The Lion King and Queen
Wednesday 24 March 2021 World Surf League Africa has released trophies for regional South African champions that bear the names of former world surfing title holders Shaun Tomson and Wendy Botha.
ROYAL HEADS UP: The trophies are named after Shaun Tomson and Wendy Botha. Photo Supplied
The WSL Africa Mens and Womens titles, which take on the iconic cat of Africa as their emblem, will carry the name of Tomson and Botha after Tomson won the title in 1977. Botha won the title four times in 1987, 1989, 1991 and 1992.
“This is such a huge honour and I am extremely proud to have my name on this trophy,” said Botha. “Women’s surfing in South Africa and around the world has come so far and it’s so exciting to follow, that it makes my heart soar. To all the future SA Womens Champions who hold this trophy high, I wish that all your dreams come true like they did for myself so many years ago!”
The Junior mens and womens trophies will feature lion cubs, and will honour former SA Junior Champions Jordy Smith and Heather Clark. Smith and Clark both won multiple SA titles and have The Junior mens and womens trophies will feature lion cubs, and will honour former SA Junior Champions Jordy Smith and Heather Clark.inspired many youngsters to pursue their surfing dreams of competing at the top level. “I am super stoked and honoured to have my name on one of the junior trophies,” said Clark, who won the SA Womens title eight times. “When I was competing, it would always be the coolest thing to see whose name was on the trophy you won, as we always aspired to be as good as the generations before us, the role models we look up to.”
If there was one piece of advice she could share with the up-and-coming surfers today, Clark said it would be perseverance. “As a female surfer, sponsors were few and far in between when my career started out. There were times when I didn't know how I was getting to the next contest or if I would even be able to raise the money to enter the competition, but I always persevered. With amazing support from my family and our community, endless fundraisers and selling raffle tickets, I always made it happen.”
The trophies were handcrafted by Jeffreys Bay surfer and local artist Martin Bakker.