Perfect surf for the BOS Cape Crown

Long Beach Kommetjie produces perfect surf for the BOS Cape Crown.

Long Beach Kommetjie produced perfect surf and ideal conditions for both days of the inaugural BOS Cape Crown at the weekend and the solid field of surfers from all parts of the country celebrated the start of youth month in style.

The 3A rated Surfing South Africa PST event was open to surfers in the U12, U14,U16 and U18 Divisions for Girls and Boys and was included on the Surfing South Africa contest calendar thanks to the efforts of local surfing administrator Karen Elkington.

With plenty of Surfing South Africa ratings points plus a share of R23000 in prize money on offer competition was fierce in each of the divisions. Two time National team member Adin Masencamp (Strand) who has a slow start to the year due to a serious injury suffered while free surfing about six weeks ago, showed his determination to win the premier U18 Boys title. Talented Long Beach local Ford Van Jaarsveldt was second, U18 Division ratings leader Jake Elkington (Kommetjie) came third and Liam de Villiers, who made the long journey to the Cape Peninsula from Richards Bay, was fourth.

Adin Masencamp, winner of the U18 Boys Division at the BOS Cape Crown – Photo Ian Thurtell

Sophie Bell (Umdloti) went to the top of the U18 Girls ratings with victory in this division on Sunday while runner up Natasha Van Greunen (Muizenberg) moved up the ratings with a solid second place. Taghiti Gericke (Wilderness) was third and Nina Harmse (Herolds Bay) came fourth.

Current South African U17 Boys Champion Max Elkington took the U16 Title from high flying fellow Kommetjie surfer Eli Beukes in one of the closest results of the day while Dillon Hendricks (Jeffreys Bay) who was top seed in this division, secured third place. Another solid performance from Bryce du Preez (East London) saw him take fourth place.

Kai Woolf (Jeffreys Bay), who lost out on a spot in the U18 Girls final after being marked for a technical interference in her semi final, dominated the U16 Girls final from the outset pushing Sophie Bell into second place. Julia Ploughman (Scarborough) was third and talented Summer Sutton (Kommetjie) came fourth.

Kai Woolf, winner of the U18 Girls Division at The BOS Cape Crown – photo Ian Thurtell

In the U14 Boys Division popular Kommetjie local Manoa Robb, son of World Longboard Champion Simone, took his first win at a National event ahead of Mitch du Preez (East London).York Van Jaarsveldt (Kommetjie) was third and Travis Pearce (Kommetjie) came fourth.

Summer Sutton underlined her potential with a victory in the U14 Girls Final beating top ranked KZN girls Kayla Nogueira (Umhlanga) and Gabi Lailvaux (Westbrook) into second and third respectively. Plucky Caroline Brown (Hout Bay), surfing in her first PST event, came fourth.

Kommetjie local Alex Townsend rocketed up the ratings with a win in the U12 Division final and Luke Thompson (Durban) will also move up the ratings after placing second. Brad Scott (Kommetjie) was third in his first ever PST Final while Luke Van Wyk (Constantia) came fourth. Although she did not make the final, diminutive 9 year old, Zia Hendricks of Jeffreys Bay deserves a special mention in this age group. Not only was she the youngest surfer in the contest but this was her first ever visit to Cape Town and Long Beach. She took it all in her stride posting some good scores in testing conditions on Day One of the event.

Thanks to the sponsorship from BOS and support from co sponsors Lifestyle Surf Shop, SurfEars, Billabong, Cape Villa Collection and Seventyonepercent sun cream as well as financial backing from Surfing South Africa, who used all the entry fees to boost the event rating, plus the indulgence of local surfers and Kommetjie residents, this junior event was a huge success.

Results and photos from the contest are available on a dedicated facebook page @ The BOS Cape Crown and on www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za.

Surfing South Africa is the governing body for the sport in South Africa and is a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA).

Compiled by:  Robin de Kock, General Manager, Surfing South Africa, surfingsouthafrica@gmail.com, 0824541149