Surfing Reunion in Salt Rock

South Africans won all four finals in the Reunion Island Challenge, hosted by Surfing South Africa, which was held in testing three foot onshore surf at Tiffany’s Reef in Salt Rock on Sunday, January 25.

The contest involved surfers from KZN, one from Jeffrey’s Bay and a group of surfers and bodyboarders from the St Leu Surf Club in Reunion Island.

South African team member and top KZN surfer from the North Coast, Shane Sykes, used his extensive local knowledge to win the combined U 18 and U 20 division, beating Reunion’s Mathis Poulot into second place.

The two surfers produced a great display of contest surfing in their final and were deservedly named as the South African Surfer of the Contest and the Reunion Surfer of the Contest respectively.

Two Ballito locals, Richard Kidd and Seaton Swart, finished third and fourth.

In the combined U 14 and U 16 division visiting Jeffrey’s Bay surfer Sebastian Williams was the standout in the final and took the gold medal in style.

Liam de Villiers of Richards Bay was second, ahead of Calvin Goor of Salt Rock and Reunion’s Mathis Cozon, who were third and fourth respectively.

Talented Gabi Lailvaux of Westbrook beat Sophie Bell of Umhlali into second place to take honours in the girls final while Olivia Izzard of La Lucia was third.

Julie Thomas of Reunion came fourth.

The St Leu Surf Club members spent ten days in Durban, surfing in beach break conditions which are typically nonexistent on the volcanic island of Reunion.