DURBAN North resident and longboarder Sam Christianson was crowned the winner of the Open Men’s division at the recent South African Longboard Championships presented by Ryd.
The event, which was sanctioned by Surfing South Africa (SSA), was held at Seal Point, Cape St Francis.
Incredibly, Christianson, who represented KwaZulu-Natal, claimed his fourth consecutive national Longboard title.
The talented longboarder now holds four SA senior titles and a junior SA title.
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Speaking to Northglen News following his victory, Christianson said he was thrilled with the results as he also scored a perfect 10 in the final round.
“It’s a great feeling; I’m really happy with my performance. It’s a big confidence boost going into the third event of the World Surf League (WSL) event coming up at the end of this month. This year was the 10-year anniversary of me competing in the SA Longboard Champs, and I really wanted to win the title. I’m going to keep this streak going now for as long as I can. Longboarding has given me some amazing opportunities, both locally and abroad. Over the years, I’ve gained more experience which has resulted in me being better prepared for events and performing at a higher level,” he said.
He also thanked his family for their support in his career.
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“My family and friends have played a pivotal role in getting me to where I am today. Their support motivates me to keep pushing and improving in and out of the water.”
Earlier this year, Christianson qualified for the WSL World Longboard Tour after he won the eThekwini Surf Pro qualifying event.
“I’ve competed in two events so far: The first was at Bells Beach in Australia and the second was the US Open at Huntington Beach in California. I finished ninth in both those events, and I’m currently in 12th position on the world tour. I’m striving for a big result for the third event later this month,” he said.
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