Waveski Champs 2017

DOUBLE WIN: Bruce Viaene heads out for the final heat at Kitchen Windows. Photo Supplied

If you had come down to Magna Tubes on Thursday or Friday or to Kitchen Windows, where the last day of contest was held on Saturday, you would have seen that the niche sport of waveski is alive and kicking.

Solid, fast-breaking Magnas proved the perfect mix of rippability for the top SA waveski guys vying for the South African title. The stakes were high. A place in the SA team to surf in the World Champs in Spain next year. As a result, the surfing proved brilliant entertainment for supporters, fellow competitors and judges alike, with epic waves resulting in excellent scores.

The event kicked off on Thursday where athletes battled from 08h00 until sunset, representing their province in the following divisions: Grand Masters, Masters, Veterans, Seniors, New Age or the Kadet/Juniors.

AERATION: Viaene vies for the win with a solid air floater. Photo Supplied

On Friday the Open division kicked off. The most popular stage of the contest, the Open division welcomes waveski riders of all ages to compete for the South African Waveski Championship title, with two days of intense surfing that ended on Saturday evening.

Due to unfavourable winds and swell at Magna Tubes, Contest Director Chris Jones moved to Kitchen Windows for the final day. This proved to be a good call, with long 2–3 foot walls reeling down the reef.

In a hard-fought four-man final, Bruce Viaene (Border) pulled off the moves he needed to claim gold. Neal Stephenson (WP) showed great class taking second place ahead of Steph Le Roux 3rd (WP) and Gerhardus Van Zyl 4th (WP).

WAVE SKIING: Gerhardus van Zyl flew into the finals with moves like this. Photo Supplied

This year, Viaene picked up his paddle competitively for the first time since 2007 with the dream of competing at the Waveski SA Champs this August.

"A dream without a PLAN is just a wish. I never really expressed my dream to win both South African titles, other than within my close inner circle. My dream was put in place with hard work on my weaknesses and perfecting my strengths" shared Viaene after claiming his SA Champ title on Saturday night.

Open Results:
1.Bruce Viaene (BDR)
2.Neal Stephenson (WP)
3.Steph Le Roux (WP)

Junior/Cadet:
S.Liam Kerr Smith (KZN)
2.Marcus Esterhuyse (WP)
3.Francois Roesstoff (BDR)

New Age:
1.Bruce Viaene (BDR)
2.Gerhardus Van Zyl
3.Duran Martin (KZN

Senior:
1.Ant Stott (KZN)
2.Brandon Flynn (BDR)
3.Rob Smith (BDR)

Masters:
1.Percy Louw (WP)
2.Rory Taylor (WP)
3.Neal Stephenson (WP)

Grand Masters:
1.Steph Le Roux (WP)
2.Chris Jones (WP)
3.Jan Brand (BDR)

Veterans:
1.Charl du Plessis WP
2.Danie Nel (WP)
3.Darryl Moodie (KZN)