- WSL / Alan Van Gysen
- WSL / Alan Van Gysen

Tanika Hoffman (ZAF) clinched the women's title at the inaugural Cape Town Pro presented by Quiksilver at Big Bay, Bloubergstrand on Sunday.

The first World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series QS1,000 rated women's event to be held in Cape Town since 1992, the Cape Town Pro presented competitors with the opportunity to earn priceless points on both the both the QS and WSL Africa regional rankings, along with a prize-purse R20000 (about US $1,300).

Faye Zoetmulder at the inaugural Cape Town Pro, Day 2. Faye Zoetmulder finished runner-up at the Cape Town Pro. - WSL / Alan Van Gysen

Hoffman emerged triumphant in the see-saw women's Final in which she and Faye Zoetmulder (ZAF) both delivered scores in the excellent range. The 23 year-old from Clifton in Cape Town took the lead with an 8.83 that left Zoetmulder needing an 8.60 for victory when the siren sounded.

"To be a winner in my home town is just great! I haven't won an event in so long and to win a WSL event and earn some points here is really an honour and so exciting," said Hoffman. "It was very well surfed final. Faye got a couple of really good waves while I played the patience game. Then I found a great little runner that let me do a couple of turns and gave me an eight, and Faye didn't find another good wave."

Zoetmulder, who like Hoffman has competed extensively on the QS circuit, was proud of the standard of women's surfing at an event in home surf.

"It was really good final with Tanika, we threw some good scores down. The waves were pretty tricky and it was challenging so to both be getting scores in the excellent range was really good," said Zoetmulder. "I used to surf the QS overseas and to have two events at home now and not have to travel is amazing. The girls are all competing, we are getting more entries and I'm stoked for the all the sponsors to be getting involved."

Hoffman pocketed R8 000 and 1 000 points for her victory with Zoetmulder collecting R4 000and 750 points. Nikita Robb (ZAF) and Tarryn Chudleigh (ZAF) finished equal third after losing to Hoffman and Zoetmulder in their respective Semifinal encounters.

The final day of the event got underway in glassy one metre waves, but a thick mist bank that rolled in after the semifinals put the event on hold for more than three hours before it was completed in brilliant sunshine and windless conditions.

The awards were presented by Anroux Marais, the Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, who is an aspiring surfer.

Find full results of the Cape Town Pro here.

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