Mayah gets a hug from her coach Heather Clark. The surf was big and tough for the little 'Smurf'.
NOVICE surfer Mayah Potgieter, nicknamed ‘Smurf’, from Ramsgate, surprised everyone by beating Gabi Herbst of Durban at the 2016 Lizzard Hurricane Summer Surf competition which was held at Umhlanga main beach last weekend.
Mayah in action in overhead surf on her way to winning the novice girls’ division.
Gabi is a much more experienced surfer than Mayah and has competed on a national level. But Mayah showed enormous bravery and persistence, winning the novice division and coming third in the U14 girls’ division.
Mayah’s coach and former world champion surfer Heather Clark also excelled at the weekend, coming fourth in the open women’s division and joining the masters’ team to come third overall in the very tough Just Juice Tag Event.
Heather Clark (middle) congratulates Gabi Herbst (left) and Mayah Potgieter at the Lizzard Hurricane Summer Surf competition’s prize-giving.
Over 100 entrants took part in the 2016 Lizzard Hurricane Summer Surf competition, with conditions on Saturday being very tricky with rain and small one- to two-foot surf. However, on Sunday, it all came right and surfers were greeted with glassy three- to four-foot waves with very little wind.
