February and Weare Earn Final Slots into Mr Price Pro Ballito

Image Capton: Micheal February (Kommetjie) wins the trials to earn his place into the main event. © Cestari/ Mr Price 

South African duo Micheal February (Kommetjie) and David Weare (La Lucia) have earned the final two spots into the main event of the ASP Prime Mr Price Pro Ballito advancing in first and second place during the trials on Monday July 2, 2012.

Three trials heats were completed in small, contestable half to one-meter waves at Willard’s Beach before the event was called off, with more favourable conditions expected tomorrow.

South African U20 Boys Champion Micheal February, stamped his authority over the local contingent winning the trials final with a narrow 11.13 heat score (out of 20.00) over Weare who placed runner-up with 11.10. The pair advanced ahead of  Casey Grant (Scottburgh) and Mathew Bromley (Long Beach) who placed third and fourth respectively.

“I’m really happy to get into a six star Prime as it’s pretty good money and good points,” February said. “It comes down to whomever gets the best waves out there and luckily enough I got one or two good ones.”

Weare, a former elite tour campaigner now retired from international competition, was thrilled to secure his place into the main event. While competitive surfing is no longer a focus for the now father of two, this proven world-beater is confident he has maintained his competitive edge.

“I’ve surfed this event for many years so I’m still super excited to be a part of it,” Weare said. “I’m not hunting for points so I don’t have that sort of pressure on me at this event which mean’s I’ll just be out to have fun and you never know what will happen.”

February and Weare will be pitted against the event’s top seeds during Round 1, February taking on second seed and former Mr Price Pro Champion Jordy Smith (2010) in Heat 13 whilst Weare takes on top seed and current World No. 4 Adriano De Souza (BRA) in Heat 12.

Defending event Champion Patrick Gudauskas of California, USA who has travelled to South Africa with his brother and 2009 Mr Price Pro Champion Tanner, kept a close eye on the morning’s action and is looking forward to getting a few waves under his feet when competition resumes. 

“It’s so good to be back, I thought it was pretty fun out there this morning and I was hoping they were going to run today because its pretty rippable,” Gudauskas said. “We’ve been in California for two weeks and it was really small back home so these are the biggest waves we’ve seen in a while.”

Organisers will reconvene at 07H00 tomorrow morning when swell permitting, competition could resume with Heat 1 of the Round of 96 at 07H30 (local time).

Despite the surfing being off, the Mr Price Pro Ballito Festival continues with an action packed beach festival featuring beach entertainment, extreme sports, dedicated children’s programs and a lifestyle and retail area that provides plenty of daytime fun. The ever-popular Mr Price Pro Music concerts will take place on the evening of 6 and 7 July at Salt Rock at no cost to festivalgoer’s.

-ends

RESULTS:

Trials Final: Micheal February (CT) 11.13; David Weare (Dbn) 11.10; Casey Grant (Dbn) 9.73; Mathew Bromley (CT) 8.93

Trials Heat 1: Mathew Bromley (CT) 9.67; David Weare (Dbn) 9.16; Daniel Redman (Dbn) 7.97; David Van Zyl (Dbn) 7.20
Trials Heat 2: Casey Grant (Dbn)12.90; Micheal February (CT) 12.83; Klee Strachan (Dbn) 6.46; Davey Brand (CT) 6.43