Excitement is mounting with the Tidy Towns SA Masters Championships presented by Ugu Surfriders about to get under way, at the natural surfing amphitheatre that is St Michaels on Sea.
Surfers over the age of 35 from all over the South African coastline, representing seven districts, will descend on St Mike’s, ready to battle it out in the waves for the various South African titles on offer.
A strong local contingent will represent the host district and be striving for top honours, as well as the overall team title, but will have their work cut out for them with defending champions Buffalo City Surf riders looking to repeat their 2021 performance.
The talented Ugu team is captained by multiple SA champion and highly experienced Gary van Wierengen.
This team includes many accomplished surfers, it would be remiss not to mention the local star and most successful female surfer in South African history, Heather Clark, who will be vying for yet another SA title to add to her ever growing collection.
Other high profile surfers include Justin Maisch, Carl Roux, Calvin Moore, Gavin Roberts and former world tour competitor Royden Bryson.
“We are so excited to welcome South Africa’s best Masters to our beautiful South Coast,” said Botha. “It is going to be a big milestone for Ugu Surfriders as we celebrate our 50th year as a surfing association. It has been great to have Tidy Towns Shelly to Margate come on board as the title sponsor and put together what is set to be an amazing surfing championships, they really have gone above and beyond to ensure that everything is in place and taken care of in the build-up, massive thanks to Reg Horne (an Ugu Surf team member) and his team for all their efforts.”
“I must also commend my committee at Ugu Surfriders on all the ground work done over the years making Ugu Surf riders what it is today, that Surfing South Africa would deem us worth of hosting. Event secretary and vice-chairman of Ugu, Claudia Attfield has done an incredible job working closely with the sponsors and her subcommittee to ensure we put on a world class event,” said chairman Wade Botha.
The action will get under way with the opening ceremony at St Mike’s on Friday, August 5 at 19:00.
The surfing action kicked off on Saturday (6th) at 07:30.
