South Africa’s Bianca Buitendag posted a massive score of 16.65 out of a possible 20 in the final to win the women’s event in the CHIKO Pro Junior at Mereweather beach in Newcastle, Australia..
The 18 year-old from George in the Southern Cape defeated Ellie-Jean Coffey (QLD/AUS) by using superior wave selection criteria in the final. While both surfers had scores in the excellent range, Buitendag chose to stay busy, recording five rides, including two in the 8.0 point range, by surfing the inside waves and leaving the increasingly sporadic bigger set waves to her opponent, who only managed two rides despite holding priority for the last quarter of the match-up.
“Sometimes having priority gives pressure to hold on for the bombs,” Buitendag said. “I didn’t have priority so I just surfed the inside and ended up getting great waves and the rights formed up really well.
"I'm really stoked with this result," Buitendag added. "It's going to really boost my confidence going into the ASP 6-Star Hunter Ports Women's Classic this week. I surf against these girls a lot and I know what to expect, I just tried to do my best and it worked out for me. The waves have been pumping, it's been on fire the last few days!"
Buitendag was on fire throughout the final day of the event, which featured 48 of the world’s best female surfers aged 20-and-under. She produced a score of 14.90 in ousting Johanne Defay (FRA) in their quarter-final clash and 16.50, including a 9.50 out 10, one of the top 10 scores of both the men’s and women’s events combined, in leaving highly rated Australian Nikki van Dijk combo’d in their semi-final.
Meanwhile SA’s Beyrick de Vries started his challenge for the men’s title with an outstanding quarter-final victory over Johnny Hicks (NZL), delivering scores of 8.0 and 9.0 for a 17.0 point heat total that left his rival in a combination situation and needing to improve on both his counting scores.
However, the Umhlanga based 19-year-old could only produce rides of 6.65 and 7.15 in his semi-final clash, trailing Ramzi Boukhiam from Morocco throughout their 25 minute encounter and still needing a 9.45 point ride when the heat ended.
De Vries finished equal third overall in the 112 man field. Fellow South Africans Michael February (Kommetjie) and David van Zyl (Glenashley, Durban) placed equal 9th and equal 17th respectively after being eliminated from the event yesterday.
The men’s event was won by Jesse Mendes (BRA) who came from behind in the dying minutes of the 30 minute final to defeat Boukhiam by 14.90 to 12.25.
The Newcastle Surfest continues tomorrow with the Burton Toyota Pro (Men's ASP 6-Star) and the Hunter Ports Women's Classic (Women's ASP 6-Star). All the action can be followed at www.surfest.com
WOMEN’S CHIKO PRO JUNIOR FINAL RESULT:
Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 16.65 def. Ellie-Jean Coffey (AUS) 14.50
WOMEN’S CHIKO PRO JUNIOR SEMI-FINAL RESULTS:
SF1. Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 16.50 def. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 10.50
SF2. Ellie-Jean Coffey (AUS) 17.0 def. Kirsten Ogden (AUS) 6.10
WOMEN’S CHIKO PRO JUNIOR QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS:
QF1. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 9.25 def. Naomi Stevic (AUS) 7.30
QF2. Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 14.90 def. Johanne Defay (FRA) 12.50
QF3. Kirsten Ogden (AUS) 9.50 def. Audrey Styman-Lane (AUS) 5.60
QF4. Ellie-Jean Coffey (AUS) 15.0 def. Philippa Anderson (AUS) 13.50
MEN’S CHIKO PRO JUNIOR FINAL RESULT:
Jesse Mendes (BRA) 14.90 def. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 12.25
MEN’S CHIKO PRO JUNIOR SEMI-FINAL RESULTS:
SF1. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 16.60 def. Beyrick de Vries (ZAF) 13.80
SF2. Jesse Mendes (BRA) 17.55 def. Jordin Watson (AUS) 14.0
MEN’S CHIKO PRO JUNIOR QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS:
QF1. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 13.50 def. Matt Banting (AUS) 13.40
QF2. Beyrick de Vries (ZAF) 17.0 def. Johnny Hicks (NZL) 8.90
QF3. Jesse Mendes (BRA) 12.40 def. Ian Gouveia (BRA) 12.0
QF4. Jordin Watson (AUS) 13.25 def. Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) 8.50
ENDS
