KZN’s First Adaptive Surfing Competition a Huge Success

KZN’s First Adaptive Surfing Competition a Huge Success

The province’s first-ever Special Need’s Surf Competition took place at Addington beach on Sunday 2 August and proved to be a resounding success. Seven talented young surfers, five of them from the Open Air School, competed for a number of different prizes with a large crowd of supporters cheering them on in the 2 – 3ft surf.

Dean Hart proved to be fearless when he won the “biggest wave of the day” award. The “stand up award” went to visually impaired youngster Erynn Geddie who impressed the judges with his stand up surfing abilities, riding a number of waves to the shore on his minimal surfboard. “Charger of the day” award went to the only female entrant Sarah Wright and the “stoke award” for demonstrating his sheer passion for wave riding went to Mohamed Essack. “Longest wave of the day” went to Luke Lotter for riding a few waves from the back line right up onto the sand and Danito Mondlane won the “ripper of the day” award for his stylish approach to wave riding. Sebastian Orbe won the “Most Waves in a Heat” Award.

The contest director, Wez Smith, said, “Thank you to all of the volunteers, sponsors and spectators on the day. The quality of surfing was very promising, some of the grommets show potential to become real chargers one day.”

The event was the brainchild of Smith, whose son Reece attends the Open Air School for children with physical disabilities.  Smith invited some of Reece’s friends to join them bodyboarding and they loved it so much that from there, Smith organised a surfing session every few weeks for the group to practice. Although the five participants have only had a few training sessions, they are avid surfers and excited to take to the water again.

Dries Millard – a former junior Springbok rugby player who was left a paraplegic following a tragic car accident – has been integral in growing support for adaptive surfing in Cape Town and has been involved with a number of Surfing South Africa events targeting differently-abled surfers. Millard was on hand on the day to inspire and encourage all of the youngsters taking part and he performed a demonstration with beach wheelchairs and modified surfboards to show the young watermen and women what they too can achieve if they put their minds to it.

Overcoming the odds, Millard helped set up Extreme Abilities (www.extremeabilities.co.za), an organisation that helps those with disabilities experience alternative sports. Millard was also recently selected by Surfing South Africa http://www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za/ to represent his country at the inaugural ISA World Adaptive Surfing Champs https://www.isasurf.org/events/isa-world-adaptive-surfing-championship/ in San Diego in September.

“IOLProperty is delighted to be given the opportunity to be part of this special initiative, particularly as its is the first of its kind. We hope that the participants had a great day and we hope the event grows from strength to strength,” commented Liv Allison, Relationship Manager: IOLProperty.

IOL Property sponsored rash vests for all of the competitors and Surfing South Africa donated board bags, leashes, wax and rash vests, through Reef SA. Various KZN bodyboarders sponsored professional bodyboards.

“We are incredibly grateful for all of the assistance that we received as these sponsorships have given the competitors a great starter kit to practice paddling and duck-diving at home or public pools, with the aim of getting them ready for some more solid surf as they get more confident, said Smith. In addition to this, private individuals also sponsored Spur Vouchers, Surf HQ sponsored a R500 voucher for their surf shop and Splash Waterworld also sponsored a family day pass to each competitor. Simon Williamson, owner of Maniac Bodyboarding, sponsored caps for competitors and was also instrumental in ensuring that the event ran smoothly.  Corner Cafe sponsored lunch for the day and Wayne Kisten sponsored cooldrinks for the day.

Organizers hope to attract more special need’s competitors to future practice sessions and events.