by Greg
4. August 2010 08:18
Greg Emslie (East London, South Africa) clinched victory in the O’Neill Cold Water Classic in ideal conditions at Long Beach, Kommetjie last Friday.
It is great to see the current state of South African surfing. Jordy Smith seems to be lifting everybody’s game as he has risen to the top of the world! South Africa keep all the trophy’s at home over the recent ASP Africa “Triple Crown” starting with the Mr Price Pro Ballito, a 5 Star event won by Jordy Smith, then there was the Billabong Pro JBay, the World Tour event also won by Jordy Smith followed by the O’ Neill Cold Water Classic Cape Town won by yours truly.
You can see the urgency in our younger surfers starting to stand out. The juniors that have impressed me immensely over this leg are Casey Grant with his excellent surfing to finish runner up to Jordy Smith in the final of the Mr Price Pro Ballito, Beyrick de Vries, winner of the Mr Price Pro Ballito Junior division, Shaun Joubert, Brandon Gibbons and Chad du Toit where also all stand-outs over the last month with some great results.
I think this push will have a positive effect across the board from our young surfers through to the surf industry as a whole hopefully capitalizing from it.
Lets hold thumbs that the second half of the year is as successful as the first half as our surfers head off to the USA and Europe for their upcoming legs of the tour starting with the US Open of Surfing taking place this week at Huntington Beach California.
The next World Tour event will be in Tahiti followed by Lower Trestles in California. Both these event favour Kelly Slater so let’s hope Jordy can take him out and hold onto his lead and take out the World Title for South Africa!
Come on Jordy and the rest of the South Africans on tour, make us proud!
Greg Emslie