Three Saffas Among ISA Scholarship Recipients
The International Surfing Association recently announced the forty recipients of its 2009 ISA Individual Scholarship Programme, and three South Africans are among them.
The lucky Saffas are Brandon Benjamin, Bright Ntuli and Khaye Ngcobo. Congrats to them all!
This is the third consecutive year that the ISA is presenting the Scholarship Programme. It began in 2007 with only five grants awarded. Within one year, it had expanded to 20 scholarships. This year, the ISA has increased the programme by 100%, issuing 40 scholarships to Under 18 junior surfers from 22 countries. They received over 80 applications from 24 countries for this year’s programme.
All the recipients made the cut to become ISA Surfing Ambassadors in their respective countries, because they are inspirational human beings, great surfers and students who want to succeed in surfing and school.
Before announcing the winners, ISA President Fernando Aguerre said: “I believe the Scholarship is a huge step forward by the ISA in areas of the world where we can’t do enough. Together, we are supporting the dreams and hopes of good students who are also good surfers. We went from five to 40 scholarships in three years and we´re hoping to reach 100 in a couple of years.”
The ISA is able to provide scholarships due to the generous support from Billabong, Quiksilver Foundation, Reef Redemption and Global Surf Industries, Inc.
The 2009 ISA Scholarship recipients from other countries are:
Brian Masmut –Argentina
Martín Carricart –Argentina
Joaquín Castanon –Argentina
Dominic Reisch –Australia
Amiya Doyle – Australia
Ametza Nicholls –Barbados
Jade Niccolls –Barbados
Henry Rivera Hidalgo -Guatemala
Jordan Heaselgrave –Barbados
Cristian Rivera –Puerto Rico
James Philips – Trinidad
Victor Bernardo –Brazil
Isaac Norman –Canada
Tomás Villegas –Chile
Camilo Hernández –Chile
Manuel Mesen –Costa Rica
Alberto Muñoz –Costa Rica
Carlos Muñoz –Costa Rica
Roberto Rodriguez –Ecuador
Brandon García –Guatemala
Freddy Morales –Guatemala
Garren Pryce –Jamaica
Leon McKenzie –Jamaica
Nao Omura –Japan
Arashi Kato –Japan
Aman Ashraf –Maldives
Itzel García –Mexico
Jayda Martin Fitzharris – New Zealand
Joaquín del Castillo – Perú
Juninho Urcia – Perú
Miguel Tudela – Perú
Pedro Alcobia –Portugal
Lucía Martino –Spain
Darío Jordan –Trinidad
Federico Longo –Uruguay
Christian Arballo –USA
Demi Boelsteri –USA
Remember these names. We’re almost certain that there are a few future surfing champions among them!
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Lizzard Nando’s Surf Pro Returns to North Beach
The seventh edition of the Lizzard Nando’s Surf Pro, again a 1* WQS rated event, will take place at Durban’s North Beach between 15 and 17 May 2009. With R100 000 in prize money up for grabs, as well as 250 WQS points for the winner, South Africa’s top international surfers will need no invitation to battle it out.
Mike Frew, Lizzard’s Marketing Manager, says “Lizzard is stoked to once again be able to put on a WQS rated surf event together with Nandos”. Frew is hopeful that the event will see South Africa’s top surfers performing in quality waves as “the month of May sees early winter swells and consistent offshore winds making it prime season for waves in Durban.”
North Beach has become a favourite venue for this event, and Frew says this is because “the natural amphitheatre of North beach means spectators can get a good look at some world class surfing.”
The Lizzard Nandos Pro occurs just after a big WQS event in Scotland, and just before another in the Maldives, which means that most of South Africa’s top surfers will be in the country.
Early favourites for the event include surfers such as Travis Logie, Royden Bryson and Ricky Basnett, as they are all top WCT competitors trying to get back onto the Championship tour. South Coast charger and Lizzard sponsored rider Gavin Roberts will be hoping that his experience as a former WQS campaigner will give him an edge. Antonio Bortoletto, who is arguably one of the most talented surfers in Durban’s waters, will also be a threat due to his intimate knowledge of the conditions at North Beach.
Other Lizzard riders who will be hoping to shine in their sponsor’s title event include Klee Strachan (Warner Beach), Shawn Dennis (Durban), Jacob Mellish (Somerset West), Dave Richards (Kommetjie), Matt Pallet (Durban) and Mark Shepperson (Umdloti).
