The first ever Future Legends Coaching Series event, run by the South African Surfing Legends, took place at Dairy Bowl on Saturday 23 January. The first event was a huge success with Mitch Du Preez winning his under 13 Boy’s division, Calvin Goor winning the under 16 Boy’s division, and Anna Jellema-Butler won the under 16 Girl’s division. See official Press Release below for full details.
Watch a short catch-up video from the winning groms on Saturday.
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Press Release
For Immediate Release
26 January 2016
First Leg Of The Future Legends Coaching Series A Resounding Success
U16 winner Calvin Goor.
Durban – The first ever Future Legends Coaching Series event, run by the South African Surfing Legends, took place at Dairy Bowl on Saturday 23 January, with some intense training and coaching as well as incredible surfing performances going down. The junior surfers who had been invited to surf in the first of the series, were keen to vindicate their inclusion in the eyes of the judges and coaches, and all pushed their performance levels as far as possible in the good, two to three-foot waves coming through.
The inaugural Future Legends Coaching Series event fulfilled the goal of initiating the High Performance Surfing Academy and the ideals set within. “The first of the three Future Legends Coaching Series events has started the ball rolling, and we’re very happy with the way that it unfolded,” said HPSA’s Jason Ribbink. “The kids all gave of their best and were stoked. We’re looking forward to the next gathering, set for the 27th February,” he added.
The competitive side of the Future Heroes Coaching Series competition was just one of the elements that the surfers were exposed to, alongside the health, coaching, fitness and equipment knowledge that was shared with them by South African Surfing Legends Bruce Jackson, Simon Nicholson, Jason Ribbink, Heather Clark, Chris Knutsen, Paul Canning, Spider Murphy, Johno Hutchison, Clint Grobbelaar, Barry Campbell and Peter Lawson. The coaching methods were structured and constructive, with Legends coaches offering their hard-earned insights and experience to the stoked surfers.
The surfers were exposed to video analysis throughout the day, as well as wave-for-wave score explanations, wave selection advice and physical and mental conditioning training. Clint Grobbelaar, world renowned physiotherapist from CORE Sport and Wellness Medical Centre, worked his magic thoughout the day as well, exposing the surfers to pertinent stretching, loosening and warming up methods, as well as training techniques specifically relevant to performance surfing.
Surfing Final results:
U16 Boys
1. Calvin Goor (Salt Rock)
2. Koby Oberholzer (Warner Beach)
3. Julien Zens (Melkbos)
4. Karl Steen (Durban)
Koby Oberholzer
U13 Boys
1. Mitch Du Preez (East London)
2. Nathan Spaulding (Durban)
3. Kyle McGregor (Port Alfred)
4. James Ribbink (Durban)
U16 Girls
1. Anna Jellema-Butler (Cape Town)
2. Snehlanhla Makhubu (Durban)
3. Kirsty McGillivray (JBay)
4. Nina Harmse (Mossel Bay)
“The first event of the Future Legends Coaching Series was very special to me,” said U16 Girls winner Anna Jellema-Butler from Cape Town. “While the contest was fun and well organised, the part that made it unique to other contests was the other activities we did in between heats with surfing legends like Heather Clark. From freesurfing training and video analysis, to correct technique on the skateboards, to heat strategy, I was really grateful for their presence and help throughout the day.”
After the initial events, the Future legends Coaching Series division winners will be invited to participate in a free two-week High Performance Surfing Academy coaching course valued at R12k per participant that will take place on a date yet to be determined in Durban. At the same point in time, the High Performance Surfing Academy will be opened to the public, and information on courses and pricing will be readily available by then.
The series winner of the U16 Boys division will also win a slot into the JBU Supertrial presented by RVCA, set to take place at Supertubes in J-Bay. The JBU Supertrial is a prestigious, invite-only event that awards one slot into the main event of the WSL J-Bay Open in Jeffreys Bay. South African Surfing Legends is supported by South African Rugby Legends, Richmark, Firewire, Red Bull, Avis and Maverick Printing, as well as Core Medical and Wellness Centre.
The South African Surfing Legends website – southafricansurfinglegends.com/
For further SASL info plus contact Pat Flanagan.
Compiled and distributed by
Craig Jarvis.
