Strachan and Rob crowned Mr Price Pro Junior Champions



(New Pier, Durban) – South African U20 Champion Klee Strachan (Winklespruit) and world number ten on the ASP World Qualifying Series Nikita Robb (East London), where crowned the 2007 Mr Price Pro Junior Champions, at Durban’s New Pier today.

Posting an almost faultless performance in the bumpy 0.5 meter waves, Strachan defeated Brandon Roberts (Sun Valley, Cape Town), Nick Goddfrey (St Francis) and Kyle Beach (Durban), winning R4000 as well as a wildcard entry into the six star WQS Mr Price Pro.

A veritable wave magnet, Strachan got off to an early start throwing a series of five point scores (out of a possible ten) onto the scoreboard, to assume the heat lead.

2006 Mr Price Pro Junior finalist Brandon Roberts’s well executed manoeuvres put him in contention for second place, until national junior team member Nick Godfrey (St Francis) answered back with an impressive 7.5 scoring ride (out of ten).

With Roberts and Godfrey on the hunt, Strachan needed to solidify his lead, which he did, posting a 6.0 point ride (out of ten) off a solid set wave and followed up with a 5.6 (out of a possible ten) for a series of flashy fins free turns.

Needing just a four point ride to take the win, Godfrey was comfortably in second but, with just over one minute on the clock, Roberts stroked into a good looking wave, scoring a 6.5 (out of ten) for a fast snap and smooth cutback, jumping into second place and finishing just half a point behind Strachan.

“I went out there and just tried to catch as many waves as I could. I’d been watching it and it wasn’t that consistent so I knew I needed a good start, maybe some set waves and some good scores to get ahead,” said Strachan.

“I’m really happy with the win, it’s been a good year so far and to get a wildcard into the main event is just amazing! I can’t wait to surf against the world’s best and see how I perform.”

Semi final number one proved to be a similarly close affair with Roberts edging Strachan into second by just 0.25 points, both surfers advancing ahead of defending Mr Price Pro Junior champion Brandon Jackson (Durban North) and Jaco Steyn (Cape Town).

Semi final number two saw Nick Godfrey defeat Kyle Beach, with 2006 Pro Junior finalist Josh Redman (Umdloti) and Rudy Palmboom eliminated in third and fourth.

Nikita Robb took her first Mr Price Pro Junior victory in the women’s division, defeating reigning South African U20 Junior champion Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbosstrand), Kirsty Delport (Durban) and Alice McGregor (East London).

A runner up in 2006, Robb’s powerful backhand attack saw her post a 7.5 and a 6.25 (both out of a possible ten) to edge out Rautenbach.

“I’m really stoked with my win today, it’s given me a lot of confidence going into the main event,” said Robb. “The conditions were tricky but I’d been watching the ocean before my heat so I knew there were some wider waves coming through on the high tide and I managed to maximize my scoring potential on my second last wave, which saw me through for the win.”

Like Strachan, Robb earned R4000 as well as a wildcard slot into the Women’s round of 48, but because she is seeded into this round already, Robb chose to give the wildcard to third place finisher Kirsty Delport, who was a standout at this event.

The Mr Price Pro Junior is a 3A rated event sanctioned by Surfing South Africa. The Mr Price Pro Men’s trials get underway at approximately 8am tomorrow which will see eight out of the 32 local surfers competing, advance into the main event.

For more information log onto www.mrpricepro.com

The Mr Price Pro forms part of the Durban Beach Festival.