Teal seals U17 SA surf title
uMhlanga surfer seals her third SA junior title in Jeffreys Bay.
FOR years scientists have tried to work out what would happen when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. But they have treated the subjects as two different phenomenon. Suppose instead that one person encompassed both these things. This is true for uMhlanga’s Teal Grace Hogg who clinched her second U17 title at the Hurley SA Junior Champs in Jeffreys Bay thus becoming an unstoppable force. Out on the three to four foot waves she was the immovable object, tactically planning her strategy and not letting her competitors ahead of her. Incredibly this is her 3rd succession of KZN champion title and second springbok capping.
The defending champ battled it out with Border’s Anoush Zakarian in the final of the competition.
“I was so stoked with the win. It was the perfect way to end my 6th consecutive junior year representing KZN and as girl captain for my team. Going into the competition my goal was to defend my title,” she said.
The Crawford College North Coast pupil also represented South Africa earlier this year finishing 16th at the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships in Ecuador.
Following her win, the 16-year-old surfing superstar will now represent SA at the ISA world junior surfing championships next year.
“I’m going to try and improve and finish higher. I’ve been working really hard this year with my surf coach, Quintin Jones, and trying out new training techniques including MMA with trainer Neil Diesel. I also got to travel overseas competing in the Swatch Girls Pro in France and the Pantin Classic Galica Pro in Spain. I gained so much experience and definitely made me realise I want this dream so much more,” she enthused.
Teal and Sophie Bell were KwaZulu-Natal Central (KZNC) team’s shinning lights winning two of the six individual titles that were up for grab. The team also provided eight of the 24 finalists, earning 29 450 points to finish well ahead of hosts Eastern Province and claim the coveted Freedom Cup.
Freedom Cup (Provincial team points)
1. KZNC 29 450 points
2. EP 26 612 points
3. WP 26 202 points
