Silver lining for bodyboarder
Steven Waites claims second prize at the SA bodyboarding championships.
THERE is a bite of freshness in the air, dispelled occasionally by a patch of sun moving through the clouds and the surf is small, vestiges of an early morning swell. For Durban North resident and bodyboarder, Steven Waites, the conditions are perfect. The Durban High School Grade 9 pupil recently won silver (boys’ division) at the South African Bodyboarding Championships held in Mossel Bay.
Steven, who represents Central KwaZulu-Natal (CKZN), said he was absolutely stoked with his performances. “It was my first SA champs and I had set myself the goal of making the quarter finals. The contest was held in outer pool with waves averaging two feet during the week before the big swell arrived and as the competition progressed, so did my bodyboarding. I really wasn’t expecting to place anywhere so I was ecstatic with the silver,” he said. Steven lost out on the gold medal by just 0.3 score to Southern Cape bodyboarder, Jaco Calitz.
The contest which featured over 160 of South Africa’s best bodyboarders in the respective divisions, saw Central KZN win the provincial Fishman Trophy. Incredibly for Steven, the boys’ division was previously won by his brothers, Adam and Robbie.
“There wasn’t any pressure on me to win gold. I was aware that both my brothers had won the boys’ division title previously but it wasn’t weighing on my mind. It was just fantastic to be part of my first SA champs and I’m really proud of the team,” he said.
