Team Red surfer Greg Emslie began the month of April in style when he won the 2012 Buccaneers Surf Classic in perfect conditions at East London’s Eastern Beach on Sunday, proving that at the ripe old age of 36 he remains one of the top surfers in South Africa.

Emslie, who received a cheque for R2500 at the opening function of the event as the Pro Surf Tour champion for 2011, added R12000 to this as he pocketed the winner’s purse in the home grown 4A SSA Pro Surf Tour (PST) contest.

Top Kommetjie surfer Michael February will return to Cape Town R4800 richer courtesy of his deserved second place while Beyrick de Vries of Umhlanga pocketed R3000 for third place and Durban’s Chad du Toit took fourth place and won R2600.

A top class field produced some phenomenal surfing on Day two of the event taking full advantage of perfect offshore winds and 4 – 6 foot Eastern Beach barrels. Locals reckoned that the Eastern Beach produced some of the best East London surf in five years for the final day of the event and, when the waves are good, contests run like clockwork.

The Buccaneers Surf Classic has been part of the Border Surfriders calendar for over 10 years and although there was much at stake in the PST part of the event there was plenty to surf for in the local divisions.

SA Masters team member Andre Malherbe won the Open Division and Gareth Sepp won the Plate section of the Open Division. Jethro Johnson won the Over 30 final, Andre Malherbe added the Over 40 title to his haul of accolades and Dave Fish won the Over 50 title.

Full results of the R40,000 4A Rated Buccaneers Surf Classic and photos from the final day are posted on www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za