Port Elizabeth
2000 World Titles
The provincial waveski associations in South Africa are running local trial series and Open Trials and National trials in preparation for the International Tag Team event to be held during the 2000 World Series to be held in South Africa during June and July.
21st & 24th April 2000
Splash Festival - Port Elizabeth Algoa Toyota 2000 National Waveski Trials
The National Trial consisted of two separate competition flows, firstly to determine a National President’s Squad for each age division. These results will be used to seed the South Africans in their respective age divisions at the World Titles and award SAWSA President’s Colours. Secondly, the last day of the trial was used to select an eight man Protea Tag Team that will take on the rest of the world as part of the 2000 World Waveski Series. The selection of this team was made after the top 32 waveskiers in the country, based on provincial seedings and results of the SAWSA President’s Colours trials, competed against each other.
The sunny and light north easterly wind conditions on Easter Friday did not deliver any big swell in the bay (normally big swell is generated by cold fronts and south westerly winds), and organizers had move the event to Beachview, where a perfect 3 – 4 foot offshore beach break condition prevailed. This is proof that Port Elizabeth is able to produce good surfing conditions in just about any weather condition. The SAWSA President’s Colours trial was surfed on Friday and Saturday. The selected members are as follows:
- Open Division (20 - 29 yrs)
- Justin Parry (Border)
- Johann Momberg (EP)
- Neal Stephenson (EP)
- Malan Calitz (WP)
- Craig Powell (Border)
- Gary McCracken (KZN)
- Pierre Slabber (WP)
- Daniel Nel (Border)
- Mike Fourie (EP)
- Craig Seale (EP)
- Anton van Greunen (KZN)
- Dian Esterhuizen (KZN)
- Naude Kotze (EP)
- Mario Mattraotti (Border)
- Ryan Griffith (KZN)
- Sean Holmes (Border)
- Chris te Braake (Border)
- Kola le Roux (Border)
- Les van der Veen (Border)
- Michelle Vieane (Border)
The third day produced a good 6 to 8 foot wave at Beachview, which were ideal conditions to determine who deserved to officially represent South Africa in the Team event. Later in the day a light south westerly onshore wind brought in more than sufficient swell, and it became evident that only the most experienced and fittest waveskiers were able to handle the hostile on-shore beach break conditions. And they did it with style and lots of aerial manoeuvers that stunned the crowds at this popular beach resort.
The top eight waveskiers to represent South Africa are as follows:
Johann Momberg (EP)
Mike Fourie (EP)
Neal Stephenson (EP)
Craig Seale (EP)
Justin Parry (Border)
Malan Calitz (WP)
Pierre Slabber (WP)
Gary McCracken (KZN)
From the results, it is evident that Eastern Province waveskiers, as in the past, produce the most competitive waveskiers in the Country. What makes Seale’s and Fourie’s achievements even more special is the fact that both are over 30 years of age and normally surf in the Senior’s category at SA Champs. Seale is the current SA Senior Champ, a title he took over from Fourie last year. However, the biggest upset and best individual achievement is surely the all-popular Neal Stephenson. Stephenson, a former SA and international bodyboard champion, only started waveskiing about a year ago after he lost his leg as result of a shark attack at Keurboomstrand near Plettenberg Bay in May 1998. His fighting spirit and natural ability to surf a wave on any craft was evident after he won his first waveski competition that he entered in December last year and instantly established himself as one of the top waveskiers in the country. Stephenson has now received national (Protea) colors for both Bodyboard and Waveski surfing, probably the first South African to achieve this honor in two different surfing disciplines.
Naude Kotze
Chairman: EPWSA
Johann Momberg(EP)
Mike Fourie(EP)
Neal Stephenson(EP)
Craig Seale(EP)
Justin Parry(Border)
Malan Calitz(WP)
Pierre Slabber(WP)
Gary McCracken(KZN)
