AB warns: watch out, SA!
SA duo Williams and Brand make waves in Hawaii
AUSTRALIAN surfer Mick Fanning has been made an Officer of the Order of Australia, the country’s highest civilian honour, in recognition of his “service to surfing as a professional competitor at the national and international level and as a supporter of a wide range of charitable foundations.”
A three-time world surfing champion who has won 22 Championship Tour events in a professional career spanning 16 years, Fanning is also noted for his charitable work with internationally renowned organisations such as the Make a Wish and the Starlight Foundations.
Fanning was “stunned” at the award and told his nearly one million Instagram followers “I’m freaking out! Beyond honoured to be named an Officer of the Order of Australia today along with some amazing people. I love my country and its characters. Feeling so proud and happy right now.”
After a traumatic 2015 competitive season that included the highly publicised shark encounter at Jeffreys Bay and several personal setbacks, the universally acknowledged surfing legend took a ‘ personal’ year in 2016. Only competing in five events, which famously included victory on his return to J-Bay. Fanning still managed to finish the year ranked No17.
While he has confirmed that he will compete in the opening event on the 2017 Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast at his home break of Snapper Rocks in March, Fanning is yet to commit to doing this year’s full schedule of 11 events. SOUTH African surfers continue to make their mark on the international surfing stage with Durbanite Sebastian Williams and Cape Town/Hawaiian transplant Benji Brand both advancing to round four of the QS1000 Sunset Pro by outpointing higher ranked opponents in booming 4-metre plus surf at Hawaii’s famous Sunset Beach on Thursday.
Brand, just about to turn 21, is best known internationally for the surreal video clip he filmed from inside the tube of a wave in Namibia that lasted for more than a minute and went viral, earning him a major film award. He spends every winter in Hawaii and has become one of the best goofy foot surfers (rides with his right foot in front) at Sunset, having featured in the finals of numerous junior and open category events.
Williams, who is just 16, grabbed the runner-up spot behind Parker Coffin of America in his heat as the pair eliminated Hawaiian standouts Mickey Bruneau and Kaito Kino.
Both face tough round four match-ups when the contest resumes. Brand is up against defending event champion Keoni Yan and multiple world windsurfing champion and waterman extraordinaire, Kai Lenny of Maui. Williams takes on two-time Pe’ahi Challenge winner Billy Kemper of Maui and Kaimana Jaquias of Kauai.
Meanwhile, in Australia, Adin Masencamp finished 17th in the Subway Pro Cronulla in Sydney. He and fellow Capetonian Jordy Maree then delivered excellent round one wins in the QS1 000 Flight Centre Burleigh Pro in small, inconsistent waves in Queensland where the Jeffreys Bay pair of Matthew McGillivray and Dylan Lightfoot are seeded into round three.