Lizzard Tag Series #3

Surfing South Africa
St Michaels On Sea, KZN South Africa
13 September 2008

Difficult surf as strong winds blast Lizzard Tag Series

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 15 September, 2008 : - - Lizzard Tag Series event # 3 was held at St Mikes on Saturday in the strongest North East wind seen on the KwaZulu-Natal coastline all year. Although the contest got underway in relatively calm conditions, by 10am the surf was turned into a washing machine making it very difficult for the juniors competing in this team surfing event.

Surfers had to use all their ocean skills to make sure they were able to get out to backline, avoid the side wash and get into a position to find scoring waves. Despite the wind, the groms had fun and there was a strong competitive spirit between the teams. One standout was nine year old Wesley Goodwin who narrowly missed getting washed onto the sharp rocks by the strong rip current in heat two of the morning.

Using his nipper lifesaving training, Wesley managed to signal to the judges that he was in trouble but bravely made it back to the beach on his own to tag his team mates. Although badly shaken from his frightening ordeal, he still managed to catch the required number of waves in heat three which ensured that his team ‘The Sharks’ made it through to the final.

The five person teams competing included boys and girls, provincial surfers and rookies. Each 40 minute heat was run using the International Surfing Association's tag team rules and Southern KZN Surfing Association’s Henry Oppel, Andre Botha and Lyn Maisch worked hard to ensure the event ran smoothly.

With a time limit adding pressure, each team member had to catch two waves, leave the water and tag a teammate in their enclosure. Surfers needed to finish within the time limit to avoid losing points and hope that their Power surfer did enough on each of his or her three counting waves to see the team through to the next round.

The R2 500 first place prize was won by team ‘Bombers’ who managed to secure nine high scoring rides in the testing onshore conditions. They were followed by team ‘Sharks’ who placed second ahead of team ‘Potatoes’ in third and team ‘Hobos’ in fourth place.

Check out an online picture gallery from the St Mikes event; go to lizzardsurf.net (click on the Tag Series banner on the home page). The next Lizzard Tag Series event will be held on the KZN North Coast on 22 November.

www.lizzardsurf.net
www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za  

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Mike Frew

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