Local Baum Victorious At 12th Annual Roxy Wahine Cup

(L-R) Roxy Wahine Cup Open Women’s Champion Sarah Baum, U16 Champion Chanelle Botha, U14 Champion Gina Smith and Pro Junior Champion Bianca Buitendag won their respective divisions in testing conditions at Durban’s New Pier at the weekend.

Photo credit: Kelly Cestari

Sarah Baum (Amanzimtoti) put on an electric display of surfing on Sunday to clinch the women’s open division title at the 2011 Roxy Wahine Cup.

Photo credit: Kelly Cestari

New Pier, Durban: Sarah Baum (Amanzimtoti) emerged victorious today in the open women's division at South Africa’s biggest stand alone women’s surfing event, the Roxy Wahine Cup. 17 year old Baum scored an impressive heat total of 16.50 out of a possible 20 points to earn herself the winner’s cheque of R10 000. Baum surfed fast and radically in the 3-4 feet solid waves to claim first place.

Bianca Buitendag (George) who had just beaten Baum in the U20 Pro Junior division was convincingly beaten by an on-form Baum to finish second in the open women’s division. “I am very happy with winning the event, I would have been stoked to win both divisions but couldn’t seem to find my rhythm in the previous final. This win definitely gives me a lot of confidence going into my next few competitions,” said an elated Baum who spends most of her time surfing at the competition venue, New Pier. Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbosstrand) and Tasha Mentasti (Cape Town) finished 3rd and 4th respectively in the same final.

In the U20 ASP Pro Junior division final it was Buitendag who got the better of fierce rival Baum by posting two high scores in the 8 point region. Buitendag won herself R7 000 in prize money and an automatic slot into the ASP World Pro Junior Series to be held later on in the year. Baum managed to place second with a heat total score of 13.25 points, Heidi Palmboom (Bluff) and Faye Zoetmulder (Cape St. Francis) placed 3rd and 4th respectively.

In the girls U16 division final Gina Smith of Jeffreys Bay clinched the title ahead of Nicole Pallet (Cape Town), Inge McLaren (East London) and Courtney Ellish (Amanzimtoti).

The U14 girls final was tightly contested and the girls did extremely well in the testing conditions. Chanelle Botha (Amanzimtoti) claimed first place ahead of Mahe Javengny (Reunion Island), Teal Hogg (Durban) and Kelly Simkiss (Durban).

A new addition to Roxy Wahine Cup was the girls Iron Nippers division. Alice Edward from Pirates Surf Lifesaving Club won the U12 division while Michaela Ferreira from Umhlanga Rocks Surf Lifesaving Club emerged the winner of the U14 division.

For more information, photos and results visit the event’s mini site: www.wahinecup.roxy.co.za <http://www.wahinecup.roxy.co.za>

The Roxy Wahine Cup is presented by the City of Durban in association with Suncoast Casino and supporting sponsors include Skullcandy, Softlips, Liqui Fruit, Supersport and Red Bull. The Pro Junior event is sanctioned by ASP Africa while all of other divisions are sanctioned by Surfing South Africa, the governing body for surfing in South Africa.



by Dane Patterson

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