Local surfers welcomed Spring by braving the open waters for the Surf4Life Annual Surf Contest at Strand Beach Pipe on Saturday 1 September.
A total of 65 surfers took to the waters in the competition’s various categories to do battle for the crown of the popular tournament. The event, hosted by NPO Surf4Life, also featured 20 surfers from the organisation’s development clinic.
Penny Stemmet, Surf4Life founder, labelled the competition a success. “In the run up to the contest, swell reports were not looking promising, but we were pleasantly surprised on the day with great weather and waves for the contestants,” she said.
Surf4Life was established in 2011 to raise funds for the medical expenses of Taryn Pratt, a surfer from the Helderberg who lost her battle with cancer in December 2012. “Taryn and I shared a dream to teach underprivileged children to surf and water safety, and that is how Surf4Life was born,” Stemmet related.
Stemmet said that close to R20 000 was raised during this year’s contest, thanks to generous donations from local surfers and Vintners. “We appreciate all the support from all the contestants, their families and the sponsors involved,” she stated.
The sponsors were Rudi Schultz Wines, Reyneke Wines, Grangehurst Wines, Vintners Big Red, The Store, Downings Hiring, MAT, Hurricane, Scarfini Fins, Nixon, Globe, Son Surf, Oh Hello Coffee Shop and Sakkie van der Bosch.
In addition to the Surf4Life Annual Surf Contest, the organisation also hosts three fun competitions throughout the year for its development surfers, to introduce them to competitive surfing.