Tag: surfing

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Most fun accommodation in Tofo

The most fun accommodation in Tofo

Most fun accommodation in Tofo

Most fun accommodation in Tofo award goes to Lalaland, right on the beach, just up the beach, from Praia do Tofo. The beach.

It’s fun for many reasons, but it has to be the quaint, elegantically rustic designed spaces all over Lalaland, where the feeling finds tenure. As you drive in, you can see how Lalaland came to be – yes, that’s the land rover Chad and Heidi arrived in. Parked right in the boma! The boma leads to the beach on one side, and the main building and kitchen on the other. It’s a great place – the many years of toil have paid off  – with absolute attention to detail and a good dose of pure style woven together. Other ingredients include friendly and helpful staffers, coconuts and things growing everywhere, hammocks and conversation areas, cool doggies (security)…

The gardens are filled with features and right in the middle, is the fire pit and boma. Where you can lose yourself completely on a starry night. The accommodations are a cool blend of bricks and mortar, and local materials, like reeds and chappas (corrugated roof sheets). The en suite bathrooms are roofed only by the stars and palm trees.

The beach out front goes for miles each way. A quick walk south puts you right in the mix – the Tofo Mercado. Colourful and vibrant, the beat carries through to midnight and beyond on most nights. There are many places to go, and many things to do, in Tofo town.

And during the day, putting to sea on one of many craft available puts you in the running for swim with a whale shark, or a dolphin, manta ray…or a cruise to the islands and back, under sail on a trendy and photogenic dhow.

Lalaland have a few of their own watercraft – great for catching the waves out front – Praia do Tofo has become a highly acclaimed beginner’s surfers beach. And another headland south is Tofinho (baby Tofo?!), which produces some class waves when it feels like it. A huge plastic paddle ski that can carry one to three people is also available, and can be launched and retrieved just in front of the lodge’s beach gate.

For more information and to see more of why we call it the most fun accommodation in Tofo, click on over to lalalandafrica.com and look around!

The Sardine team can assist you with your dream holiday to Tofo. Drop us a line on umzimkulu@gmail.com and let us know your plan.

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Oakley Partners With The Cell C Goodwave Surfing Event

Oakley Partners With The Cell C Goodwave Surfing Event

Durban – As interest continues to grow for the resurrected Cell C Goodwave surfing tournament, the contest organizer are proud to welcome Oakley onboard.

The prestigious Cell C Goodwave is a unique event on the South African surfing calendar, a contest that focuses entirely on the invited surfers taking part, and Oakley are very pleased with the core values of the event and look forward to a positive partnership going forward.

 “Oakley is proud to have become a partner of a cutting-edge surf event such as the Cell C Goodwave,” said Seth Hulley, Oakley Sports Marketing Manager. “Barry Wolins was the person instrumental in getting this popular contest back on the calendar, and working alongside the caliber of people involved like Barry and Jason Ribbink means it was an automatic response to get behind the tournament. I must say a huge thank you goes to Gavin Varejes for what he does for our sport, and surfing can be proud to have the support of Gavin. I have no doubt The Cell C Goodwave will be another major success.”

The Cell C Goodwave is an invite-only event. The best 32 surfers in the country will be invited to compete, and 32 alternates will be invited as well.

The contest has a one-day run-time, with 4 man heats and a sudden death format. The event comprises fifteen heats of high performance surfing, has a 1-year waiting period, with the call being made on the advice of surf forecasting guru Spike from www.wavescape.co.za

The kind of day at New Pier when the Cell C Goodwave Surfing event will run © FLANAGAN
The kind of day at New Pier when the Cell C Goodwave Surfing event will run © FLANAGAN

Entries are currently being loaded up on the Cell C Goodwave Facebook page, info . All entries will be posted on the Goodwave Facebook page, so please ensure that you have the necessary permissions for accompanying imagery and video.

Recent entries include Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker, Matt Bromley, Davey Weare, Tammy-Lee Smith and 8-year-old Sergio Nogueira.

The selection criteria and process is at the discretion of the event organisers, and no correspondence will be entered into.

Entrance fee for the selected surfers is one Rand, first place prize is R100,000, and the event will be hosted on the day by California Dreaming, overlooking New Pier on the beachfront.

The Cell C Goodwave is a South African Surfing Legends event, with Jason Ribbink the contest director

The event is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa.

The Cell© Goodwave – in loving memory of Lee Wolins.

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O’leary Connor takes the Ballito Pro

O’leary Connor takes the Ballito Pro

Australian goofy footer O’leary Connor beat Joan Duru from France, at Willards Beach, to win the Ballito Pro a few minutes ago.

