SA Surfing Awards goes 80's

Themed “80s”, the recent South African Surfing Awards was awash with day-glo colours and headbands as the surfing fraternity of South Africa donned their somewhat dated regalia and ill-fitting pants to rock out like the old days.

The awards aims to celebrate the achievements of those within in the SA surfing scene, but it could just be an excuse to dress up and party. Greg Swart, ex pro surfer and MC of the evening led by example and pulled out the eye make-up, justifying his self beautification by claiming that back in the 80’s chicks dug guys who wore make up. It sounds dubious, but who am I to claim false, I was still eating sarmies out of plastic lunch boxes back then.

Arguably the most prestigious award of the ceremony is South Africa’s “Surfer of the Year”, and even those not au fait with our crop of surfing talent will probably have heard something about Jordy Smith, who received the award. Jordy has been labelled as South Africa’s wunderkind, and not without reason. He has freakish talent, doing things most surfers don’t even consider, and is currently sitting at 2nd in the ASP world rankings.

Other awards included Chris Bertish winning the “Pushing the Boundaries” award for his win at the Mavericks big wave surfing competition. Against the odds, with little sleep and borrowed equipment Bertish proved that he was a force to be reckoned with through his fearless approach.

A sweet red cherry on the top for him was being awarded his Springbok blazer, along with Grant “Twiggy” Baker, by Surfing South Africa’s Robin De Kock. This recognition of South Africa’s big wave surfers as Springbok athletes and true ambassadors will certainly encourage the already impressive crop of young guns to pursue the brave, crazy sport of big wave surfing.

Taylor Knox, long time WCT campaigner and guest speaker at the awards later pointed to the disco balls adorning the tables and claimed Twiggy and Chris must be donning them in their undergarments, because they charged so hard.

The Blowing Up Performer Award, which is for an under 20 surfer in the country who has done as the name of the award suggests, was given to Beyrick de Vries, which was fitting after De Vries’s recent victory at the Mr Price Pro Ballito Juniors.

The Surf Photographer of the Year award was won by stalwart lensman Greg Ewing, and this decision was ratified by a slide show of some of Greg’s shots, which unarguably showed a great eye and aesthetic sensibility.

Surfing legends of the country welcomed three more into the illustrious Surfing Hall of fame, namely; Peers Pittard, Christine Petrucci (1942-2009) and Hugh Roe. They join the other bullets that helped shape surfing in this country from the foundations up.

On a slightly different tangent, the 'Agent of Change Award' went to Cecil Solomon, president of Surfing South Africa and an active component in the development and transformation of the sport in South Africa. Solomon gave a short, concise and humble thank you speech, after receiving what was possibly one of the most important awards of the evening.

The competitive surfers of the country were also honoured at the ceremony with floating trophies. Royden Bryson took the ASP Africa’s trophy for the Men’s Division, Chad du Toit took the Pro Junior Men and Sarah Baum the Pro Junior Women.

Bianca Buitendag won the SSA Pro Surf Tour (PST) Pro Junior Girls, Chris Leppan took the Pro Junior Boys, with Gary van Wieringen winning the Men’s division and Chantal Rautenbach the Women’s.

Top performing South Africans who are on the ASP were also recognised and included Nikita Robb (ASP #16), Rosanne Hodge (ASP #12), Travis Logie (ASP #30) and Jordy Smith (ASP #2).