Island Style/Halfway Toyota Surf Classic

Scottburgh Beach, KZN South Coast – South Africa

Sunday, 24 April 2005
Scottburgh Local Roberts
Clinches Men’s Event;
De Maroussem Claims
Inaugural Women’s Title
Local surfer Gavin Roberts (Scottburgh) and reigning ASP Africa champion Tamarys de
Maroussem (Westbrook) were crowned the 2005 Island Style/ Halfway Toyota Surf Classic
Champions today (Sunday, 24 April 2005) in small, clean surf at Scottburgh beach on Kwa
Zulu Natal’s south coast.

Event organisers utilised the World Championship Tour (WCT) ‘man on man’ format for the 4A rated men’s
event from the quarterfinals through to the final.

Roberts, who has surfed Scottburgh since he was seven years old, clinched an emotional victory at his home
break in a nail biting final against supremely talented former ASP Africa Champion Shane Thorne (Bluff). 31
year old Thorne enjoyed his second Pro Surf Tour (PST) final of 2005 and wasted no time catching his first two
waves. Roberts had the support of the crowd and his patience paid off as he picked a 6.0-point ride which
boosted him into first place. The lead changed hands several times with Roberts emerging victorious with less
than a point more than Thorne.

All I can say is that I am so stoked that I won the best event on the tour! I must thank the sponsors and most of
all my Scottburgh family, without them I would have ended up in the quarters and to win at my home break is a
dream come true,” said a grinning Roberts who could not suppress his excitement about his victory when he
received a standing ovation from the beach.

The 2A rated women’s title appeared to belong Stacy Guy (Melkbosstrand) who led the battle from the outset
with strong scores like 6.25 out of a possible 10 points. Guy’s powerful surfing was eclipsed by a last minute
comeback from Island Style team rider de Maroussem who made up for lost time by earning 8.25 points for a
long ride punctuated by big turns. A negligible 0.05-points separated third and fourth place which went to Sarah
Johnston (Warner Beach) and Michelle Hill (St Francis) who struggled to catch waves with high scoring
potential.

“I’d like to thank my sponsors Island Style and also Halfway Toyota for incorporating a ladies event this year it
was awesome and there was a really high standard of surfing,” said de Maroussem.

The spectacular Air Mauritius Air Show involved 12 invited aerialists who managed to find ‘launch pads’ in the
testing surf conditions. One of the highlights was an aerial move successfully completed by Simon Fish on one
of the borrowed retro surfboards. The main attraction was Shane Warren (Bluff) who flew to victory with a
futuristic backside 180 into a 360 reverse which he landed with ease and panache. Warren will soon be on his
way to Mauritius for a holiday sponsored by Air Mauritius.

In complete contrast to the high flying progressive surfing in the Air Show, spectators were transported back in
time watching an impressive display of old school surfing in the Red Bull Retro Final. John McCarthy (Dbn)
completely dominated the showdown with his laid back classic style and fluid manoeuvres on waves that he
caught right to the shore. McCarthy walked off with a Derek Girven twin fin replica surfboard and R2 000 cash.
Matthew Kruger (Queensburgh) and Simon Fish (East London) were also standouts in this unique event where
surfers rode collector’s item surfboards dating back to the early 1970’s.

The Zigzag ‘Blowing Up Award of R1 000 cash went to Brad “Mongoose” Mommsen (Scottburgh). ZigZag
representatives felt that Wimpy Wildcard surfer Mommsen had pushed himself throughout the event with
polished turns, big airs and tube rides until he was stopped in his tracks by his friend Roberts in the semi-
finals.

Despite being a R45 000 professional surfing event, the atmosphere on the beach captured the true essence
of the soul of surfing and was described as a celebration of surf culture and lifestyle.

Island Style/ Halfway Toyota Surf Classic
Results from Sunday, 24 April 2005 (Final Day)

4A Rated Men’s Event Results
Final - Man on Man

Winner: Gavin Roberts (Scottburgh) R10 000

Runner-up: Shane Thorne (Bluff) R5 000

Semi-finals
Man on man with the top surfer advancing to the final

Heat 1
Gavin Roberts (Scottburgh)
Brad Mommsen (Scottburgh) Equal 3rd; R3 000

Heat 2
Shane Thorne (Bluff)
Simon Nicholson (Berea) Equal 3rd; R3 000

Quarterfinals
Man on man winner advances to the semis

Heat 1
Gavin Roberts (Scottburgh)
Brandon Jackson (Dbn North) Equal 5th; R2 000
Heat 2
Brad Mommsen (Scottburgh)
Clinton Gravett (East London) Equal 5th; R2 000
Heat 3
Shane Thorne (Bluff)
Ryan Payne (St Francis) Equal 5th; R2 000
Heat 4
Simon Nicholson (Berea)
Dylan Stone (Bluff) Equal 5th; R2 000

2A Rated Women’s Event Results
Final
Tamarys de Maroussem (Westbrook) R2 000

Stacey Guy (Melkbosstrand) R900

Sarah Johnston (Warner Beach) R600

Michelle Hill (St Francis) R500

Semi-finals
Top two surfers advancing to the final
Heat 1
1. Michelle Hill (Cape St Francis)
2. Sarah Johnston (Warner Beach)
3. Tasha Mentasti (Dbn North) Equal 5th; R300
4. Nikita Robb (East London) Equal 7th; R200
Heat 2
1. Tamarys de Maroussem (Westbrook)
2. Stacy Guy (Melkbosstrand)
3. Jessica Matthews (St Francis) Equal 5th; R300
4. Nicole Annells (Warner Beach) Equal 7th; R200
Retro ‘Pick A Board’ Final
John McCarthy (Berea) - R2 000 & Retro surfboard

Air Mauritius Show

Best Aerial: Shane Warren (Bluff) – Return ticket from Air Mauritius

Zigzag Blowing Up Award

Brad Mommsen (Scottburgh) – R1 000

Issued on behalf of:                                
Island Style South Africa and Halfway Toyota

Issued by:

Olivia Jones Communications
082 537 8840
Email: olivia@atomgate.com

ASP Africa Pro Surf Tour (PST) contact:
Colin Fitch (Operations Manager) 082 699 4493: aspafrica@mweb.co.za