Mentasti back to take on all-comers at Dairy

Fresh from competing in the international circuit, national team member Tasha Mentasti has returned to Durban in time to compete in the Volcom Qualifying Series (VQS) at Dairy Beach this weekend.

Rhinofish is the second stop on the three-leg nation-wide series that caters for groms (14 and under); juniors (15-17 years old), pro-ams (open) and the newly-introduced girls (all ages) division. Total prize-money is more than R22 000.

At previous events the girls not only competed against the guys but bruised many egos along the way.

Volcom team rider Mentasti may feel pressure to win her sponsor's event and will face stiff opposition from three-time ASP Africa Pro Surf Tour (PST) champion Tamarys De Maroussem as well as talented juniors Heidi Palmboom, Puvashnee Nydoo and Sarah Baum.

The VQS is unlike other contests because it allows novice surfers to compete against seasoned pros.

The top four surfers from each division in each of the three regional events will qualify for the VQS South African World Championship Qualifier that takes place next February.

The pro-am winner from the finals will receive a free air ticket to compete in the VQS World Championships in California next year.

The VQS is a world-wide series that takes place in SA, Indonesia, Australia, Brazil, Europe, Japan and the US.

South Africa's final regional event, Baboonfish, takes place on November 20 and 21 in the Western Cape.

The pro-am division will see defending champion and Volcom team rider Simon Nicholson doing battle with Umhlanga Rocks surfer Calvin Moore, 2002 Youth Against Gravity Series champion Luke Patterson, Brad Swanepoel and Matt Daniel.

Top local juniors and 2004 national team members for the upcoming World Junior Surfing Games Josch Schmeltzer, Rudy Palmboom and Josh Redman are in peak form and will be going all out for the junior title.

Schmeltzer (grom division SA VQS world championship qualifier) and Palmboom were also members of the Glenwood Boys surfing team who were last week crowned 2004 SA Schools surfing champions.

Volcom contests are the only surfing events in SA that are free and open to everyone.

All interested surfers need to register at Dairy Beach on Saturday at 7am, as entries will only be accepted on the day.