Sykes shines as iLembe surf riders dominate provincial championships
Gold for Shane Sykes and a haul of medals highlight a standout weekend for iLembe surfers at Dairy Beach.
Salt Rock’s Shane Sykes bagged gold in the Open Men event at last weekend’s provincial surfing championships.
From U10 to over-60, the iLembe Surf Riders team delivered a host of medals at eThekwini’s Dairy Beach. Hosted by the eThekwini Surfing Association, the competition drew surfers from the hosts, iLembe and Ugu Surf Riders on the South Coast.
Headlining the local victors was Sykes, who was in glittering form. He cruised through his heat and quarterfinal in top position, before being tested for the first time in the semifinals, where he finished second behind Ntokozo Surprise Maphumulo. That set up an exciting final against Maphumulo and Tide-lee Ireland from eThekwini and Casey Grant from Ugu.
Photos: Stan Shaw.
After starting with a few solid waves, Shane powered ahead with an 8.26 and 9.44, leaving him almost five full points ahead of the chasing pack with a gold medal in hand.
In the Open Women division, 16-year-old Maxine Kauffman almost matched her teammate’s heroics, grabbing silver behind Ugu’s Louise Lepront. That was one better than her bronze in the U16 Girls section, marking an impressive weekend for the promising youngster.
Elsewhere in the age group divisions, Seth Seppings won the U10 Boys event with a combined wave score of 13.67. Levi Vosloo continued his strong year in the U12 Boys category, claiming yet another win behind a mammoth 15.00 in the final.
Photo: Stan Shaw.
Ella van der Made ensured it was an iLembe Surf Rider on top of the podium in both U12 divisions, taking gold in the U12 Girls final with a combined 8.77 score. Tamarys de Maroussem followed up her South African Masters gold from earlier in the year with a win in the over-35 Women event after posting 11.67.
Ryan Balfour added another gold medal in the over-40 Men category, scoring a combined 10.50. iLembe’s final winner came in the form of Fred le Roux, who took the over-60 title with a score of 11.50.
Silver medals were won by Lexi Lockhart (U10 Girls) and Lila Aszalos (U14 Girls), while Noa Lee Bisset (U10 Girls), Jackson Myers (U12 Boys), Lila Prinsloo (U12 Girls), Johnjon Clark (U14 Boys), Coco Clark (U14 Girls), Catherine Jacob (U18 Girls), Lee Bisset (over-40 Men) and Brian Dougherty (over-60 men) all claimed bronze.
A full list of results can be found at liveheats.com
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