32 South African surfers. One day. And incredible waves at one of the world’s finest beach breaks, New Pier in Durban. All of these ingredients combine to create a unique surf contest, the Cell C Goodwave surfing event, which is presented by South African Surfing Legends and sanctioned by the World Surf League as a specialty event. The event is a different take on traditional surfing tournaments and is one of the most eagerly-awaited events on the SA surfing calendar.
The Cell C Goodwave contest is invite-only, and 32 South African surfers and 32 alternates have been invited to participate. They will compete against each other in four-man heats in a sudden death format until only one winner is left standing, to claim R100 000 in prize money. It’s an adrenaline-packed day that showcases high-performance surfing and celebrates the talent of these exceptional athletes and the surfers that have been invited to participate are an exciting mix of established SA names and new surfing talent.
To make the competition even more intense, the event is only held when organisers and weather experts have determined that conditions will be ideal for big swells. Only once the forecast looks promising is the event green-lit, and athletes are called a mere 48 hours in advance to notify them to gather for the big day. The waiting period for the 2017 event opened on 1 February 2017 and the anticipation is building.
Barry Wolins, a legendary South African surfer, founded the event as a straightfor-ward, all-out contest that focuses on the surfers and is designed to challenge tech-nical ability, stamina and sheer determination. His passion for surfing began 44 years ago and through his association with South African Surfing Legends, he is helping to inspire, mentor and develop South African surfing talent for future generations. SA Surfing Legends believes that the rich knowledge and dedication to the sport shared by SA surfing greats can be harnessed to help promote the sport and encourage young athletes to do SA proud. According to Gavin Varejes, South African Surfing Legends’ number one fan and Executive Advisor, “True legends don’t just perform athletically, they also give back and make a difference. SA Surfing Legends keeps the SA flag flying proudly and promotes the local surf scene. The amazing Cell C Goodwave event is one example of this and it is a com-petition of the highest calibre.”
For more information on the event go to www.thegoodwave.co.za
The excitement mounts as the waiting period for the Cell C Goodwave surfing event opens
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