Lightey Power!
Wednesday 24 April 2019 There will be no grumpy parents shouting from the sidelines, only stoke, at the second event in the Surf Emporium Western Cape Inter Schools Surfing League this weekend, writes Spike.
LINEUP: Nineteen teams competed in Round 1 of the League two weeks ago. Photo Supplied
About 19 or more frothing teams will vie for top honours at Muizenberg under the watchful eye of nine-time South African Surfing Champion Roxy Davis of Surf Emporium, who started the league. Boys and girls from around the pensinsula and beyond will compete together in a tag team format over 10 events.
The top seven results count towards the league winners, who will be announced at the end of the third term. Davis said: "Our goals are fun, participation and an introduction/exposure to team based competitive surfing which is at the heart of the series."
Davis started the league last year with her memory of how successful the Western Province League was between 2005 and 2008 when she was on the WP Comittee.
"It was so popular and the kids loved competing for their school. There has been such a need to bridge the gap between learning to surf and surfing national events."
JUDGING TRIO: You need logistical support to run a league, judges included. Photo Supplied
The Inter Schools league affords kids of all ages and all skill levels to participate, she said. "They learn to work as a team and interact with other groms from other schools while entering the contest arena."
The stength of the league format was that the teams form squads and more kids are able to get involved to "improve their surfing and be part of the surfing community. All schools are welcome, we encourage participation and want to let the groms know you don;t have to be the best surfer out there but the one having the most fun!"
Listen to
Roxy's Report on Event 1Davis said that based on the first event held in Muizenberg two weekends ago, the "enthusiasm, morale and team spirit amongst competitors, teachers, parents and supporters was a real testament to the essence of what surfing is all about".
None of that grumpy parents screaming at the kids from the sidelines that you get at certain rugby obsessed schools. At the moment, Llandudno A and Llandudno B rule the roost in the Junior League, while SACS A and Capricorn High head up the seniors.
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