THE first black South African girl, Samukelisiwe Cele (16), to take part in the Ballito Women’s Pro presented by Billabong at Willard Beach in KwaDukuza, stole the show at the event last weekend.
Samukelisiwe, originally from Mtwalume, competed with 19 other surfers in the internationally rated women’s surfing event – a QS1000 rated event in which surfers score points that help them qualify for other major surfing competitions. Samukelisiwe came third in the quarter-finals and ninth overall.
“I’m grateful, excited and it was kind of nerve-wracking. I’m no pro and I was very nervous but I knew I could do something out there because I’m a also good surfer,” she said.
“It was fun and I really want to become a professional surfer. The one thing I want to be is a champion, the world champion – I want to win the world tour.”
Another South Coast surfer who did extremely well was legendary two-time world champion, Heather Clark of Port Shepstone, who secured a fourth place in the contest.
Heather was defeated by Nikita Robb of East London who won the event, followed by Fay Zoetmulder of Port Elizabeth and junior Teal Hogg of Umhlanga in third place.
Heather said that, although she was the oldest woman competing against girls half her age, it didn’t bother her. “I am very happy to get fourth place in the finals. We all wanted to do well and everyone was so excited about having this event back,” she said.
Heather described the conditions as ‘very tough’.
“With the tiny waves it was anyone’s game, whoever got the better wave was going to come out on top, and it so happened to be my good friend Nikita, but all the women did extremely well in those conditions,” she said.
Heather congratulated Samukelisiwe for surfing her first major event and making history. “She has a huge and bright future ahead of her,” she added.
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