SA champs crowned in adaptive surf event
"Every year the support grows from strength to strength and that just speaks to the amazing community we as Adaptive Surfing South Africa have built." - Julia van Zyl
THE ‘Build for Better’ South African Adaptive Surfing Championships took place at New Pier, Durban on Saturday, 18 May.
Julia van Zyl from charity Made for More, the organisers of the event, said the atmosphere and support on the beach was the best, biggest and warmest they’ve ever had for one of the competitions.
“We are so proud and in awe of the bravery, courage, commitment and talent of all the surfers and competitors in both the contest and the expression session. We crowned some new South African champions,” she said.
In the ASVI Men (Blind and Visually Impaired) division, Jared Sacks (Kommetjie, Western Cape) took first place, followed by Danito Mondlane (Durban), Sabelo Ngema (Glenwood) and Erynn Geddie (Glenwood). In the AS5 Men (Prone assist) division, the winner was Albert Rust (Middelburg, Mpumalanga), followed by Lwazi Matanga (Delft, Cape Town), and in the AS5 Women (Prone assist) division, the winner was Noluthando Makalima (Khayelitsha, Cape Town).
In the AS4 Men (Prone) division, the winner was Daniel Nel (Cape Town) and the AS4 Women (Prone) division winner was Tracy Mckay (Bluff), followed by Alulutho “Lulu” Tshoba (Durban).
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In the AS3 Men (Sit) division, Douglas Hendrikz (Kloof) was the winner, and in the AS2 Men (Kneel) division, top spot went to Anton Wiersma (Port Alfred, Eastern Cape), followed by Donovan Kanes (Simon’s Town, Western Cape), Tyler Pike (Cape Town, Western Cape) and Derick Sigwebela (Chatsworth).
In the AS1 Women (Stand), Darian Haynes (Hawaii) took the win, followed by Grace Anderson (Somerset West, Western Cape) and in the AS1 Men (Stand) division, Antony Smyth (Cape Town) took the title, followed by Jean-Paul Veaudry (East London).
The expression session is for first time and beginner surfers not quite ready for competition. Julia said when the expression session began, the crowd erupted and ran down to the water’s edge in celebration and support of these brave young men and women.
“The inexpressible and glorious joy experienced in the expression session was not of this world and something that will sit and resonate in people’s hearts for a very long time,” she said.
Derrick Mboyisa (Muizenberg, Cape Town) achieved the Best Wave, Thandi Muir (Durban) was awarded for Most Waves, Hayley Raman (New Germany) achieved Longest Ride, Amuri Mwanza (Durban) had the Biggest Wipeout, Mfundo Blose (New Germany) was awarded for Most Stoked.
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