Big year for February
SA wave-rider nicknamed ‘Freestyle’ sizzles in California
SOUTH Africa’s Michael February, nicknamed “Freestyle” by international commentators for the unique surfing style he has developed to suit his lanky frame, kept his exceptional competitive momentum rolling at the Vans US Open of Surfing in California this week.
After rocketing to No 4 on the World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) rankings with three event victories and a third-place finish in the QS10 000 Ballito in the first half of the year, February has advanced to the last 24 in America’s biggest surfing tournament with two impressive performances against the world’s best surfers.
Sitting in fourth spot with just five minutes to go in his opening match-up of the event, Capetonian February showed the confidence that comes with 26 heat victories already this year by producing a 7.50 to move into contention.
He then found the wave of the heat in the last minute and rode it perfectly to earn a 9.17 to deliver the day’s highest heat total.
“That wave at the end was such a blessing,” February said.
“Those last two waves and then that nine just really helped put me at ease.
“It’s been the best start of my career. Coming into the US Open last year, I started in the Round of 112 because of my seed, and now here being fourth on the QS is a completely foreign feeling for me.
“I’m just trying to feel it out and get sorted, but I’m really happy to get that first heat out of the way. I’m not going to lie and say I don’t want to qualify, everyone on the QS is trying to do that and I’m stoked with results from my last few events and just want to keep the positives alive.”
By contrast, his round three match-up saw the 24-year-old from Kommetjie lead from start to finish, opening his account with a 6.50 and closing with 7.07 in a highly professional display.
That saw him advance to the last 24 where he is already guaranteed of adding 2,200 points to his ranking and US $2 700 (about R36 000) to his bank balance even if he fails to advance from his next heat.
However, with his legions of fans watching on, and two of the four surfers above him in the rankings already eliminated, South Africa’s upcoming surf star is set to solidify his position in the Top 10 on the leaderboard and put himself in position to qualify for the elite WSL Championship Tour in 2018.
SA’s challenge at the US Open of Surfing started brightly last weekend when Matt McGillivray of Jeffreys Bay blasted his way through four rounds to grab victory in the Vans Trials.
The confidence-boosting victory against a top class 32man field earned the 20-yearold J-Bay local the wildcard into the main event, but he was eliminated in his first heat.
Bianca Buitendag reached the final day of the Paul Mitchell Supergirl Pro at Oceanside, where she finished ninth overall before heading up the coast to the Women’s US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach. There she lost her two heats on day one and finished 13th.
Reigning world big wave champion Grant “Twiggy” Baker of Durban also suffered an early exit in the Puerto Escondido Challenge held in booming six to eight-metre waves in Mexico on Monday.
Baker could not find the right waves during his round one heat and was narrowly eliminated from the event, won by Kai Lenny of Hawaii.