Set in the idyllic fishing village of Ponto d'Oura in Moçambique, surfing takes place off a world class point break, with a waiting period of 10 days in which the event will only be run if the waves are of a very high standard. Large, perfect rolling walls and deep tubes are the ilk of wave the contest directors are after, with nothing less than A-Grade canvases for the girls to carve up - or the go ahead stays safely locked up to roll over to next year.
After a long day on the road, the contestants and crew crossed the muddy border under grey skies to wind the 7km along sandy roads through grassy hills to arrive at Dolphin Encounters, which they will be calling home until next Monday. After scanning the point for surfable waves with a definite decision of a no-go for today, little time was wasted before the girls were in the water and practising their body surfing skills in the crystal clear shore break.
Aside from the emphasis on surfing challenging waves, the Roxy Invitational is also about allowing surfers the time to have fun with each other and enjoy the stunning location. The afternoon was spent on the Elan Group's “Spirit of Elan” yacht anchored in the bay, with the girls taking advantage of the lay day to practise somersaults, climb anchor ropes and swim around the boat with a backdrop of turquoise water, bushy green hills and the eclectic collection of buildings, churches and shops that make up the tiny village tucked in the dunes.
As the tide dropped and the point started to produce small clean waves with fun potential, 2008 Roxy Invitational winner Heather Clark from Port Shepstone, Tasha Mentasti and Sarah Baum from Durban paddled out to test the waters. The old guard set to work taking apart all the bigger waves with ease, showing that they indeed mean business, while Sarah Baum opted out to try her hand at tow-in surfing with the competition Jet Ski, an entertaining site for those on the boat.
Two interesting variables thrown into the mix are Canelle Bulard and Johanne Defay from Reunion, and after watching their easy going slick surfing in the free surfs today, the South African girls are watching their backs. The day ended off with the opening dinner at Dolphin Encounters, which saw an incredible meal devoured in minutes by the pack of hungry surfers, ready to get up for the early morning dawnie.
The Roxy Invitational is presented by Saltwater GIRL Magazine, in association with Virgin Mobile and Resolution. For Saltwater GIRL Magazines' daily video updates, pictures and entertaining blogs on the event, visit www.swg.co.za.
List of 2009 Roxy Invitational Invitees:
