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SURFERS from the Far South made their mark in international surfing events in Durban on the weekend, with Kommetjie's Dave Richards putting on a stellar display to reach the last four in the Mr Price Pro Junior (u/20) event and becoming the only junior to qualify for the main event in the R800 000 Mr Price Pro.

The 18-year-old rookie pro earned a place in the final of the Pro Junior event in dramatic fashion when he grabbed second place in his semi-final by completing a high risk "aerial reverse" manoeuvre in the dying seconds to overtake Ricky Basnett in the tricky one metre waves.

Richards will contest the final next Sunday, just before the men's final of the country?s biggest WQS event, against a trio of Durbanites in Brandon Jackson and Josch Schmeltzer, currently the top two on the Pro Junior ratings, and former Kommetjie resident Damien Fahrenfort, now a Durban-based World Tour campaigner.

"It was tough and inconsistent out there," commented an ecstatic Richards. "My training has definitely improved my physical ability in smaller surf and it feels awesome to know that I have a spot in the final next weekend."

Brandon Roberts (Fish Hoek) and Cuan Prytz (Kommetjie) fell just short of making the final, placing third and fourth in their semi-final to finish equal fifth and seventh and collecting R750 and R500 respectively.

Tarryn Chudleigh (Kommetjie), the only Capetonian in the Pro Junior girls' event, convincingly won her quarter-final heat but was pipped for a place in the final when she ended third in her semi behind American Karin Petroni and current ratings leader Tammy-Lee Smith (KZN). The result will see the 15-year-old Fish Hoek schoolgirl retain her third place in the ratings.

Sunday saw 50 of SA's top surfers take to the excellent one to 1,5 metre (3-5 foot) waves at North Beach to do battle for one of the eight qualifying places in the 192-man main event draw.

A fired up Richards scythed his way through the field, eliminating the likes of veteran campaigner Michael Roscoe (Warner Beach), Gavin Roberts (Scott-burgh), winner of the Island Style Pro in May, and Simon Fish (East London). Former SA open champion Quintin Jones (31) was the only other Capetonian to make the cut.

Richards now meets three Brazilians in the first round with the top two advancing to a match up with either former three-time world champ Tom Curren or fellow Californian and Endless Summer 2 star Pat O'Connell.

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