Only two local surfers make it

International surfers revelled in the conditions at North Beach during the Mr Price Pro round of 126 on Wednesday.

Only two South Africans, Jordan Smith and Shane Thorne, made it through to the last 96, while Antonio Bortoletto, Seth Hulley, Richard Sills and Royden Bryson were knocked out.

Hawaii's Jamie O'Brien stole the show with his highest single ride of 9.70 and followed it up with a 9.17 to earn the highest heat total of 18.87 (out of a possible 20) of the contest.

Australians Matt Thompson and Zane Harrison took full advantage of the outstanding beach break conditions to post impressive 9.43 rides, while Jihad Kohdr scored a nine-point ride in his heat, Hawaiian Jesse Merle-Jones scored a 9.33 in heat 13, and former Durbanite Sean Gossman followed up in the final heat of the day with an impressive 9.17 ride.

ISA world under-16 champion and local surfer Jordy Smith convincingly won his heat to qualify for the last 96 for the first time in his career.

Thorne, who won his first four heats, finished second behind 2002 Mr Price Pro champ Beto Fernandes.

The Brazilian's two 7.17 rides earned him the heat win, while Thorne racked up an 8.33 and a 5.33 that saw the elimination of former Nightsurfing winner Steve Hughes (Australia) and 2003 Mr Price Pro finalist Kekoa Bacalso.

Bortoletto, Hulley, Sills and Bryson, who was seeded into the round of 128, were placed third in their respective heats.

They were placed equal 97th overall and finished with 245 World Qualifying Series (WQS) ratings points.

Other top international contenders Eric Taylor (USA), Marco Polo (Brazil), TJ Barron (Hawaii), Matt Hoar (Australia), world under-18 champion Ben Dunn (Australia) and 2004 World Surfing Games open division champion Hira Teriinatoofa (Tahiti) were knocked out in Wednesday's round of 128.

The four-star women's Mr Price Pro round of 48 got under way late on Wednesday afternoon. Reigning ASP Africa Pro Surf Tour (PST) champ Tamarys De Maroussem comfortably won her heat ahead of St Francis Bay's Michelle Hill, a former South African junior champion.

Brazilian Silvana Lima did not surf and Durbanite Sarah Matthews was knocked out. Australia's Kate Skarratt cruised to the round of 32 after two impressive rides of 7.17 and 6.0 earned her the heat win ahead of Salt Rock surfer Tammy Lee Smith, who finished with a total of 9.0 points.

East London's junior surfing sensation Nikita Robb took the honours in the third heat after scoring two six-point rides and American Kyla Langen finished second.

WQS campaigner Sarah Johnston was victorious in the fourth heat where she took on fellow South Africans Tasha Mentasti, Tatum Ambrose and heat runner-up Penny Robarts.

Langen and Johnston scored the highest wave rides of 8.17. The four remaining women's round of 48 heats gets under way at 8am on Thursday, and will be followed by the eight heats in the round of 32 where the top seeds await.

Queen of South African surfing Heather Clark, Australians Trudy Todd, Rebecca Woods, defending event winner Serena Brooke and former women's world champion and two-time Gunston 500 winner Pauline Menczer will be in action on Thursday. The men's round of 96, the first eight heats, takes to the surf at 12.40pm on Thursday and will see former Paul Canning and some wildcards in action.