2009 South Coast Surf Carnival
All of South Africa’s hottest up and coming young surfing talent is gathered in the KwaZulu-Natal town of Scottburgh this weekend for the seventh annual South Coast Surf Carnival. The event has grown to become one of the province’s premier water sports events dedicated to longboarding, Kitesurfing, Stand-up-paddleboarding, and, for the first time this year, kayak fishing.
The event will see South Africa’s current junior longboarding champion Scott Lefevre from Umhlanga vying to snap up yet another title. He will have to contend with Kane Bennewith and Jago England, both from Durban.
Bryce Rawlings from Umhlanga will also be there to defend his junior kitesurfing title. The kitesurfing component of the carnival is the longest running kitesurfing event in South Africa and will take place at Scottburgh’s main beach in front of the Cutty Sark Hotel.
Apart from the contest part of the Carnival, there will also be surfing lessons provided by uShaka Surf and Adventures. The clinics are open to everyone who want to learn how to surf. There will also be Stand-up-paddleboarding in the lagoon. The clinics will be run by qualified instructors and is great for helping novice surfers who wish to find their feet on the water.
The event kicks off tomorrow, 7 November and runs through Sunday, the 8th.
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Top Contenders Ready for South Coast Surf Carnival
The South Coast Surf Carnival presented by Jeep Apparel and the Independent on Saturday, which kicks off in just over 2 weeks at Scottburgh’s main beach, promises to be an explosive event with many hot contenders contesting some of the newest and most progressive watersport events. With three exciting surf disciplines on display, and with over R30 000 in cash and product up for grabs, KwaZulu Natal’s South Coast is set to sizzle between 1-2 November.
Along with the well established disciplines of longboarding and kitesurfing, spectators will witness history in the making with the first ever Stand Up Paddleboarding division to be held in South Africa.
In the SALSA (South African Longboard Surfing Association) sanctioned Premier open division, the absence of Matthew Moir (Cape Town), who is a dominating force in the sport, has left the door wide open. Last year’s
finalists Brad Trickett and Donald Brierley are obvious contenders, although previous SCSC champ Dylan Macleod (PE) is also in the running. Jason Ribbink (Durban), who was runner up last year, will be looking to be the first KZN surfer to take this event since 2005. Capetonian William Wallace also fancies his chances and has the ability and experience to take this title.
Early indications are that the over 35 division will also be close battle, with defending SCSC 2007 masters champion Brendan Callaghan looking to defend his title against hopefuls Grant Gilmour () and Greg Smith (PE). Last year’s over 50 division champion Mike Larmont will be back to defend his title, as will Nikki Trickett, who won the Ladies longboarding division. Contestants in all divisions will be vying for a share of the R11 500 cash up for grabs, as well as fantastic product prizes and accommodation prizes for contestants entering next years SA Longboard Champs in Jeffrey’s Bay.
Although this revitalized traditional Hawaiian sport is a new addition to the local surfing scene, the Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) division will be no walk over, judging by the increasing number of paddleboarders perfecting their abilities at Durban’s beaches. Jason Ribbink, pioneered the SUP movement in South Africa , is an obvious early favourite. Another Ribbink, Jason’s brother Brandon, will also be fighting it out for the prestigious first ever SUP title in South Africa as well as the main prize of a BILT SUP valued at R12 500.
Other Standouts in this division will be Alwin van Breda, Donald Brierley and Gavin Spowart.
The kitesurfing component of the carnival, which is the longest running kitesurfing event in the country, comprises of a mens open, ladies and junior divisions. In the mens division, last years runner up Gavin Spowart (Westville) will be looking to go one better and take on last years Champion Rob Chrystal, although he will have also have to deal with Alwin van Breda (La Lucia), Jason Wright (Ballito) and Dave Pons (Umhlanga) who are all in with a realistic chance of scooping the title and the many fantastic prizes on offer.
Paul Godwin, of event organizers Nerve Events, “is once again thrilled to be able to put on this event in its 6th year, it is the longest running kitesurfing event in the country, the only professional longboard event and is now the first ever Stand Up Paddleboarding event”. Godwin rates Scottburgh Beach highly, as it “is an amazing arena for this event. We are looking forward to an awesome event with South Africa’s top competitors in each discipline already hard at work practising for this unique event”.
Over and above the contest action there will be surfing lessons provided by uShaka Surf and Adventures as well as a very safe and protected bathing area for the public. The organizers welcome everyone to come on down and enjoy the event. Several experts in the various disciplines will be on hand to offer advice to aspiring enthusiasts.
