Jeffreys Bay Surftrips

The Xcel Pro was run off in excellent conditions at Supertubes yesterday on only the second day of a month long waiting period.
Good 4 -6 foot waves poured down the point for the stoked local surfers, who all managed to get a couple of great rides during the course of the event.
Round one and the quarter-finals saw some fast surfing on the long walls of Supers, with Warren Dean a stand-out, blasting along with the best of them, and easily winning through to the semis.
Semi number one saw a repeat of the Xcel Pro 2009 final heat, with two-times winner Ryan Payne coming up against, and defeating Dean with some power surfing.
The second semi was a clash of the new blood, with Shaun Payne and Nick Godfrey, both first time invitees into the event, battling it out on the perfect Supers walls. Despite Nick showing good form all morning, Shaun went to town on one wave and scored the only 10-point ride of the event, and in the process eliminating Nick from the event.
The final heat between the two brothers saw Shaun and Ryan both going head to head in the slightly smaller surf. The lead went back and forth a few times as both natural footers pushed it as hard as they could, both determined to win. At the end of the day it was younger brother Shaun who was the surfer to break brother Ryan’s stranglehold on the title, with Ryan having won both the events in the past.
“So stoked to have won the contest,” said a pleased and champagne-drenched Shaun, clutching his trophy. “It’s such a good event and I was lucky to be invited this year. The waves were pumping, and it’s great to see all the local support.”
For his victory, Shaun won a coveted slot into the VonZipper Superheat, the trials heat for the Billabong Pro World Tour event, set to take place at Jeffrey’s Bay later in the year. He also banked R10k for his win, and received a Nixon 51-30 PU Tide watch, valued at R4,500.
Second placed Ryan took home a Sector9 Skateboard and a Xcel Drylock Wetsuit valued at R4,500 for his day’s work.
Shaun also took home an extra R5,000, presented by Island Pacific for the Wave Of The Day, while the R5,000 prize presented by Island Pacific for Best Junior Surfer went to a deserving Dylan Lightfoot.
FireWire Surfboards awarded a surfboard to Lyle Meek for Best Turn Of The Contest, as well as one to Warren Dean for Best Barrel Of The Contest.
The Wipeout Of The Event award of a case of Black Label Beer went to Deon Lategan.