Four more South Africans make it through the first round at Ballito Pro
The remaining two South Africans who have yet to compete, Sarah Scott and Gabriella Herbst, will take to the water tomorrow morning.
The Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill has rolled on today, with the conclusion of the men’s first round and start of the women’s.
Five of the 12 total South Africans competing in the men’s event made it through, with Adin Masencamp and high-schooler Nate Colby joining those who qualified yesterday.
Defending champion Masencamp delivered a fantastic first heat, winning with a combined score of 14.0, well clear of American Tyler Gunter in second (9.70).
Clifton College’s Nate Colby was pushed all the way to the end of his heat, where first through fourth were all within 3 points of each other.
Italian Leo Fioravanti took first with a 12.0, while Colby came clutch late on with a single wave score of 7.23 to take him to 11.06, just ahead of Frenchman Gaspard Larsonneur (10.90).
Masencamp and Colby join Shane Sykes, Slade Prestwich and Luke Thompson who qualified yesterday.
Despite decent scoring from Max Elkington and Joshe Faulkner, they joined the five other South Africans who were knocked out yesterday.
The women’s first round kicked off well for South Africa, as East London’s Zoë Steyn comfortably took first place in her heat with a solid 12.33 combined score.
Durban’s Sarah Baum followed suit in then next heat, winning by more than 4 points with her combined score of 10.44.
Unfortunately in the same heat, Cape Town’s Danielle Powis – a qualifier on Saturday – was knocked out.
In the final heat of the day that included South African surfers, thirteen-year-old Louise Lepront’s dream run unfortunately came to an end.
Lepront and Natasha van Greunen were both knocked out in heat nine, with Australian Championship Tour surfer Molly Picklum showing her class to advance.
The remaining two South Africans who have yet to compete, Sarah Scott and Gabriella Herbst, will get their chance tomorrow morning.
Weather permitting, they will be followed by the second round of men’s action.
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