For more information on the contest, Lizzard products, team riders and more
check out Lizzard Surf’s website. During the event, the site will feature videos, heat scores, results, pictures and news uploaded directly from the Lizzard site office at North Beach. Co-sponsors for the event are Bokomo, Nestle Pure Life Water and Bavaria. The entire event will be organised by Nerve Events.
About Lizzard: Established in 1991, Lizzard is a clothing, accessories and footwear brand with roots in authentic surf culture. From offices in Durban (South Africa) and Burleigh Heads (Australia), products are distributed to 27 countries globally. Lizzard supports independent and core retailers. Lizzardsurf.net showcases the latest ranges, making it easy to find products and to locate the nearest stores or distributors worldwide.
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Vodacom Easter Adrenaline Relocating to Margate
The hugely popular annual Vodacom Easter Adrenaline, scheduled to take place from 10 – 13 April this year, has been relocated to Margate Main Beach.
As one of the most frequented tourist destinations on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, Margate will certainly benefit from this high profile event. The festival is jam-packed with loads of exciting events, including Freestyle Motocross, Jet Ski exhibitions, touch rugby, beach soccer and beach volleyball.
Alberts Breed, Managing Executive of Vodacom KZN, believes that the change of venue for this year’s Vodacom-sponsored festival will “expose a whole new audience to the variety of high octane sports, and with the competitors having to adapt to the local conditions, it’s bound to be an exciting event.”
He says the change of scenery “also allows a much greater involvement by Vodacom and the event partners into the local community and economy, as an event the size and profile of the Vodacom Easter Adrenaline will stimulate the local economy enormously through the increased tourism revenue.”
“As the event sponsors, we are extremely excited about this fantastic opportunity to showcase this event to a new audience,” says Breed.
Other crowd-pleasing and exciting events at this year’s Vodacom Easter Adrenaline include Brian Capper Extreme Riding, a bikini glamour event, numerous stage activities, and an exciting Vodacom Paddle Challenge.
There will also be a Vodacom Ocean Experience clinic, which will teach ocean safety and awareness, as well as surfing, to the public free of charge.
Vodacom Rescue Demonstrations, featuring the latest marine safety craft and rescue methods, will also educate the public further on how to have an enjoyable yet safe time at the beach.
“Margate celebrates its centenary this year and it is fitting that a prestigious event of this nature should be hosted over one of our busiest weekends to form a part of this important celebration,” says Vicky Wentzel
of Wozani Africa Events. Wozani hopes to attract more events of this nature to the South Coast district.
According to Michael Bertram, CEO of UGU South Coast Tourism, Margate, like most South Coast towns, relies on tourism to drive the economy. “The stimulation of these areas through increased exposure in both regional and national media, as well as both local and inland visitors, will raise the profile of the entire area.”
Beachgoers will not be disappointed, says Bertram, as “Margate has worked extremely hard at developing itself as a holiday venue of choice for tens of thousands of people, and invested heavily in its infrastructure and services.”
“Our sponsors, Vodacom and the KZN Department of Transport, should be commended for ensuring that Margate Beach will be buzzing this Easter.”
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Jordy Takes Top Spot in Tazzy
Jordy Smith has beaten Damien Hobgood to win the first ever O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series event at Bluff Reef in Marrawah, Tasmania, Australia.
Battling 8-foot swells and offshore winds, the two surfers skillfully displayed why they are at the top of the World Tour surfing ranks.
“It was good to get a win,” said Jordy. “It’s been a while. Damo’s been ripping this whole event. I looked up to him as a kid, so it’s great to be out there with one of your heroes.”
Despite Damien’s impressive second place performance, he admitted that he struggled. “I had needed to step it up. I just didn’t do it. It was hard for me. Sometimes I was really hanging on with my toes so hard. It’s a bit more bumpy out there than it looks for sure.”
On his way to the top, Jordy knocked out phenomenal talent like Australian Owen Wilson and Brazilian Jadson Andre.
Well done, Jordy! Our South African hearts are swelling with pride!
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Travis Logie Wins Down Under
South African surfing champion Travis Logie, widely regarded by his peers to one of the best small wave surfers, secured a victory in the Mark Richards Pro Surfing competition in Australia this past Sunday (22 March 2009) in what has been described as the ‘tightest of men’s finals in many years’.
“This is huge confidence boost. I’ve been training so hard so it’s good to see it pay off,” Logie said. “This is very prestigious event and I always come here. I am stoked to win at Newcastle. Mark Richards is a true icon of the sport of surfing and to win a trophy named in his honour is unbelievable,” he added.
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