Aran Moore

Aran Moore. Pics: Athena Lamberis

Friends said that Moore, who Jordy Smith once rated as one of the toughest opponents and greatest rivals he had ever surfed against as a junior, had a going-away party on Saturday night for a five-year bursary to the States, but passed away in his room on Sunday.

"I just don't understand why it had to happen like this. Everything was going so good for young Aran. He had won a five-year scholarship, he was going overseas, his surfing was red-hot, and he was enjoying some modelling work," said a surfing official responding to speculation around the circumstances of his death.

Moore, who according to one surfer was the best ranked junior surfer in South Africa several years ago, was a regular member of the Western Province junior team, and was a well-known face on the pavements and beaches of Muizenberg.

Aran in his element in J-Bay last year

According to a communique sent by Western Province Surfing, "he was a prominent and wonderfully talented junior competitor and free surfer for many years and a friend to many of us".

"Many of us will remember his great and spirited performance at Port Elizabeth in the National Junior Championships Contest in 2007 when he contributed to the Western Province Victory in the President's Cup."

"Our deepest condolences go to Chris and the family in this very difficult time."

There will be a memorial service for Aran at 4.30pm on Friday 6 March at Muizenberg Junior School hall. The service will be followed by a paddle-out at Surfers' Corner in which surfers will salute Aran's life.

Everyone is welcome to the special service, as well as the tribute to Aran in the water afterwards.