“There really is no vehicle brand that would fit other than Volkswagen, particularly the Kombi,” says Tarryn Knight, Marketing Manager of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. “From the moment we heard about this exciting new surf series we knew Volkswagen had to be a part of making it happen.”
Attracting over 150 surfers from around the world, the Volkswagen SA Open of Surfing will take place on Durban’s Golden Mile from the 14th – 18th June 2017. The QS3000 event is part of the World Surfing League’s Qualifying Series and will offer a R1 million prize purse split between Men, Women, Pro Junior Men, and Pro Junior Women divisions.
eThekweni Municipality share Volkswagen’s sentiments, the Manager of Sport Development and Recreation, Teddi Adams, said, “Durban has been working very hard over the past five years as a member of the international World Surf Cities Network, to position the city back on the map as an international surfing destination.
There are few countries in the world, which have great weather and waves throughout the year – Durban is one of them! We are excited to be hosting the Volkswagen SA Open of Surfing for the first time, giving our local boys and girls an opportunity to clock up qualifying points without having to travel overseas to do so.”
The Volkswagen SA Open of Surfing is not all about the top echelon of surfers though, Surfing South Africa and its structures will work with local surfing outreach groups and surf clubs to engage with less fortunate youth. This programme will take the form of ocean awareness clinics and grass roots competition.
The goal of these initiatives is to take surfing to all communities and showcase it as a sport that promotes a healthy lifestyle in a positive safe environment. As with most road trips, Volkswagen will help create these memories by providing all transport to and from the beach for new comers to the sport.
“We’re extremely excited to work alongside Volkswagen on the City Surf Series and the Volkswagen SA Open of Surfing, their brand ethos of family and creating memories resonates well with surfing and beach culture. We are looking forward to building a long standing relationship with Volkswagen to raise this series to new heights year on year,” said Gary Grant, MD of Accelerate Sport.
Not only will Volkswagen headline the SA Open of Surfing, but will also be the official car of the City Surf Series too which further strengthens their commitment to being both the surfer’s and everyone’s car of choice.
CITY SURF SERIES SCHEDULE:
07-09 April Nelson Mandela Bay Surf Pro (Tentative)
15-17 April Buffalo City Surf Pro (Tentative)
21-23 April Durban Surf Pro
09-11 June Cape Town Surf Pro
14-18 June SA Open of Surfing
