Big Surf For Day 2 of Royal St Andrews Hotel SA Open Champs, Port Alfred

Some surfers quickly got out there, while others slowly got their boards ready, waiting for the sun to rise to see just how big the sets were.

In the free surf, top East London surfer David Emslie injured his foot and had to enjoy an early morning ambulance ride to the nearest hospital for a check-up.

The paddle-outs were tricky in the mouth of the Kowie River, with the West Pier offering a hideaway from the big sets before the surfers would quickly paddle across and into position when the sets were quiet.

In the Open Men Round 2 Heat 3, Durban surfers Luc Lepront (ESA) and Kai Hall (ESA) battled it out for top honours, with Lepront emerging victorious with 13.34 points and Hall going through to the next round with him, with a heat total of 12.40 points.

Big sets rumbled through the whole morning, and the NSRI Station 11 team was in constant comms between their vessel and crew on the pier. Massive outside wash-through sets cleaned up the surfers a few times, but the safety crew kept careful watch over them.

Clay Turrell (UGU) was on form for his heat, with 14.17 points on the scoreboard, while Mitch Du Preez (NMBS) was one of the best surfers of the round, banking a very commendable 15.50 points to easily take out the win against Hayden Mc Nicol (UGU).

By the time the Open Women's Quarterfinals arrived, the onshore wind had picked up enough to make the contestants' lives more challenging. With three quarter-finals left, the girls hit the shifting, challenging lineup.

In the first quarter, goofy-footer Tash Van Greunen (CTS) stood out, with a heat total of 14.83, which included an eight-point ride for a series of critical turns on her backhand.
Louise Lepront (ESA) was on fire in the second quarterfinal, while Maya Potgieter (UGU) was the top performer in the final quarter.

The final eight surfers in the Open Men's Division who will compete for finals berths tomorrow morning are Clayton Turrell (UGU), Clinton Gravett (BC), Luc Lepront (ESA), Josh Myburgh (CTS), Mitch Du Preez (NMBS), Hayden Mc Nicol (UGU), Kai Hall (ESA), and Andrew La Verge (ILM).

The final heats of the Royal St Andrews Hotel SA pen Champs, presented by Rip Curl, will rin tomorrow morning, starting with the semifinals.

This contest will be followed immediately by the start of the Rip Curl gromSearch presented by the Royal St Andrews Hotel.

For a full rundown of all the heat results from Day Two, go to LiveHeats.

Free downloadable high-resolution images are available here. Please credit Kody McGregor.

The Royal St Andrews Hotel SA Open Championships, presented by Rip Curl, is a Surfing South Africa event. It celebrates the start of the Port Alfred Easter Festival, a multi-sports, music, culture and market festival in Port Alfred. Hit the website for more information.