Wave Wizards event a resounding success
Organisers say they could not have wished for a more perfect day in uMhlanga for surf festival.
IT was a perfect day at the uMhlanga Main Beach where Wave Wizards Umhlanga Surf Club held the first event of a three part series to celebrate thirty years as a club. Surfers and spectators enjoyed a beautiful sunny day with no wind. The waves were 1 to 2ft with the occasional 3 to 4ft set on the outside making for very contestable conditions.
Over eighty surfers entered the contest ranging from age 5 to 55. Many surfers had their fathers also enter for the fun of having time at the beach together.
La Lucia’s Olivia Brand took the win in the U14 girls division. Sophie Bell placed second with Gabi Lailvaux, Tayla Muller and Kayla Nogueria rounding off the top five. Olivia’s dad, Paul Izzard also did well in the Masters 45 and over division coming second to four times world champion Chris Knutson.
The open men’s category was won by uMhlanga’s Beyrick de Vries who is currently lying 25th on the World Surfing League.
Second place went to Glenashley’s Davey Van Zyl who is also sitting in the top 100 of the international rankings. Shane Sykes who is only 17 placed third and retired WSL campaigner and top surfer Dan Redman placed fourth.
The girls novice division was very special to watch when tiny little surfers braved the tough waves in the uMhlanga bowl.
The young girls had caddies helping to push them onto the waves and the winner went they way of Lily de Goede. Ella Potterton placed second, Saxon Bird third, Samantha Southwood fourth and Maya de Goede fifth
In the boys novice division young Jordan du Toit beat Taine Bird followed by Brode Herbst and Indie Van de Wall. All the novice surfers tried really hard proving that they are the kids to watch in the future of our surfing.
Club chairman, Jestyn Viljoen, said he could not have wished for a more perfect day in uMhlanga.
“Sunny skies and no wind made a perfect setting for families to all come down to the beach. Surfers and spectators were all commenting what a good community day it was. Thanks to everyone involved,” he enthused.
The next Wave Wizards event is on 19 October.
