The Sisonke surf club hosted the event against other development clubs from around KZN. The mission being to display the talent among the development ranks and to stay true to their namesake – ‘ together’. When surfers come together, regardless of creed, race or skill, a good time is generally had.
“I am hoping that this will motivate our local surfers to improve their surfing,” said event organiser, Alvin Mtatshi. “I would like to see them improving their level and start entering some of the Pro Junior contests.”
Check out the official press release below and some epic photos from the weekend’s action.
A day of beach stoke. © Dancaster
The gathering on top of the Diary Beach pump house which has stood strong amongst the ruins . © Flanagan
Sisonke Development Challenge Dairy Beach, Durban. 22nd – 23rd October 2016
Words by: Pat Flanagan South African Surfing Legends
Sisonke roughly translated means ‘together’. On the weekend of 22/23 October 2016, Sisonke Surf Club, a close knit group of surfers from Trafalgar, Umzumbe and Durban came ‘together’ to run a highly successful event at Dairy Beach in Durban. On Saturday morning, a small rolling swell made for contestable, if somewhat, fat conditions, but with some clean offshore. The event was up and away! Mushy and fading outside walls and a shore break with some bite called for a lot of cutting back and bouncing to navigate through a deep mid break trough. Each contestant was challenged to bring their ‘A’ game if they wanted to progress through the rounds.
Simo Mkhize goes for the air. © Flanagan
Sunday was a little bigger and on the morning high tide the shore break was gnarlier but a lot of fun and provided a great canvas to showcase their talent. Some of the surfers from the South Coast were surfing an event in Durban for the first time, however, the waves on offer were similar to Trafalgar so it was game on for some spectacular above the lip action that had the crowd on the block roaring with appreciation. The Umzumbe and Durban crew were not to be outdone and in the final mix, reinforced by some precise judging, the best surfers over the three days emerged on the podium.
Sfiso Ngcobo above the lip. © Dove
Event stand out was Snenhlanhla Makhubu, who added the under 14 boys, the under 17 boys and the under 20 girls titles to her growing collection of wins. Sne claimed the under 14 girls win at the Billabong Junior Series held at Seal Points just two weeks prior to this event. Established rippers, Sfiso Ncobo and Avo Ndamase won the under 20 and open divisions respectively with a good showing in both finals by Simo Mkhize who seems to channel the loose Hawaiian vibe of Buttons and Larry Bertelmann. For Alvin Mtatshi, the organiser, Saturday 22 October started at three am. Heading up a three vehicle convoy, he collected competitors from as far away as Trafalgar way down south and headed for the event.
Groms stoked with their Zigzag magazines. © Flanagan
Securing the help of the wider surfing community he staged an exciting and well run two day event, at the same time running a number of soft boards ‘learn to surf’ sessions with a bunch of frothing groms thus perpetuating and spreading the stoke through the community. Sisonke is Alvin’s brainchild and is another step in creating South Africa’s own ‘storm’. The future is looking bright! A big shout to to you, Alvin. Onwards and upwards.
Sisonke Development Club Challenge.
Final Results
U14 GIRLS
1)Manto Mhlongo
2)Lerato Mazibuko
3)Zama Gumbi
U14 BOYS
1)Sne Makhubu
2)Ayanda Mpisane
3)Mthuthukisi Mtolo
4)Mvelo Mbutho
U17 BOYS
1)Sne Makhubu
2)Mnqobi Radebe
3)Senzo Shange
4)Ntokozo Ndunge
U20 GIRLS
1) Sne Makhubu
2) Sam Cele
U20 BOYS
1)Sfiso Ngcobo
2)Zamani Gcwensa
3)Simo Mkhize
4)Sandile Mbuthuma
OPEN MENS
1)Avuyile Avo Ndamase
2)Sihle Mbutho
3)Simo Mkhize
4)Zamani Gcwensa
KZN’s rising female stars – Sam Cele. © Flanagan
The conditions produced a rippable inside bowel. © Flanagan
Share The Stoke! © Dove
Thank you’s from Alvin Mtatshi: “Well done to all the Sisonke Development Club Challenge finalists. Just would like to send out a big thank you to everyone who supported us for this event this weekend. Mark Snowball from LSAfrica for the prize money and the transport for the kids and Robin de Kock from Surfing South Africa for sponsoring money towards the accommodation for the kids and Ethekweni Surfing Association and the committee for booking the beach for us and letting us use the their equipment and sponsoring the braai meat. Dane Patterson from Quiksilver, Paul Canning from O’Neill, Ant Hulsten at Rip Curl and Jestyn Viljoen from Hurricane Surf for the prizes. Jason Ribbink from Bilt Surf for always supporting the kids and sponsoring them with high performance surfboards and the pizza for lunch and Athos Euripidou from DBNXFST for the support and our most shares award, and Durban Surf Lifesaving Club for the awesome venue for the braai and the prize giving after the event and Jed Russell Kenny. Patrick Flanagan and the South African Surfing Legends for the support and for making the Sisonke Development Club Challenge poster and doing all the Sisonke designs. To Dianne Lynn Parkes, Craig Dove and John Dancaster for the amazing pictures and to the local surfers for giving us the opportunity to surf Dairy Beach and New Pier for the two days. To Sandile Mqadi and he’s team of judges and tabulators, thank you very much for all your hard work and Andy Davis from Zigzag magazine and Anne Wright for putting our heat draws together for the event. Much appreciated and what a success it turned out to be. We are together wave for wave!”.
