Saturday and Sunday September 12 & 13 2009
A 3A rated Mens, 2A rated Womens and 2A rated Pro Junior Surfing South Africa PST event.
Top South Africa surfers get ready to take on Nahoon Reef in East London in the 2009 Mr Price SA Open of Surfing
A host of South Africa's top surfers will descend on East London's famous Nahoon Reef this weekend to compete in the sixth edition of the Mr Price SA Open of Surfing.
The Mr Price SA Open is a major event on the 2009 annual Surfing South Africa Pro Surf Tour and this year offers R30,000 in prize money to surfers in the 3A rated men's, 2A women's and 2A rated pro junior divisions.
The event will take place on September 12-13 and features some of South Africa's best men and women surfers who will be battling it out for all important Surfing South Africa Pro Surf Tour ratings points as well as the prize money on offer in this significant event. Team Red surfer and last year's men's champion, Greg Emslie, is currently competing on the ASP World Tour and will not be able to defend his crown, but emphasised what a wonderful event it is.
"This event is awesome as it is at Nahoon Reef, a very consistent powerful right hand reef break that offers surfers everything. The contest is growing from strength to strength and now that Mr Price has come on board I hope it grows to a new level.”
"Winning this event last year was no easy task. I needed to score eight point rides and above to win both my semi and final so the standard was high. This event gave me the confidence and set me up for my good Brazil, Europe, and Hawaii WQS year-end leg last year. I hope the contest is greeted with clean 6-8 foot Nahoon Reef this year so the surfers can really battle it out!"
However, although Emslie will be unable to compete, 2007 champ Devyn Mattheys will be back and aiming to use his home-break knowledge to his advantage.
"The Mr Price SA Open certainly means a lot to me coming from East London," he emphasised. "It's always nice to surf at home where you know the break really well and also to compete in front of family and friends is great. I have very good memories of winning the event in 2007 and will be going all out to do that again this year."
Another East London surfer who will be gunning for victory is Keegan Nel, who said it was certainly a massive advantage to have that local knowledge.
"My aim for the event is to make the final and hopefully win it. It's great to be able to compete at your local break which you know better than anyone and to have all your friends and support around you."
There are numerous other top class surfers who will be taking to the water including 2009 SA champion Gavin Roberts, 2009 Mr Price WP Open finalist Gary van Wieringen, 2006 SA team member Matthew Kruger, former two-time SA champion and East London local Wayne Monk as well as Port Alfred surfer Lungani Memani.
In the women’s division, current SA women’s champion Heather Clark is the favourite while, U20 SA champion Tarryn Chudleigh, 2008 SA U20 champion Chantelle Rautenbach and Red Team surfers Stacey Guy and Tammy Lee-Smith are all in the frame.
Others who could cause an upset are East London twins Alice and Laurie Mc Gregor who have been surfing Nahoon Reef for years.
Mr Price Pro standout Klee Strachan will be competing in the men’s and pro junior divisions where he will have his work cut out for him in a strong field that includes Durban star Beyrick de Vries and U20 SA champion Shawn Dennis.
The Mr Price SA Open of Surfing is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa, the recognized governing body for the sport in South Africa. Border Surfriders Association are the hosts.
