KZN SURF CLUBS GO HEAD TO HEAD IN TAG TEAM EVENT

Dairy Beach played host to Durban Surfing Clubs on Sunday (March 21) in a unique tag team contest. Clubs from all corners of the KZN coast were in action hoping to take home the R1500 prizemoney on offer to the winners.

The event was a Surfing South Africa project supported by Sport and Recreation South Africa.

Eleven teams of five surfers which included a team from Umthombo Surf Club and a team from Sharon Ncongo’s surf school participated in the event.

Wave Wizards Surf Club in Umhlanga entered three teams, Northswell Surf Club from Central Durban entered two teams, Skulls Surf Club from Scottburgh entered two teams, and the Warner Boyz Surf Club from Warner Beach had one team entered.  Craig Bartholomew also entered a young team of boys from his Pro Surf School.

Conditions were not perfect with chest high, small sloppy waves and onshore NE winds.  However the weather was hot and the sea clean and warm, and surfing families enjoyed a good day at the beach supporting their surfing clubs.

There was a highly positive competitive atmosphere among the surfers during the event and the older more experienced surfers such as Simon Nicholson, Craig Butcher and current SA Champion Gavin Roberts were on hand to teach the younger surfers the ropes.

Head Judge Mark Maritz said “This was a great event and everyone really enjoyed the fun and friendly competitive rivalry between the clubs”. 

The Hurricane Wave Wizards Team dominated the event – winning all their heats throughout the day, and going on to win the final and pocket the big prize.

The team consisted of Kyle Lane who was last year’s winner of the Quiksilver Pro Junior, power surfer Beyrick de Vries, a finalist in the recent Quiksilver ISA World Junior Championships,Chris Leppan, Craig Butcher and Quintin Jones who consistently put safe scores on the board.

In second place was the Warner Boyz with power surfer Klee Strachan, Gary Van Weirengen, Wade Botha, Mikey Venter and Mark Maritz all posting good scores throughout the day.

The Wave Wizards Team Two came in third. Mark Shepperson was their power surfer, with Wade Simkiss, Ryan Butcher, Daniel de Sousa and Rein van de Wall making up the balance of the team.

Northswell Team One was fourth overall with Simon Nicholson as their power surfer and Matt Pallet, Josh Smit, Hilton Lawrence and Dylan Gouws in the team.

The day was fun and refreshing attracting plenty of club surfers and even a couple of surfers from the Cape in Matt Bromley and Nic Godfrey.  KZN Surfing Association plan to host more of these events as they bring the surfing community together in a relaxed, but competitive arena.

1^st:        Hurricane Wave Wizards – Kyle Lane, Beyrick de Vries, Chris Leppan, Craig Butcher & Quintin Jones

2^nd:       Warner Boyz – Gary Van Wieringen, Klee Strachan, Wade Botha, Mikey Venter, Mark Maritz

3^rd:       Wave Wizards 2 – Wade Simkiss, Mark Shepperson, Ryan Butcher, Daniel de Sousa, Rein van de Wall

4^th:       Northswell 1 – Matt Pallet, Simon Nicholson, Hilton Lawrence, Josh Smit, Dylan Gouws

WINNERS:

1^st:  HURRICANE – WAVE WIZARDS TEAM:  Kyle Lane, Beyrick de Vries, Chris Leppan, Craig Butcher and Quintin Jones

2^nd:  WARNER BOYZ – Gary Van Wierengen, Klee Strachan, Wade Botha, Mikey Venter & Mark Maritz

3^rd:  WAVE WIZARDS TEAM TWO:  Wade Simkiss, Mark Shepperson, Ryan Butcher, Daniel de Sousa, Rein Van de Wall

4^th:  NORTHSWELL TEAM ONE:  Matt Pallet, Simon Nicholson, Hilton Lawrence, Josh Smit, Dylan Gouws