After John Whitmore started the event at Long Beach, Kommetjie back in 1965, the 50th edition of the Western Province Surfing Championships will commence in Cape Town this weekend.
Long Beach, home to the very first Western Province Championships held 50 years ago back in ’65.
Held from this coming Friday, December 11 until the final day on Sunday December 13, the iconic tournament will be a mobile event with the location depending entirely on conditions. Featuring current and past champions both provincial and national, competing in 15 different age divisions, the event should feature some epic surfing and good times. Read the official Press Release below for more details or find out more on the official site.
With water temperatures and a backdrop that’ll cause temporary heart palpitations, Kommetjie is definitely one of SA’s most picturesque surf spots and a perfect venue for the 50th anniversary of this iconic event.
Press Release Below:
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MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION
Tuesday December 8th ,2015
Western Province Surfing Championships
Cape Peninsula, Mobile Venue
December 11 – 13, 2015
50th Edition of the iconic Western Province Surfing Championships gets under way in the Peninsula on Friday
Over 100 female and male surfers will contest 15 age divisions in the 2015 Western Province Championships which will take place in the Peninsula from Friday December 11th to Sunday December 13th.
First held at Long Beach Kommetjie in 1965 under the watchful eye of the doyen of South African surfing, John Whitmore, the 50th edition of this iconic surfing tournament has a special place in South African surfing history.
Many legendary surfers cut their competitive teeth surfing in the Western Province Championships. There are far too many to name but there is no doubt that thanks to the Western Province Championships, South African surfing has benefitted.
As has been the pattern over the last 49 years the 50th WP Champs has attracted entries from rookies right through to current national team members. Some of the surfers who will pull on a competitors vest on Friday, Saturday and Sunday are as still as young as nine years old while there are some over 60 year olds competing as well.
Former national and provincial champions will be competing alongside current national and provincial champions in most of the divisions and current National and Provincial team members are in the mix.
While there is no prize money on offer at this event the coveted trophies and medals that are awarded to the provincial champions and finalists at the prize giving on Sunday, are priceless.
Special Awards such as Surfer of the Year, Junior Surfer of the Year, Women Surfer of the Year, Masters Surfer of the Year, Coach of the Year, Sportsperson of the Year and the 25 year old Basil Lomberg Trophy will be presented at the Awards Ceremony which will take place after the Finals on Sunday.
All indications are that the weather is set fair for the three days of competition which is likely to take place at a venue in the Southern Peninsula. As is the tradition with most events held in the Cape Peninsula, Cape Town Surfriders, the District who are organizing the Western Province Champs, have opted to use a mobile venue.
This means that the decision on the venue for each day of competition will only be made once conditions have been assessed. Competitors should go to the Western Province Surfing Facebook page and on www.wpsurfing.co.za on the evening before each day’s surfing to determine the venue.
The Western Province Championships are sponsored by Village Homes, supported by SurfEars and presented by Johnson’s Surf.
Compiled & distributed by Robin de Kock
robindekock@gmail.com
0824541149
