In short:

Another lay day yesterday for the Roxy Invitational. The girls still got out there and spent hours in the drink before movies and massage time. Sounds good to me, check out the video highlights:

Day 3

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In long:

(Ponta d’Ouro, Mozambique) Small waves once again greeted the twelve invitees to the Roxy Invitational, a specialist surfing event currently being held at Ponta d’Ouro, Mozambique, this morning, prompting the contest organizers to call a lay day today.

Despite the small waves, the invitees were still keen to get in the water and before breakfast has even been served the whole dozen were in the water and enjoying the small but long rides on offer. ‘The banks off the point are so good right now,’ said South African Junior Surfing Team member Tanika Hoffman (Cape Town) after her four hour session, ‘when the swell comes I think the surf is going to be all-time and I’m really looking forward to the Roxy Invitational.’

Hoffman is one of the nine South African and two Reunion surfers that have been invited to contest the 2009 Roxy Invitational, one of the most popular events on the South African surfing calendar. Other surfers include defending champion and world tour stalwart Heather Clark (Port Shepstone), upstarts Sarah Baum (Durban) and Bianca Buitendag (George) and reigning Roxy Wahine Cup champion Tarryn Chudleigh (Cape Town).

With the contest called off today, the girls took the opportunity to take in the local culture, visiting the Ponta d’Ouro market and embracing the local culture and people. The afternoon was then spent relaxing in the traditional reed hut accommodation at Dolphin Encounters, where the girls watched DVDs on their laptops, played one-bounce on the beach, and took turns massaging stiff muscles after the morning surf.

The Roxy Invitational is one of South African surfing’s most popular events, and will see ten of South Africa’s top female surfers and two surfers from Reunion compete for R15,000 in prize money and the illustrious title. The Roxy Invitational has a one week waiting period and will be contested in the best possible conditions at Ponta d’Ouro between 4 and 11 May. At this stage the forecast is looking most promising for the competition to take place on either Friday 8 May, or Saturday 9 May, but as guru surf forecaster Steve Pike keeps the contest directors informed so decisions will be made.