El Salvador ISA World Masters Surfing Championships
Punta Roca, La Libertad, El Salvador
October 16 to 23, 2011
Third placed South Africa bag six medals at ISA World Masters Surfing Championships in El Salvador
The South African Masters surfing team placed third at the 2011 El Salvador ISA World Masters Surfing Championships and also bagged five individual medals, one in each of the age categories contested, at the premier international surfing event for surfers aged 35 and older.
Along with the bronze medal in the team standings, Heather Clark and Chris Knutsen clinched silver in the Women’s Masters and Grand Kahunas divisions respectively, Gary van Wieringen and David Malherbe secured bronze in the Men’s Masters and Kahunas and Andre Malherbe took the copper in the Grand Masters.
Expectations were high that David Malherbe (Coffee Bay) and younger brother Andre (East London) would better their respective Kahunas and Grand Masters bronze medals from last year.
David came through a difficult repecharge heat to make the Grand Final and went on the build an early lead. The legendary Tom Curren and fellow former World Tour stalwart Jim Hogan (both USA) managed to find longer running waves and grabbed the top two spots with ‘Herbie’ remaining in contention until the final minutes but having to settle for another bronze ahead of Brazilian David Husadel.
Final Results – Kahunas
Gold: Tom Curren (USA)
Silver: Jim Hogan (USA)
Bronze: David Malherbe (RSA)
Copper: David Husadel (BRA)
9th – Colin Buitendag (RSA)