The South Coast Surf Carnival is sponsored by Tourism South Coast, Jeep Apparel and Independent on Saturday. Contributing sponsors to the event are Pick’ n Pay Scottburgh, Bilt Surfboards, Thermo Plastic Concepts & Equipment (TCE), Maisch Fins, Pro Class Wetsuits, Nestle Pure Life Water, Komunity
Project, Natural Curve surfboards, Bokomo, Cyclone kiteboarding, Ocean 2 Air kiteboarding, uShaka Surf and Adventures and African Surf Rider Magazine, Phatboyz.
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South Coast Surf Carnival Only Three Weeks Away!
With only three weeks to go, the countdown has begun for the Zulu Kingdom’s only dedicated wave riding festival. Organisers of the biggest Open Longboard and Kitesurfing event in South Africa are watching the weather patterns with glee as Scottburgh beach and its sand banks are being reshaped and moulded to hold the classic right hand waves which Scottburgh is internationally renowned for.
“With the recent rain and storm damage earlier in the year the face of Scottburgh beach has continually changed but the beach is starting to look like its old self again and this is good news for the surfing fraternity and the big guns who will be competing in this year’s SOUTH COAST SURF CARNIVAL presented by Jeep Apparel and the Independent on Saturday,” comented event organiser Paul Godwin of Nerve Events.
The much anticipated water extravaganza takes place on the 1st and 2nd of November at Scottburgh beach where the heavyweights will do battle for generous prizes in the Longboarding, Kitesurfing and Stand up Paddleboarding event which boasts over R30 000 in cash and product.
For the first time the traditional Hawaiian sport of Paddleboarding will also be contested. This sport is growing around the country and organizers expect to see South Africa’s top professional surfers taking part in this discipline. Stand-up Paddleboarding is a traditional form of surfing which has been revitalized around the world and now brought to South Africa by big wave surfer and Bilt Surfboards Jason Ribbink (Durban). Other “SUP” riders to look out for who have been practising feverishly for this event are Alwin van Breda (La Lucia), Jason Wright (Ballitto), Gavin Spowart (Westville) and Brandon Ribbink (Berea); another favourite to take this event is Donald Brierley (Durban)
The who’s who of SA longboarding will be in attendance in the SALSA (South African Longboard Surfing Association) sanctioned premier division starting with Jason Ribbink and his brother Brandon (Dbn). Other top contenders doing battle for the title will be Dylan Macleod (Port Elizabeth) ,William Wallace (Cape Town) and last years finalists Donald Brierley (Durban) and Brad Trickett (Durban) to name a few. This event has never been won by a KZN surfer and the local boys will be throwing down the gauntlet to the visitors. Contest Director for this years event is local legend and sponsor Hugh Thompson of Natural Curve Longboards.
The event will also feature an over 35 division and last year’s champion Brendan Callaghan will be looking for the double. Callaghan will face formidable competition in the form of multiple SA Champions Grant Gilmour (Dbn) and Craig Daniel (Bluff) to name a few. There will also be a ladies division with defending champion Nikki Trickett (Berea), Lisa Smith (Sherwood), Jessica Lefevre (Umhlanga), Nicole O’Driscoll (Dbn North) and longboard newcomer Traci-Lee Phillips (Durban). The over 50 division will also be a strongly contested division with big Durban names such as Mike Patterson, Mike Larmont and Attie van de Pas in the mix.
Kitesurfing will take place at Scottburgh Main beach in front of the Cutty Sark Hotel. This sport is an absolute spectacle to behold when a myriad of kites brighten up the sky and the action is guaranteed to be red hot. This event will see the likes of Rob Chrystal (Umhlanga), Gavin Spowart (Westville), Alwin van Breda (La Lucia), Jason Wright (Ballito), Dave Pons (Umhlanga) and Bryn James (PMB) powering up. As per 2007 the event will be run as a wave riding event were the judging will be based on wave riding ability combined with risky moves.
The experts will also be on hand to give tips to novices or interested members of the public who will also be able to try their hand at the sport.
Over and above the contest action uShaka Surf and Adventures will be conducting surfing clinics The organizers welcome everyone to come on down and enjoy the event. Several experts in the various disciplines will be on hand to offer advice to aspiring enthusiasts.
The South Coast Surf Carnival is sponsored by Tourism South Coast, Jeep Apparel and Independent on Saturday. Contributing sponsors to the event are Pick’ n Pay Scottburgh, Bilt Surfboards, Thermo Plastic Concepts & Equipment (TCE), Maisch Fins, Pro Class Wetsuits, Nestle Pure Life Water, Komunity Project, Natural Curve surfboards, Bokomo, Cyclone kiteboarding, Ocean 2 Air kiteboarding, uShaka Surf and Adventures, African Surf Rider Magazine and Southern Comfort Jeffreys Bay Accommodation.
Scottburgh has first class facilities with great restaurants offering fantastic sea views and a waterslide; there are also curio sellers in the vicinity and fast food outlets. Come and visit the Kingdom of the Zulu!
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