion.
be packing his bags for Newport Beach (California)
to compete in the VQS World Championship
following his first class performance at today’s
VQS National Final which took place at Dairy Beach
in Durban.
1.5-metre (3 to 4ft) waves were the order of the day
complimented by hot, sunny weather and light winds.
“I feel stoked! I am very happy about winning especially
now that I can look forward to competing in the VQS
World Champs,” commented 31 year old Thorne who
said he would also be taking the lady in his life, Melain
Scrooby, with him to the USA.
Thorne out surfed 15 of the country’s hottest
competitors in the Pro-Am division in crumbling surf
conditions to claim victory. Stanley Badger (St Francis)
who is known for his progressive surfing style finished as
runner up. Despite impressing the crowd with two
exceptional waves, 27 year old Shane Warren from the
Bluff finished third. The youngest finalist, 21 year old
Matt Kruger (Queensburgh), put up a tough fight but
finished fourth.
“I was really patient and got lucky; despite getting only
two waves I still won. When I was out there it felt like a
match up between Shane (Warren) and I because we
kept having wave exchanges but then Stan caught that
wave at the end of the heat which changed things,” said
Thorne.
The Junior final proved to be a tussle between top ASP
Africa Pro Junior surfer Brett Shearer (CT) and former
U16 ISA World Champion Jordan Smith (Umbilo). With
less than a point separating them Smith walked away
with top honours earning another opportunity to
compete internationally as he returned home from the
Junior World Tour less than a week ago. Josch
Schmeltzer (Westville) who won the Grom division at last
year’s event has moved up an age group to surf against
the Juniors where he placed third ahead of defending
Junior event champion Brandon Jackson (Dbn North).
Cape St Francis’s Dale Staples was unmatched in the
Grom division scoring 8.5 out of a possible 10 points for
one of his waves. Dane Monks (Umhlanga), who was
awarded a late wildcard on the morning of the event,
proved he was a worthy recipient with his second place
finish. Kyle Whitaker (St Mikes) slipped into third ahead
of Volcom team rider Haydn Mac Nicol of Bazley Beach.
In May the South African winners consisting of Thorne
(Pro-Am), Smith (Junior) and Staples (Grom) will be up
against surfers from America, Australia, Japan, Europe,
Brazil and Indonesia to determine the ultimate world
champion.
Pro-Am finalists from left to right:
Stan Badger (Cape St Francis), Matt Kruger
(Queensburgh), Shane Thorne (Bluff) and
Shane Warren (Bluff)
Stan Badger (Cape St Francis), Matt Kruger
(Queensburgh), Shane Thorne (Bluff) and
Shane Warren (Bluff)
Winners of each division are featured from
Left to Right: Shane Thorne from Bluff
(Pro-Am), Tasha Mentasti from Dbn North
(Girls),Dale Staples from St Francis (Grom)
and Jordy Smith from Umbilo (Junior)
Left to Right: Shane Thorne from Bluff
(Pro-Am), Tasha Mentasti from Dbn North
(Girls),Dale Staples from St Francis (Grom)
and Jordy Smith from Umbilo (Junior)
Junior Finalists from left to right: Brandon
Jackson (Dbn North), Jordan
Smith (Umbilo), Brett Shearer (CT) and
Josch Shmeltzer (Westville).
Jackson (Dbn North), Jordan
Smith (Umbilo), Brett Shearer (CT) and
Josch Shmeltzer (Westville).