The Pro Taghazout Bay in Morocco was a World Surf League 3000 Qualifying Series event that saw many South African surfers gathering for their share of the points and prize money.
Being a 3,000 it has three times the number of points on offer at any of the 1,000 QS events staged around South Africa. Morocco is therefore the most important event of the year for any South African QS surfer to compete in if they want to qualify for the Challenger Series.
Slade Prestwich and Beyrick de Vries were back. Shane and Justin Sykes and Karl Steen were in the mix, along with Tom Lindhorst, Avuyile Ndamase, Luke Van Wyk, Suede Schalkwyk, Brad Scott, Adin Masencamp, Luc Lepront, James Ribbink Connor Slijpen, Joshe Faulkner, Luke Slijpen, Tide-Lee Ireland, Luke Thompson and Jordy Maree.
Girls competing were Natasha van Greunen, Anastasia Venter, Jessie van Niekerk, and Louise Lepront.
In excellent surf at the fabled right-hand point-break of Anchor Point, Luke Thompson and Louise Lepront stood out. Despite a fine display in her quarter-finals, Louise was eliminated by Francisca Veselko from Portugal, and ended fifth.
Lepront finished with a heat total of 16.27 for an 8.5 and a 7.77 back-up ride, the second-highest heat score of the round, but Veselko beat her with a final ride. Lepront now climbs to the top of the Africa 2024/2025 Women’s Qualifying Series Final Rankings.
Thompson did one better by making it to the semi-finals, and despite banking a 9.17 he was defeated by Frenchman Jorgann Couzinet and finished third. This result takes him to the top of the Africa 2024/2025 Men’s Qualifying Series Final Rankings. With three events to go, both Thompson and Lepront are solid for qualification on the Challenger Series.
Photo: Supplied
