Image of

SURFING finally got under way in the 2009 Billabong Pro in Jeffreys Bay yesterday with two South Africans claiming spots in today‘s second round.

Greg Emslie easily defeated Heitor Alves of Brazil while Sean Holmes beat Dustin Barca of Hawaii in a close contest.

Fellow South African Jordy Smith is already in the second round as one of the top 16 seeds along with defending champion Kelly Slater, who take on the first round winners.

Yesterday‘s action saw 32 surfers in 16 exciting elimination heats at Supertubes.

South Africans Devyn Mattheys, David Weare and Ryan Payne, of Jeffreys Bay, were knocked out yesterday.

“The waves were really good today, I just got a little bit of bad luck and did not manage to pick up the good ones.

“My waves did not barrel as much as I would like. When I got one I got a little greedy and tried to stay in there a little longer, except it was one where I did not make it out,” Payne said.

Surfline, the official forecaster for the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay, expects the swell to peak this afternoon before dropping in size tomorrow. Westerly offshore winds are expected for the next three days.

The first two heats of round two were surfed yesterday afternoon, with CJ Hobgood of the US defeating Michael Picon of France, and Kai Otton of Australia beating Fredrick Patacchia of Hawaii.

Round two action continues today, pending a 7am assessment of conditions.

Despite the cold weather fans and spectators turned out in droves to watch the first day of top-class surfing yesterday, which came after a four-day wait for suitable conditions. Some dolphins were also seen dropping in on the action.

Contest director Mike Parsons said the elimination format decided on for the fifth of 10 events on the 2009 ASP World Tour was “a little more cut- throat”.

In today‘s round two heats Smith is up against Dane Reynolds of the US, while Holmes faces a tough match-up against Australian Taj Burrow, and Emslie meets Bede Durbidge, also of Australia.