Perfect waves expected for Durban Surf Carnival

Going for a Walk - Jeep Team Rider Ross Lahana (WC) is another likely contender for the Open Longboarding division at the Durban Surf Carnival presented by Jeep Apparel . Ross was a finalist at last year’s Surf Carnival. Image Courtesy Paul Godwin/Nerve Events

With only two weeks to go before South Africa’s top watermen and women descend on Durban, there is no shortage of talent as the entries continue to fly in for this much-anticipated event. The Durban Surf Carnival presented by Jeep Apparel is set to take place at New Pier from 15 to 17 June 2012 and given the recent excellent surf, the organizers are expecting perfect winter waves for the event. The Durban Surf Carnival consists of a Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) event, a Waveski contest as well as a Longboard surfing championships.

All of the divisions are filling up quickly and at this stage it appears as though the Western Cape is going to dominate by numbers in the SUP and Longboard events, with a major showing of Eastern Cape surfers in the Wave ski division. The weather predictions show favourable conditions for the event with several cold fronts heading up the east coast, this usually means perfect winter swell conditions for Durban’s protected beachfront.

Due to the high number of entries, the organisers have the option of utilising split venues for this event.


“The Durban Surf Carnival will provide a perfect opportunity for members of the public to watch the cream of the Stand Up Paddleboarding, Longboarding and Waveski surfers in action,” cites Paul Godwin of Nerve Events.

“The Competitors are ecstatic about being able to compete at New Pier, they are also very grateful to the locals for their patience over the three days and we have a great contingent of local surfers taking part too."

Top SUP surfers taking part include the 2011 SUP Carnival Champion Brandon Ribbink (Berea, Durban) and Penny Stemmet (WP) who surfed for SA earlier in the year in the ISA SUP World Champs.

Longboarders tipped to excel include Josch Schmeltzer and Brad Weare (Durban) both finalists in this year's SALSA SA Longboarding Championships and the 2012 SA Masters Longboard Champion and Jeep Apparel Team rider Dylan Macleod (EP) will also be in the running for the Open Longboard crown.  Multiple Surfing Champion Craig Daniel (Bluff) is amongst the favorites expected to dominate in the Over 35 long boarding division.

The Durban Surf Carnival showcases lesser known wave riding sports and has been endorsed by the City of Durban, "Surf City", with its ongoing goal to market Durban as a surfing destination for all ocean-user groups.

The event will offer other surprises and action for the contestants and the general public who can get involved in the ‘Snapshot’ photo competition and a free surfing clinic.

The Mad Dog Surf School which has become a regular feature of the event will be run by Shaun Sellman and his experienced crew will be giving free surfing lessons open to all members of the public.

The Waveski event is sanctioned  by the SA Waveski Surfing Association.

Sponsors include the City of Durban - Durban “the warmest place to be”, Jeep Apparel, and Independent on Saturday

Support Sponsors are Red Bull, Thule, Naish SUP, Natural Curve Surfboards, Nestle Pure Life Water, Bokomo. Container Conversions, Mad Dog Surf School, Maisch Fins, Nescafe, Pro Class Wetsuits, Thermo Plastic Concepts & Equipment (TCE), Carling Black Label and Nando’s.

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