A strong contingent of South African girls overcame tough onshore conditions, 1 to 1.5 metre waves and a host of the world’s best female surfers in the Swatch Girls Pro at Hossegor on the Bay of Biscay coast of France.

ASP Women’s World Title Race campaigner Rosanne Hodge (East London) and Tarryn Chudleigh (Kommetjie) advanced through two rounds of competition to reach the last 12 where they were joined by Sarah Baum (Athlone Park), 16, who started in the Round of 60.

“The whole 25 minutes was just paddling and duck diving under waves so you have to find the ones which connect up to the inside section through to the beach. It is a really hard contest with all the girls surfing so well at the moment so I am stoked to get through to the next round,” Baum, 16, said after grabbing second spot behind ASP Women’s Star ratings leader Sally Fitzbgibbons (AUS) and ahead of Bethany Hamilton (HAW) and Sage Ericsson (USA) to move into the last 12.

All three ended up third in their respective heats to place equal 9th overall in the event with earnings of US $900 and 1 800 points. Chudleigh is now the highest ranked SA girls on the ASP Women’s Star Rankings, holding the No. 13 spot just ahead of Bianca Buitendag (George) who placed 19th in France.

Nikita Robb (East London) joined Buitendag in 19th place overall while Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbosstrand) finished equal 37th. The event was won by three-time and reigning ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) who beat Coco Ho (HAW) in the final.

ASP Women’s Star Ratings
(After Swatch Girls Pro)

1          Fitzgibbons,Sally     AUS    7440
2          Wright,Tyler               AUS    6240
3          Enever,Laura            AUS    5760
4          Miley-Dyer,Jessi       AUS    5640
5          Blanchard,Alana      HAW   5280

South Africans
13        Chudleigh,Tarryn    ZAF    4728
14        Buitendag,Bianca    ZAF    4680
17        Hodge,Rosanne      ZAF    4440
17        Robb,Nikita               ZAF    4440
24        Baum,Sarah             ZAF    4080
41        Rautenbach,Chantelle       ZAF    3153
78        Zoetmulder,Faye     ZAF    700

Baum was also in outstanding form in the Swatch Girls Pro Junior (U/20) event held at the same venue, defeating both the eventual winner, Courtney Conlogue (USA), and runner-up, Coco Ho, in the earlier rounds. Baum just missed out on reaching the four-person final to finish equal 5th overall. Buitendag and Rautenbach finished equal 17th with Chudleigh equal 25th.

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