SURFING NEWS - A determined performance by former Muizenberg local Alfonso Pieters in the Final of the Men’s Longboard division at the 2019 Tiger’s Milk Winter Classic Sunday saw him edge Thomas King into second place. The winner’s purse was R7000.
Talented up and coming longboarders Ryan Lightfoot of Jeffreys Bay and came third and Kye Macgregor of Port Alfred came third and fourth respectively. Another up and coming longboarder, Manoa Robb of Kommetjie, was recognised as the best U23 surfer in the Open Division not to make the Final.
Another member of the 2019 SA Longboard Team and defending Tiger’s Milk champion, Crystal Hulett of Cape St Francis, took honours in the Open women’s Final. Christy Gilmore of Durban, who represented South Africa at the World Championships in 2018, tied with Hulett on their two wave scores but a count back put her into second place.
Two time World and Tiger’s Milk champion, Matthew Moir, added a third Tiger’s Milk title to his list but this time it was in the Over 40 Longboard Division where he beat Gary Van Rooyen into second place, 2018 winner Grant Gilmour into third and Whaldo de Kock into fourth place.
Current WSL Africa ratings leader Dylan Lightfoot beat fellow Jeffreys Bay surfer Joshe Faulkner into second place in the Open Men’s Division with current South African Champion Jordy Maree of Kalk Bay taking third ahead of former WP surfer Jarred Veldhuis of Kommetjie.
The popular Tiger’s Milk Outreach programme was held at Muizenberg Corner. This initiative featured 60 young surfers from eight community projects that use surfing to change the lives of marginalised children in their communities.
The initiative was presented by Surfing South Africa for Tiger’s Milk and was run by SSA Official Shuan Solomons.
Many of the surfers who participate in the Outreach programmes go on to compete in Club, District and National tournaments. Funding for surfboards, wetsuits and equipment as well as transport and accommodation is difficult without support from Surfing South Africa’s ongoing Rising Stars project. Thanks to Tiger’s Milk Muizenberg, funds were raised through a raffle run during the event at the weekends and the proceeds from this raffle will be donated to Surfing South Africa’s Rising Stars fund.
Surfing South Africa is the national governing body for the sport and is a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), the African Surfing Confederation (ASC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA).
