Hawaii’s Hennessy, Aussie Baker win SA Open titles
Hawaii’s Brisa Hennessy surfed her way to the top of the pile as she claimed the women’s title at the Volkswagen SA Open of Surfing at Pollok Beach yesterday. Hennessy went up against Dominic Barona in the final to claim her maiden Open title as she moved one step closer to the top 10 on the World Surf League women’s ladder. The Qualifying Series 3000 event presented by Hurley, which is the largest women’s QS event on the African continent, saw Barona and Hennessy go toe to toe for the title in sunny conditions, with both women easing through their semifinal heats earlier in the day. In the 30-minute final, both found the going a bit slow, with two of Hennessy’s heatwinning waves counting 8.17 and 7.20 to end with a total score of 15.37. Barona ended the final with a score of 5.83 and 0.67 for a total of 6.50. “I’m over the moon to pick up the win,” Hennessy said. “The conditions were a bit challenging at times.” In the Longboarding QS 1000 event, Tarryn King, of Cape Town, was crowned the champion after a see-saw battle against Michelle van Kempen, Crystal Hulett and Shannon Hughes in the final heat. King was on top of her game as her best two waves, scoring at 6.67 and 6.33, were enough to see her snatch first place with a score of 13.00, ahead of Van Kempen with an 8.17. Hulett was third with 5.23 and Hughes claimed fourth spot with a 3.06. Both winners spoke glowingly about the support of the Port Elizabeth crowd, with Hennessy thanking them “for lending us your breakers for the last couple of days”. Meanwhile, Australia’s Jackson Baker was crowned the SA Open of Surfing men’s title after his final against Adin Masencamp on Saturday. The Qualifying Series 1500 event, presented by Hurley, did not offer much in the way of rideable waves, but Baker and Masencamp manage to catch a few good breakers. The final saw Baker finish with a total score of 13.33. Masencamp came just short as he finished on 10.34. In the men’s final of the Longboard event, former twotime world champion Matthew Moir won with a score of 14.83, ahead of Sam Christianson in second with 14.24.