Surfers amped for major Scottburgh contest

The inaugural Cutty Sark Pro surfing contest will take place in front of Scottburgh’s Premier Resort Cutty Sark this Saturday and Sunday (10th and 11th).

The event, which is presented by SMTH Shapes, forms part of the exciting Ocean Festival programme – in celebration of World Ocean Day (June 8).

Entries are now open for all surfers with R10 000 in prize money up for grabs!

The contest has already attracted some big-name surfers, and event organisers are also excited to welcome top local surfers, including the very accomplished Lepront siblings, Luc and Louise aka Lulu. Luc, who competed at the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Junior Championships last year, has an amazing surfing career ahead of him. Sister, Lulu recently won the Ladies Open division at the SA Champs, with both multiple award-winners at last year’s Sea Harvest SA Surfing Champs in Jeffreys Bay.

Durban-based NPO, Made for More, will also form an important part of the Cutty Sark Pro programme, with adaptive surfers competing in several heats. Made for More aims to include, empower, and equip people with disabilities through sport. Through their adaptive surf programme, many individuals have been instructed in water safety, life skills, and adaptive ways to bodyboard and surf.

“We’re hoping to attract surfers from all over to the inaugural Cutty Sark Pro,” said Gavin Roberts, Cutty Sark Pro Contest Director, and winner of the recent SA Masters title.

“Surfers are committed to ocean conservation, doing what we can to keep the ocean clean and healthy so we can get out there and do what we love!”

The venue for the Cutty Sark Pro is also a revival of the famous Cutty1000, a surf contest that was held annually on the South Coast. Also, after a 30-year hiatus, the event is set to be the relaunch for popular Durban-based surfwear brand, Instinct.

Established in 1979 by World Surfing Champion and South Africa’s own Shaun Tomson, Instinct was one of the most recognised surf brands in the 1980s. The brand has just made a major comeback with the release of its first Legacy launch range – with the Cutty Sark Pro its entry point. Instinct will be contributing 1% of all product sales to the 9Miles Foundation, an NPO that empowers underprivileged youth through surfing.

Ocean Festival founder, Russel Symcox, extended his thanks to sponsors of the Cutty Sark Pro for getting behind this important event.

“The surfing community is integral to ocean users and having them as a part of the world ocean day celebration is awesome,” he said.

“Having Shaun Tomson’s iconic Instinct surf brand choose the Cutty Sark Pro as the entry point is very exciting and we’re thrilled to have them back in the fold.”

“We’re also very excited about all the young Scottburgh talent doing such amazing things on the surf scene and we’re looking forward to watching the action during the ocean festival. To have the inclusion of the Made for More team, with their incredibly brave and talented adaptive surfers, will be such an inspirational programme addition.”

Special thanks have been extended to the Cutty Sark Pro sponsors SMTH Shapes, Premier Resort Cutty Sark, Halfway Toyota, and Instinct. This year’s beneficiaries will include Made for More, Skulls Surf Club, and Keep Scottburgh Beautiful.

Email ugusurfing@gmail.com or call 083 9654344 for details on the upcoming event.

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