Ozzie surfer Connor holds the trophy high
Ozzie surfer Connor holds the trophy high

The waves were really good, albeit with long waits – but the organisers chose the black moon tides very well. The South Africans Beyrick de Vries and Jordy Smith went up against eachother, with Beyrick going through, only to be ousted by the Frenchman Duru. Beyrick was awarded the best wave of the compo.

The Ballito Pro mens results
The Ballito Pro mens results
The womens champion was Skye Burgess
The womens champion was Skye Burgess
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Surfing: Future Legends Final Event Great Success: Goor Wins JBU Supertrial Wildcard

Surfing: Future Legends Final Event Great Success: Goor Wins JBU Supertrial Wildcard

Durban, Saturday 19 March – Promising conditions at the New Pier in Durban saw event organizers move the final Future Legends Coaching Series event across to New Pier from the Dairy Bowl. It was a great decision, as the waves improved throughout the day with the growing tide, and the invited surfers all put in their best efforts.
After a sobering Friday night presentation on Sponsorship by surf industry stalwart Gary Green, the surfers were all determined to vindicate their inclusion into the series to the South African Surfing Legends. With a many-tiered coaching system in place, the surfers were put through their paces throughout the day, with surf and heat coaching, video review and analysis, skateboard correction and stretching and other physical conditioning techniques, all under the guidance of South African Surfing Legends Simon Nicholson, Paul Canning, Spider Murphy and Jason Ribbink to name a few.“This is not a surf contest,” said coach Bruce Jackson. “It’s a coaching day, using contest structures as a platform. We’re here to coach and motivate, educate and inform these surfers, and the best way to do this is to have them surf heats for us.”
In the U13 Boys division, a very stoked young Luke Thompson showed good form and marked improvement throughout the day, making it to the final in his division. Alex Townsend was also surfing tight, along with the stylish Mitch Du Preez. The division however, belonged to James Ribbink on the day as he took out the final at his home break.
“Over the three events all the surfers have shown improvement,” said head judge Jono Hutchison. “It’s clear that they have understood what is expected of them, worked towards their goals and have made steps forward, which is what this coaching series is all about.”
The U16 Girls division also showed great advancement, with the girls surfing to contest criteria and upping their games in heat conditions. Kayla Nogueira fought her way into the final, along with Olivia Izzard and Anna Jellema-Butler, but the polished Kirsty McGillivray took first honours.
In good New Pier conditions, the U16 Boys final was an exciting affair, with all four surfers catching a multitude of waves. Koby Oberholzer failed to clinch the better waves and struggled to find his rhythm, while Luke Slijpen and Calvin Goor both showed flashes of brilliance. This heat however, belonged to Angelo Faulkner, who was on every good set, and showing some committed surfing.

Final results event 3
U13 Boys
1. James Ribbink (DBN)
2. Mitch Du Preez (EL)
3. Alex Townsend (CT)
4. Luke Thompson (DBN)
U16 Girls
1. Kirsty McGillivray (JBay)
2. Anna Jellema-Butler (CT)
3. Olivia Izzard (DBN)
4. Kayla Nogueira (DBN)

Kirsty McGillivray © Craig Dove
U16 Boys
1. Angelo Faulkner (JBay)
2. Calvin Goor (Salt Rock)
3. Luke Slijpen (CT)
4. Koby Oberholzer (DBN)
“This is the first step in the South African Surfing Legends vision, and now we’re going to start the real work,” said SASL’s Barry Wolins. “The High Performance Surfing Academy is where we are going to start seeing results as our surfers start going through our professional coaching system and start developing mental and physical attributes that will elevate their surfing performances and get them onto the podiums.”
The series winners of the three divisions all received an invite to attend a course at the High Performance Surfing Academy. These series winners are:
U13 Boys
1. Mitch Du Preez (EL)
2. James Ribbink (DBN)
3. Nate Spaulding (DBN)
4. Alex Townsend (CT)
U16 Girls
1. Kirsty McGillivray (JBay)
2. Anna Jellema Butler (CT)
3. Sne Makubu (DBN)
4. Olivia Izzard (DBN)
U16 Boys
1. Calvin Goor (Salt Rock)
2. Koby Oberholzer (DBN)
3. Angelo Faulkner (JBay)
4. Luke Slijpen (CT)
The U16 Boys winner Calvin Goor also received the wildcard slot into the JBU Supertrial presented by RVCA. This event is the most prestigious invite-only event, and it awards a wildcard into the JBay Open WSL event.

