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| Sunday 19th of April 2009 |
Dominic Abersalie Victorious in the Komunity Project Future Stars
Dominic Abersalie (18) of Jeffreys Bay busts his fins free at Durban's New Pier on his way to victory at the Komunity Project Future Stars event. The Komunity Project Future Stars involved eight invited surfers from Surfing South Africa's transformation program in an exclusive event for a wildcard entry into the Quiksilver Pro Junior. Photo by Greg Ewing/Quiksilver
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Dominic Abersalie Victorious in the Komunity Project Future Stars
(New Pier, Durban, South Africa) Jeffreys Bay surfer Dominic Abersalie (18) clinched the 2009 Komunity Project Future Stars title at Durban's New Pier today. The victory secured Abersalie a year's sponsorship from leading surf accessories brand Komunity Project and a wild card entry into the Quiksilver Pro Junior, a Grade 2 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Junior event carrying US$10,000 in prize money.The Quiksilver Pro Junior is scheduled to take place at New Pier this weekend.
With fun 3 foot waves running across the inside bank at New Pier, the eight invited surfers selected from Surfing South Africa's transformation program reveled in the conditions and put on an exciting display of what the future of South African surfing holds.
"I have worked very hard on my surfing," said Abersalie at the prize-giving ceremony, "and am very excited to have won the wild card into the Quiksilver Pro Junior." When asked how he thought he would fare against some of South Africa and the world's best junior surfers, Abersalie said, "I think it will be a great experience and I can only do my best and hope the judges like what they see. With guys like Nick Godfrey in the event I think it will be very tough but I am really looking forward to competing."
The final saw Abersalie establish an early lead as he paddled into a beautiful wave that walled up across the New Pier bank, allowing him to work his way down the line to score a 6.25. The natural-footer maintained his strangle-hold on the heat and backed his opening wave up with a second wave, executing two perfect forehand re-entries and a radical fins-free move to finish his ride.
Second placed Papi Makanyane from Cape Town surfed well in the tricky conditions but was unable to catch Abersalie's. "Although I didn't win I am pleased with the way I surfed. I am used to the colder water in the Cape so I'm happy I adapted to Durban's warm water and did as well as I did."
Jeffreys Bay local and close friend of Abersalie, Bertie Stuurman's title hopes were dashed in the fifteenth minute of the 20 minute heat as he took off on a wave that belonged to Abersalie.This incurred a technical penalty, halving his second counting score, and relegated him to third. Western Province surfer Elroy Thomas finished fourth.
The opportunity to travel to Durban and win a one year sponsorship from Komunity Project and a wild card into the 2009 Quiksilver Pro Junior was a dream come true for the eight invitees, some of whom had never been to Durban before. Six of the surfers were flown to Durban and two made their way down the coast by bus from Umzumbe to compete in the event. All of them plus Team manager Dennis Hadebe were accommodated by Komunity Project at a local guest house.
The whole team was decked out with kit and given surf accesories by Kommunity Project.
"The Komunity Project Future Stars event offers us the perfect opportunity to showcase the progress that is being made (by Surfing South Africa) in the transformation of the sport of surfing in South Africa," said Komunity Project marketing manager Dane Patterson. "Part of our company ethos is to put something back into the sport and the culture, and in South Africa we have the unique opportunity of being able to develop the talents and abilities of surfers from less affluent backgrounds."
The other four invitees were Brandon Benjamin (WP), Qhamani Bam (EP), Bright Ntuli (SKZN) and Khayelile Ngcobo (SKZN).
The Komunity Project Future Stars provided the perfect curtain-raiser to the 2009 Quiksilver Pro Durban, a six star prime ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) event which starts on Monday 19 April and has attracted some of the world's best surfers to take on the South African surfing elite. The 2009 Quiksilver Pro Durban is scheduled to take place at New Pier, Durban, but due to the unpredictablity of the surf conditions the event organisers have made arrangements to move the contest out to Ansteys Beach on the Bluff if the need arises. The total prize money for the event is US$145,000 with the winner walking away with US$20,000 and, more importantly, 3500 WQS ratings points.
Keeping in line with the latest technological developments, the Quiksilver Pro Durban will include a live webcast on www.quikprodurban.com that will attract a host of viewers from around the world. The webcast will feature live footage and score updates in real time, and will be punctuated by commentary from some of world surfing's most respected voices, among them 1989 World Champion and former Durban local Martin Potter. Results, daily images, highlight video’s, surfer profiles and more can also be found on the event website. And if you can’t get to a computer or down to the beach log on to www.quikpro.mobi on your mobile to get all the news, results and action.
2009 Komunity Project Future Stars Results:
1. Dominic Salie (EP)
2. Papi Makanyane (WP)
3. Bertie Stuurman (EP)
4. Elroy Thomas (WP)
The 2009 Komunity Project Future Stars Invitees:
Papi Makanyane (WP)
Elroy Thomas (WP)
Brandon Benjamin (WP)
Dominic Abersalie (EP)
Qhamani Bam (EP)
Bertie Stuurman (EP)
Bright Ntuli (SKZN)
Khayelile Ngcobo (SKZN) |
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