Longboard Champs

SWELL ETA: The swell is forecast to arrive during the afternoon tomorrow. Photo Windy

Province face stiff competition from hosting province EP, while world traveller and multiple Open Men's champion Justin Bing (Eden) is a strong contender for individual honours.

International surfing celebrity from the USA and previous Cobbles Queen, Shannon Hughes, will be eyeing the Open Women’s title with interest in the building swell, which should arrive tomorrow afternoon with solid 4-5 foot sets.

The event, which this year celeberates its 30th anniversary, will be the biggest Longboarding Champs Ever with a sixth team joining the ranks: Buffalo City, East London.

FULL STOP: Levi Mayes is a talented youngster set to do well in board riding. Photo Supplied

Buffalo City follows the inclusion of iLembe in 2018. This year's event, which runs from today to 1st May, comprises 170 surfers. Paul O'Connell of the Western Province Longboarding Association says: "it's the biggest championships we have ever hosted and one of the biggest surfing events ever held in Africa.

"The open men’s division alone has 36 competitors while the open women’s division has 20 competitors."

O'Connell said that the longboard championships was a family event and "we expect to bring 400 or more visitors to the Eastern Cape". Divisions range from U14 to Divas (45+) & Legends (60+).

DIVA: Bernie Shelley is a stalwart of WP surfing who survived a hip op. Photo Nerve Productions