Calvin Goor © Flanagan

“I’m over the moon to win the wildcard into the JBU Supertrial,” said an elated Goor on hearing the news. “It is all I have dreamed of. To be able to paddle out at Supers with three other guys is going to be amazing. The Future Legends Coaching Series has been amazing for me as well. I used to know the judging criteria, but not fully understand it, and the Legends coaches have clearly explained it to me, and told me how to make it work during heat conditions, so I feel like I have a massive advantage now.”

The Future Legends Coaching Series has been a very unique concept in the realms of inspirational surf coaching in South Africa, and can only be deemed a resounding success.
The South African Surfing Legends’ High Performance Surfing Academy is set to become the benchmark for surf coaching in the country. Watch the media for further announcements.
—
South African Surfing Legends is supported by South African Rugby Legends, Richmark, Firewire, Red Bull, Avis, Maverick Printing, and Core Medical and Wellness Centre.

High Performance Surfing Academy on Instagram – @surfacademysa
SASL Website – southafricansurfinglegends.com
SASL Facebook page – on.fb.me/1oGsP5z
For more info on SASL please contact Pat Flanagan on pat@southafricansurfinglegends.com
Compiled and distributed by
Craig Jarvis
info@craigjarvis.co.za
High-resolution images are available for media outlets on request.

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Quiksilver Surf Series Heads To Port Alfred For Final Event Of 2015 Series

Quiksilver Surf Series Heads To Port Alfred For Final Event Of 2015 Series  

Diran Zakarian (Melkbosstrand, Cape Town) will be one of the favourites in the U20 junior boys and open men's division going into the final leg of the Quiksilver Get Free Series 2015 in Port Alfred. Photo by Luke Patterson.
Diran Zakarian (Melkbosstrand, Cape Town) will be one of the favourites in the U20 junior boys and open men’s division going into the final leg of the Quiksilver Get Free Series 2015 in Port Alfred.
Photo by Luke Patterson.

Port Alfred – The Quiksilver Get Free Surf Series will, at the end of August, head to the town of Port Alfred on the Sunshine Coast for the final event of this three-part series. On the 29th and 30th of August South Africa’s best open men and junior surfers will make their way to the pristine beaches of Port Alfred, just an hour and a half’s drive south of East London to compete for over R30 000 in prize money and the final Quiksilver Get Free titles.

 

All three events in the series are sanctioned by Surfing South Africa and carry 3A PST (Pro Surf Tour) ratings points with a total prize purse of R108 000 on the line. Divisions in the series and final event include open mens, U20 junior boys and U16 junior boys. Port Alfred’s East Beach is a highly regarded surf break, given favourable conditions and swell it could make for the perfect amphitheatre for a high performance showdown. “Port Alfred is definitely a top venue for an event of this nature, when the waves are on, they are on! I can’t wait to surf a heat there, the contest should be great,” said Shane Sykes, the winner of the U20 junior boys division at the second leg of the series which was held in Umhlanga Rocks, KZN.

 

In the open men’s division, favourites for the win include Umhlanga’s Beyrick de Vries who recently placed 9th in the US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach and is currently on top form, Capetonian Michael February who was runner up to de Vries in the second leg of the series as well as the duo of experienced veterans Daniel Redman and Brandon Jackson, both of Durban North. Jeffreys Bay locals Matt McGillivray and Dylan Lightfoot will be strong contenders in the U20 junior boys division but other previous junior winners Shane Sykes (Salt Rock) and Diran Zakarian (Melkbosstrand) will also be serious contenders in the point-like conditions. There will be stiff competition in the U16 boys division with the likes of Sebastian Williams (Durban), Adin Masencamp (Strand) and Faulkner brothers Joshe and Angelo (Jeffreys Bay) all on top form and hungry for the final win.

 

Quiksilver Marketing and Sales Manager Dane Patterson has been very happy with the 2015 series and anticipates that the final event in Port Alfred will deliver great surf conditions, “I think that the series we’ve put on this year has been very well received, good for the South African surfers and for our domestic surf tour, we’re hoping that it will encourage other brands to invest more in the sport and the local surf scene. Port Alfred can be a very good venue and make for a top event when the ocean delivers, so we’re hoping that mother nature comes to the party for the final event of the series.”

 

Supporting sponsors to the series include Zigzag Surfing Magazine, Techniblock sunscreen, Drift action camera’s, Skullcandy, Neff and Red Bull.

 

For more information, videos, photos and entry details go to www.quiksilver.co.za/getfree.

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