CONGRATULATIONS TO DAVEY VAN ZYL, NIKITA KEKANA AND MICAELA VENTER WHO ARE ALL OFF TO REUNION!!

2010 Reunion South Africa Surf Challenge
Saint Leu, Reunion Island
Wednesday, August 4, 2010

South African Junior Invitation Team to compete in Reunion in October named

Twelve surfers, a coach, judge and manager have been selected to compete in an international surfing contest in Reunion Island from October 14-16.

The SA Junior Invitation team is made up of surfers whose contest performances have impressed the national selectors over the last twelve months.

Heading the group is talented Jeffreys Bay surfer Bertie Stuurman who, along with SA Championship runner up Alice McGregor of East London, will surf in the U20 Boys and Girls Divisions respectively.

Jacob Mellish of Somerset West, the reserve for the Under 18 Division of the 2010 SA Junior surfing team, gets his chance to compete internationally along with ISA Scholarship recipient Papi Makinyane of Delft and top Durban surfer David Van Zyl.

The three Under 18 girls are 2010 SA Junior team reserve Holly Armstrong of Scarborough, fellow WP surfer Sabrina Scott of Glencairn and up and coming Nikita Kekana of Durban.

SA Grommet Games U16 Boys champion, Marshall Renz of Jeffreys Bay, will be joined by SSA Scholarship recipient Brandon Benjamin of Retreat while the U16 girls are SA Grommet Games winner Micaela Venter of Durban and talented Emma Smith of Jeffreys Bay.

Eastern Province Surfing Council stalwart Brian Abrahams has been appointed Manager, WP’s Craig Johnson will coach the team and Grant Arendse of Strandfontein will accompany the group as a Judge.

The tour by the SA Invitation Team is both a competitive visit to the volcanic island as well as a reciprocal cultural exchange. A group of surfers from Reunion visited Cape Town and Durban last year, competing in two separate events and staying with South African families.

The project is a Surfing South Africa talent identification initiative and is supported by funding from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund.

Surfing South Africa is the governing body for the sport and is recognized by Sport and Recreation SA (SRSA). SSA is a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA). All South African teams are chosen by selection committees appointed by the Board of Directors of Surfing South Africa.