ROBIN Lavery took the Surfer of the Year award at the recent Zululand Surfriders Association (ZSA) prize-giving function held at Freedom Surf.
The annual function started off with a surfing competition at Alkantstrand, followed by the awards function and braai to commemorate the year’s achievements.
There were some great scores coming through in the competition despite the weak conditions, with surfers managing to get the fins out on a number of occasions.
Standouts on the day were Liam de Villiers, a force to be reckoned with in his breakout year, Mike Frew making the trip from Durban, Micus Greef – great surfing to see him into the final – and Vaughan Weyer who blasted a few moves above the wave.
The ZSA had a good year as the local organisation continued rising in South African surfing.
This was recognised by the General Manger of Surfing South Africa, Robin de Kock, in a letter sent to the ZSA which was read out at the function.
De Kock praised the enthusiasm, ambition, camaraderie and team spirit of the most northerly part of their organisation and commended the achievements of Robin Lavery (winning an SA Masters Champion title), the development of Liam de Villiers and the impact that the current ZSA committee and those helping them are making to develop ZSA into a definite ‘pocket rocket’.
Awards
ZSA Surfer of the Year – Robin Lavery
Grommet Games Best Girl and Boy – Karisa Grace (girl) and Matthew Carmichael (boy)
Junior Surfer of the Year – Liam de Villiers (boy) and Michaela Smith (girl)
Men’s Surfer of the Year – Allan Johns
Ladies’ Surfer of the Year – Sarah Banwell
Men’s Masters Surfer of the Year – Robin Lavery
Ladies’ Masters Surfer of the Year – Taryn Adamson
Fred le Roux’s Coach Awards
Most Stoked Surfer – Bush Greeff and Calla Esterhuysen
Breakthrough Award – Liam de Villiers
Best Barrel Rider – Micus Greeff
Charger of the Year – Mike Frew
Most Improved – Jordan Dreyer.
