GEORGE NEWS - The 2012 South African longboard Championships kicked off last week in a small swell at Victoria Bay as the country's longboarder's tried to impress the judges in the frustrating conditions - but by the time the final day rolled in things couldn't have been more different.

Huge surf thundered in off the point and as the "sky watchers" eagerly awaited the evenings super-moon, the final day of action produced some of the best longboarding ever seen at Vic Bay.

Surfers of all ages use the Longboard Nationals as an opportunity to get together, renew old friendships, make new ones, and generally keep the stoke alive in one of South African surfing's biggest contests.

By the time the final day arrived the purely social competitors were eliminated to the side-lines and for those surfing in the category finals, the massive surf crashing into the bay looked set to end the party early as the organising committee elected to put the contest on hold.

ver, the green light was given. The men's open title went to Western Province's Justin Bing in a closely fought final with Michael Grendon 2nd and the defending champion, Brad Weare of KZN, 3rd.

In the ladies open class local surfer Bianca Buitendag took the win ahead of EC surfer Michelle van Kempen with Cape Town's Tara Hossack 3rd.

Bianca is currently surfing in Europe on the junior woman's short board tour and has recently come off a great win in very tough conditions in France.

The overall team prize was taken by Western Province, but all agreed that the final day, nicknamed "Super Moon Saturday" longboarding was the winner.


Justin Bing, winner of the men’s open title.