University Surf Championships 2011 Take-to Vic Bay

To surfers the month of June conjures up special images. Cold fronts pummelling the coast, bringing with them massive swell and epic surf. But for student surfers the month of June holds more than just the prospect of good surf. Exams loom large early in the month but towards the end of June there is a blinding light at the end of the dark tunnel of all night study sessions and exam trauma. In last week of June the top surfers from South Africa’s coastal universities meet for the annual University Surf Championships.

Dating back to 1968, the fierce rivalry in the water is equally matched by the unique party atmosphere on land. The competitive atmosphere was fostered in the first 26 years of the event by alternating the venue between Durban and the Cape. But then in 1994 the newly formed University Sport governing body took over the organising of the event and decided to make Seal Point the championships official home. For 16 years the sleepy holiday resort of Cape St. Francis was battered by hordes of students every June, before the decision was made to move the 2010 event south to Victoria Bay. The 2011 event sees the amphitheatre like Vic Bay once again hosting the event from the 27^th to the 29^th of June.

With the first hooter sounding at eight thirty, Clinton Gravett will be first surfer in the water. He’ll the looking to defend the title he won last year against the best surfers from the campuses of UCT, CPUT, Varsity College, Stellenbosch, Rhodes University, UKZN and his own NMMU team-mates. Clinton will have a new challenge this year as his main rival from 2010, Kyle Beach has graduated. But with the seemingly ever present Josh Salie still pulling on the contest vest for UCT, Clinton will have to be sharp if he is to become the first back to back winner since Mikhail Thompson did the repeat in 05-06.

In the ladies division Sarah Nicholson is back to defend her 2010 crown, but 2009 winner Lisa Mace is eager to put her devastating 2010 semi-final behind her. Lisa paid the price for a poor call by the set spotters and jumped at the worst possible time. She took an entire set on the head and got washed down the point, ending up between the pillars of Vic Bay’s pear. Despite not losing her fins Lisa was unable to recover in time and had to bow out at the semi-final stage.

2011 also sees the inception of a new overall trophy for the university who gathers the most points in both the men’s and women’s events. The new trophy provides the other sides with the opportunity of breaking the NMMU men and UCT ladies strangle hold on the respective gender’s titles.

So with close on a hundred student surfers taking over Vic Bay until Wednesday the normally sleepy coastal resort is sure to be a hive of activity. And as their reputation precedes them, the fathers of the Southern Cape have already locked up their daughters. 33 years of SA Universities surfing history is hard to refute, the intensity of surfing is matched out of water by wild partying. Producing a crucible, from which only the most resolute can emerge as champion.