North Steyne’s Dayyan Neve has been crowned the 2016 Stowaway Pro Champion mastering small and tricky conditions at Sydney’s Freshwater Beach.

Neve dominated the Man on Man Final against Bondi’s Perth Standlick scoring an 8.83 and a 7.5 to put his opponent in a combination situation mid way thru the twenty minute Final. Standlick answered back with a 6.0 and a 5.9 but it wasn’t enough to break the combination resulting in Neve claiming victory in the Inaugural event.

Known to his friends as 'Box Body' due to his chunky frame, Neve didn’t think he was much of a chance when he turned up in the morning and saw the small conditions, “When I saw how small it was and with so many good surfers in the event I thought I was no chance of even making my first heat”, said Neve. “It was so good to compete with the priority system as I could concentrate on my surfing and not worry about hassling for waves, I got lucky in some heats being in the right position at the right time when the sets came.”

Neve couldn’t remember his last big win and was stoked to win in front of his family and friends, “Freshwater Beach has such a good vibe and it was great to have my family and mates at the beach during the day. In the Final I thought Perth was going to combo me but I combo’d him, I seriously can’t remember the last time I won an event like this”.

Neve had earlier pulled off a remarkable comeback against Curl Curl’s Harley Ross in Semi Final No.1, scoring a 6.33 in the last ten seconds to overcome the inform young gun. Ross was a standout throughout the earlier rounds taking down North Narrabeen’s Jordy Lawler in the Quarter Finals and the Central Coast’s Jamie Skillin in Round 2. During the Quarter final against Lawler, Ross posted the highest individual wave score of the day, a 9.07 to win a $900 G-Shock Watch.

Standlick looked the goods going into the Final after beating Wollongong Powerhouse Nic Squiers in Semi Final No.2, but couldn’t find any quality waves against Neve. “I couldn’t really get near a wave out there, every single wave came near Dayyan. It’s never fun losing”, said Standlick.

Squiers was happy with a Semi Final finish, “It was awesome competing at Freshwater, the home of Surfing in Australia”, said Squiers. “It seemed like rhythm was vital in my Semi Final and mid way through the Semi Perth found that rhythm and got back to back scoring rides to take the win. I am looking forward to the next event in a few weeks”.

2016 Stowaway Pro

• 1st – Dayyan Neve – North Steyne
• 2nd – Perth Standlick – Bondi
• 3rd – Nic Squiers – Wollongong
• 3rd – Harley Ross – Curl Curl
• 5th – Ryan Slattery – Toukley
• 5th – Jordy Lawler – North Narrabeen
• 5th – Kai Warner – North Narrabeen
• 5th – Shane Carroll – Avalon

Event No.4 of the Bacardi Surf Tour is scheduled for Sydney’s Dee Why Beach on Sunday 9th October, Deck Bar Dee Why Pro.
Each of the five events on the Bacardi Surf Tour will carry ratings points with the overall tour winner being decided on each surfers best four results. The tour winner will receive $2500 and prizes from Bacardi, G-Shock and Swellnet.
The 2016 Stowaway Pro is proudly supported by Bacardi, G-Shock and Swellnet. 
For all Bacardi Surf Tour information including Live Scores, Entry Forms, Heat Draws and Ratings visit www.globalsurftag.com
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