KZN Para Surfing Championships 2022
After the early morning rain, the clouds parted as the first heat entered the water at Addington Beach, Durban for the KZN Para Surfing Championships 2022.
Two-to-three-foot runners made for smooth and contestable conditions for KZN'S best para surfers to display their skills. A total of 40 surfers competed in the various divisions, including Stand, Kneel, Sit, Prone and Blind and Visually Impaired to name a few.
Everywhere you looked there were smiling faces, from volunteers to water assists to family members and surfers, just in awe of the perfect day we had been blessed with.
This year, it was all about the newcomers coming in and giving the old dogs a run for their money. It was so wonderful to see the guys coming up the ranks from our adaptive surfing programme to surf in their first contest and absolutely dominate. Similo Dlamini, Lerato Seroke, Alwande Mhlongo, Asande Sibisi, Alwande Mthembu and Tiaan du Plessis all took the win in their various divisions.
A special mention to newcomer, Mark Charlesworth in the prone assist division, who soared his way through the semi-final with an excellent heat score of 16.5, scoring an 8.5 and an 8.0 to secure his spot in the final. Mark finished in an incredible 2nd place, beating many of the more established surfers in the hotly contested division.
Another special mention was to stand out surfer Asande Sibisi in the Visually Impaired division who beat previous South African representatives, Sabelo Ngema and Erynn Geddie who got 2nd and 3rd respectively. Asande is the one to look out for as we head to the National Para Surfing Championships in May.
It was not all about the newcomers though, as long-time surfer Natashia Siebert showed how hard work, bravery and commitment was the right combination to take the win over rivals Alulutho Tshoba, Jodie Kroone and Zizipho Zukulu in the women's prone assist division.
South African representatives and beach announcers for the day, Doug Hendrikz, Tracy McKay and David Williams, showed that multi-tasking is no problem for them as they all managed to clinch their 2nd consecutive provincial titles.
This is what our newly crowned prone assist men’s champion, Oliver Sinclair had to say about the day, "What an amazing day...amazing friends, amazing conditions, amazing volunteers, new friends, the best family ever. Days like this do not come around often... super grateful and blessed to be a part of the Made for More family"
A massive thank you to VUM Insurance for making this event financially possible as well as other fantastic local businesses who came on board to sponsor the day. The sponsors included SMTH Shapes, Hewitt and Associates, Surf HQ, Trophy Centre, Thirsti, Switch Energy Drink, Pizza Boyz Florida Road, Talisman Hire Umhlanga and Marine Surf Lifesaving Club.
Events like this would not be possible without the water assists and volunteers who give of their time with huge hearts and even bigger smiles.
We look forward to welcoming the best Para Surfers in the country on the 20th to 22nd of May at New Pier, Durban where we will be selecting the National Para Surfing team for 2022.
The official results are as follows:
Stand 1 Men:
1. Awande Mhlongo (Mandeni)
Stand 3 Men:
1. Lerato Seroke (Newcastle)
Kneel / Sit Women:
1. Similo Dlamini (New Germany)
Kneel / Sit Men:
1. David Williams (Glen Anil)
Waveski Men:
1. Doug Hendrikz (Forest Hills)
2. Martin Ferreira (Pretoria)
Prone 1 (Unassist) Women:
1. Tracy McKay (Bluff)
Prone 1 (Unassist) Men:
1. Tiaan du Plessis (Bluff)
2. Ricardo Mateus (Westville)
Prone 2 (Assist) Women:
1. Natashia Siebert (Kingsburgh)
2. Alulutho Tshoba (Cleremont)
3. Jodie Kroone (Botha’s Hill)
4. Zizipho Zukulu (Pinetown)
5. Smangele Mfeka (KwaMashu)
6. Phumelelisiwe Pearl Mbele (Umlazi)
7. Sanelisiwe Kweyama (Umlazi)
8. Zubeida Bux (Durban Central)
Prone 2 (Assist) Men:
1. Oliver Sinclair (Winston Park)
2. Mark Charlesworth (Assagay)
3. Justin Govender (Parlock)
4. James Sinclair (Morningside)
5. Camryn Tanner (Bluff)
6. Thabiso Mabaso (Hillcrest)
7. Nathaniel Naidoo (Merebank)
VI Assist Men:
1. Melwa Ngema (Eshowe)
2. Zolani Dube (KwaMashu)
3. Storm Schwartz (Doonside)
VI Assist Women:
1. Alwande Mthembu (Bluff)
VI 1 Men:
1. Danito Mondlane (Berea)
VI 2 Men:
1. Asande Sibisi (Nqutu)
2. Sabelo Ngema (Eshowe)
3. Erynn Geddie (Glenwood)
All Inclusive Prone Women:
1. Chloe Malcomess (Kloof)
All Inclusive Prone Men:
1. Charles Phillips (Westville)
2. Krishiv Kutwaro (Howick)
3. Peter Comrie (Westville)
All Inclusive Stand Men:
1. Sean Thompson (Ramsgate)
2. Atang Moabi (Umbilo)
3. Jarryd Smith (Sheffield Beach)
4. Anthony Eastwood (Austerville)
