Umhlanga Surf Club celebrated 30 years of board action

Umhlanga Surf Club celebrated 30 years of board action by hosting the first of three Wave Wizzards events on Sunday, September 14.

Over 80 surfers, ranging in age from five to 55,took to the water in pristine, windless conditions at Umhlanga main beach. The relatively small waves made for an excellent competition as surfers had to really show off their skills to separate them from their rivals.

Shane Sykes from Salt Rock was in top form, winning the under 18 boys division and coming third in the open men’s division. Shane has showed remarkable progress in his surfing in the last few years and is touted as becoming one of the next big surfing names to come out of South Africa.

Jaco Kapp from Ballito won the 35 plus masters division, followed by Ryan Butcher from Umhlanga and Quintin Jones (Ballito). Kapp was also earlier selected as part of the KZN mens open surfing team to compete in the South African surfing championships to be held in Mossel Bay later in September.

The open mens category was won by Beyrick de Vries who is currently 25th in the World Surfing League standings. Second place went to Davey Van Zyl, with Shane Sykes rounding off the podium places.

Channelle Botha took the honours in the under 18 division, followed by Jade Mets and Olivia Brand, while Olivia Izzard finished first in the under 14 girls division ahead of Sophie Bell and Gabi Lailvaux.

With the next Wave Wizzards taking place on October 19, event organisers have urged all local surfers to get their boards waxed and ready!