Sarah looks to ride Roxy wave to victory

Sarah Johnston will be hoping to repeat the performance that won her the 2001 Roxy Wahine Cup when this year's event gets under way at Suncoast Beach next weekend.

Coming fresh off the international circuit, where she's been in top form, the renowned surfer will take comfort in knowing that one of her rivals, national junior captain Jessica Matthews, is competing in Hawaii.

However, her title aspirations could be dampened by the likes of defending champion Tamarys de Maraisemm (formerly Tamarys Walters), Roxy Towill, Stacey Guy and Tammy Lee Smith in the premier division, particularly as there is R10 000 in prize money to be won.

The Roxy Wahine Cup, an annual contest sanctioned by Surfing South Africa, is the only women's stand-alone competition in the country.

Top female surfers from Cape Town, East London, Port Elizabeth and KwaZulu-Natal will compete in five categories - Under-14, Under-16, Under-18, open, and in the newly-introduced novice category

The Roxy Learn to Surf tour gets under way on Saturday with national coaches Kenny Matthews, Roxy Towill and Riehan Slabbert.

Girls taking part in the Learn to Surf Tour have two incentives: the top five girls will get wildcard entries to the Roxy Wahine Cup and the others will be eligible to take part in the novice category that already has 33 confirmed entrants.

Novice entrants will be going all out to get their hands on the full one-year Roxy sponsorship.

The Under-18 division will see Tammy Lee Smith taking on fellow Durbanites Katie Goldreich and twins Sarah and Kate Matthews.

Nicole Annells is a top contender for the Under-18 division, but has also been pitted to win the Under-16 category where she will face the likes of Nikita Robb, Lucinda Potgieter, Laetitia Lee and East Londoner and current Under-18 champion, Roseanne Hodge.

Sarah Baum, nine-years old, is the youngest competitor in both the Under-14 and Under-16 divisions.

Michelle Andrews, of Lady Fatima School, made a huge impression last year when she won the novice category with just 10 months surfing experience. This year she competes in the Under-14 division.

n The top 32 boys and girls Under-16 national grand finalists will compete in the Rip Curl Gromsearch finals at New Pier today and tomorrow.

The top two boys and girls finalists and another two wildcards will gain automatic entry to the Rip Curl Rookie programme, where they will get first-hand experience of a pro surfer's lifestyle.

World junior surfing champ Jordan Smith will face stiff competition from fellow Durbanites Rudy Palmboom, Josch Schmeltzer, Josh Redman, Brandon Jackson, Scott Hamilton, Chad du Toit, Devan Mac Nicol, Rory Gibson and Haydn Mac Nicol. Local female finalists include Kate Goldreich, Nicole Annells, Sarah and Kate Matthews, Heidi Palmboom, Sarah Baum and Julia Morris.

Other top contenders include Linsey Cottrell (Cape Town), Roseanne Hodge, Nikita Robb (East London) and Laetitia Lee (Jeffreys Bay).

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