Surfs up in Richards Bay!
224 surfers were welcomed at the opening ceremony of the Citroen SA Surfing Champs last night.
IT’S all systems go for the 50th SA Surfing Champs, with the first of 150 heats contested at Alkantstrand at 8am this morning.
Featuring the country’s best board riders, the event will climax on Sunday, when finals will determine the winners in 11 divisions.
Sponsored by Citroen and hosted by uThungulu Surfriders, the 224 title chasers were warmly welcomed at a reception held at the Zululand Multi Sport Club on Sunday evening.
City of uMhlathuze Mayor, Cllr Mdu Mhlongo set the tone with a sparkling speech that left no doubts as to his pride in the region’s sports tourism potential and his bias towards the local competitors.
‘Thank you for choosing us to host this auspicious contest – first for Zululand and a dream come true for the local organisers.
‘We are a city with plenty of ambition and of course your presence is also good for our economy
‘Sport plays a huge role in bringing people together and giving youngsters opportunities they otherwise would never have,’ said Mhlongo.
History in the making
General Manager of Surfing South Africa (SSA), Robin de Kock said this year’s event was ‘the biggest SA surfing champs in history’.
‘Besides being the 50th, we have the most competitors, the most divisions and the most heats ever.
‘But I want to stress that our being here in Richards Bay was not an arbitrary decision; it came about because of the tremendous impression uThungulu Surfriders Chairman Anton Knoetze made in pitching the venue to the SSA national committee.
‘Not only did his presentation succeed in getting the SA Masters approved, he got the entire championship.
‘Coupled to that is the great work Kenneth Hodgson did in persuading Citroen SA to be name sponsor.’
In response, Hodgson said all provinces should ‘raise the bar’ for amateur surfing to flourish, through better organisation and improved sponsorship.
Meanwhile, the surfers will be hoping conditions during the week will match those of Sunday, when super low tide conditions brought waves worthy of the prestigious event.
CLICK here to see the programme of heats at the SA Surfing Champs.
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