Groms Let Loose

TWO BY TWO: Two up and riding in two foot surf at Long Beach. Photo Grant Scholtz

The SAST Specialty event narrowly missed a sublime run of surf at Long Beach, falling straight in the middle of a spring-time lull as summer looms. The official name of the contest was the Sea Harvest Cape Crown presented by the Western Cape Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, which is quite a mouthful, but good to see local government getting involved.

Surfers competed in Under 12, 14, 18 and 21 divisions. Starting with the U21 women's division, Tayla de Coning took the win against Kira Hofmeyr, Emily Winter and Zoe Steyn.

Bryce du Preez won the U21 men's division (hard to call them boys or girls when you can drink and drive at the age of 18), with runner up Connor Slijpen, Eli Beukes and Brad Scott next down the line.

The busiest division was the U18 boys, with a field of 32 turning up. Brad Scott took first place, followed by Mitch du Preez, Luke van Wyk, and Luke Thompson. Interestingly, two U18 surfers who Interestingly, two U18 surfers who took 4th place in the U21 division above them went on to win their U18 age group.took 4th place in the U21 division above them went on to win their U18 age group. Luke Scott and Zoe Steyn held that achievement. Kira Hofmyer was runner up to Steyn in the girls U18 and Ceara Knight took 3rd, followed by Aimee du Preez.

Another busy division was the U16 boys, which was won by Connor Slijpen, with 21 athletes participating. Nate Colby wasn't far behind in the runner-up slot, while Surprise Maphumalo and Kura Bennie brought up the the last two spots in the final. Sarah Scott was the emphatic winner in the U16 girls, followed by Olivia Winter, Zia Hendricks and Nathania Nakos.

A bumper turnout was also felt in the U14 boys, with 24 athletes entering the fray. Long Beach local Levi Kolnik took the win, with Levi Epenetos, Josh Malherbe and Rory Dace filling out the last three spots. In the U14 girls, Anastasia Venter, Louise Lepront, Tyra van Mollendorff and Lily Heny made up the podium.

For the U12s, 19 surfers entered the boys division, with Kai Stubbs the winner. Ben Esterhuyse took 2nd, with Asbjorn Gwenin 3rd and Adam Faclier 4th. Emily Jenkinson won the U12 girls, followed by Ava Moodycliffe, Leah Lepront and Gabriella von Mollendorff.

For more results, and the numbers in more detail, go to Live Heats.

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