KZN team takes on SA bodyboarding champs

THE Central KwaZulu-Natal Bodyboarding team will take part in the SA champs from 6 to 10 October.

The team is a humble group of athletes, made up of people aged between 11 and 56, from all kinds of backgrounds, competing on a national level.

This year the team is facing the task of obtaining its 23rd South African title. It has won a collective 22 South African team titles, considerably more than any other province.

According to captain, Michael Ostler, this year the team is very “new”.

“From a captain's perspective, this is always a good sign in firstly the growth of our sport but it's also amazing to watch kids grow and accomplish things they never saw possible. This year we are going down to Port Alfred to compete. After a very intense training programme over the last two months, I'm confident in their ability and focus in taking home another team title and personal SA titles as well,” he said.

Team rider Alex Nutt has SA titles under his belt already. Representing Central KZN for the second year running and a potential career in the sport only points to good things for Alex and the team. He is competing side by side with fellow team riders Liam Kavanagh and Tyler Cronje who are newcomers and hungry for a title.

“I personally have seen these guys come up through the ranks and I'm over the moon with the passion and dedication they have shown,” said Michael.

The Grand Masters, Mike Van Huyssteen and Sean Muller are both Veterans in the sport. Mike, the South African Bodyboarding Association's chairman, was Michael's personal mentor in his rookie year in the team.

“The list of newcomers is something I am proud to be apart of. I know how hard these guys have worked to join the old faces in the team. We are feeling confident and I'm positive in what this team as a unit can achieve,” he said.

The team has a strong a development programme giving opportunity to those less fortunate, and has a great school league structure in place.

“Run by a dedicated committee, the non-profit organisation is build around our shared passion for the sport of bodyboarding and the healthy lifestyle it promotes. I'm speaking from experience when I say the lifestyle the sport promotes has saved people from walking paths best not spoken about. So we are proud to be behind the boys and girls in our programme and are passionate about their future,” said Michael.