Surfs up in Durbs

SURFERS tore into one-metre waves on a cloudy day at Dairy Beach’s New Pier in Durban on the opening day of the Volkswagen SA Open yesterday. Mateus Herdy of Brazil emerged with the heat win after a titanic battle with compatriot Weslley Dantas, South Africa’s Dale Staples and Henrique Pyrrait of Portugal. Herdy produced a near-perfect 9.6, the highest single score of the day, to establish a substantial lead over his opponents. Dantas pipped Staples to the runnerup spot and a place in R3. Shane Sykes (Salt Rock) was the top South African performer, winning the first heat of the event and then slamming the door on his Round 2 rivals with a strong 9.0 in Round 2 to advance into the last 96. American Nolan Rapoza held off the challenge of South African Benji Brand, who had not caught a single wave at the halfway mark. Rides of 5.87 and a closing 7.33 saw Brand join the young American in the next round. The competition continues today. – Sports Reporter