Buffalo City is gearing up to showcase South Africa’s surfing talent at the annual National Championships taking place from next week at Nahoon Reef.
More than 200 surfers and officials will descend on East London for the 2017 Mercedes Benz South Africa Surfing Championships hosted by Buffalo City Municipality.
The Championship is billed as the premier event on the Surfing South Africa calendar and features surfers in the Open Men’s and Women’s Divisions as well seven other age groups ranging from Over 30 to Over 60.
“This year Surfing South Africa celebrates the 52nd edition of the South African Championships making it one of the longest running surfing tournaments in the World,” according to a statement from Surfing South Africa.
Greg Emslie (pictured) will be defending his SA Open Men's title.
Surfing South Africa said The Championship will also serve as preparation for the National Team for Surfing’s inclusion in the 2020 Olympics in Japan.
“The 2017 South African Championships will feature over 160 surfers from eight Districts who will be competing for nine individual South African titles.”
Adding prestige to the event is the news that current World Big Wave Champion, Grant “Twiggy” Baker will be representing eThekweni in the Over 40 Division while World Masters Champion and five time South African Men’s Champion Greg Emslie will be back to defend his title, this time at his local surf spot.
He will also be competing in the Over 40 Division, the same group as Twiggy Baker.
Chris Knutsen of eThekweni, a five-time World Champion and four-time South African Champion, will be competing in the Over 55 Division while former World Tour campaigner, ISA World Masters Champion and eight-time South African Champion Heather Clark of Ugu Surfriders, will be hoping to add at a ninth title to her list of achievements.
Twenty-four current and former National Team members are competing while six of the nine 2016 South African Champions are back to defend their titles.
There are six World Champions turning out for their Districts at this year’s Championships along with some well-known provincial and district surfing stars.
Surfers representing Districts from along the South African coast will contest 11 divisions from Under 20 to Over 60 and will compete in a total of 140 heats.
The 126 heats make up 47 hours of competition which will be completed over six days of intense competition. Individual titles will be at stake in nine divisions and surfers scores will be allocated to their District totals to determine which Team will win the 45-year-old Presidents Cup and the Masters Cup. This year all the points from the Open Divisions and Masters divisions will be combined to determine the winners of the inaugural Champions Cup.
The 2016 Presidents Cup was won by Cape Town Surfriders and at Seal Point in 2016 the Buffalo City Surfriders team secured their 11th Masters Cup. These events were held separately in 2016.
To commemorate the memory of a much-loved President of the Buffalo City Surfriders, Surfing South Africa has introduced the Dave Fish Trophy which will be awarded to the most consistent surfer throughout the event. Dave Fish passed away just days before last year’s SA Masters Championships.
(Statement: Surfing South Africa)
Image: uThungulu Surfriding
