South Coast Surf Classic
Presented by Jeep Apparel and Independent

Surfing South Africa
Scottburgh’s Main Beach
10 October 2009

Western Cape legends headlining November South Coast Surf Classic

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 5 October, 2009 : - - Scottburgh’s Main Beach will once again be hosting the South Coast Surf Carnival, presented by Jeep Apparel and Independent on Saturday. The popular annual water sports event which features longboarding, Stand Up Paddle Surfing (SUP), kayak fishing and kitesurfing divisions in a two day event on 7 and 8 November, is set to entertain the crowds at one of the KZN South Coasts most well-known surfing spots, as many of the legends of South African surfing have already confirmed their participation in the event.

Two such individuals are Ivan van Vuuren and Matthew Moir, Western Cape watermen who have achieved great successes in the surfing industry in very different ways. Van Vuuren, who has spent the last 17 years of his life in Hawaii, is regarded by many as one of the pioneers of one of surfing’s most recent, and fastest growing, derivatives – Stand Up Paddleboarding. Moir, a mainstay in the South African longboarding scene, has twice been crowned world champion, and is re-entering the contest arena after recently suffering a stroke.
 
Van Vuuren, who has represented South Africa in windsurfing, is truly a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to wave riding. “Depending on wave size and conditions, I will ride waves with a variety of boards whether its kitesurfing, windsurfing, longboarding, tow-in surfing and even body boarding, so I’m very open minded about just getting in the water and having fun with the right tool for the right conditions”.

Although he says that riding the regular short surfboard is his favourite discipline as “there is always something new to try, the challenge is always there to perfect a certain manoeuvre, you can put me on a wooden door and I’ll be happy as long as I am in the waves having fun”.

His first experience of riding a SUP was in Maui, Hawaii, over six years ago when he and a few friends “jumped on large tandem surfboards and used wooden outrigger type of paddles to paddle and catch waves. It was about two years after that when the media got sight of the sport and it literally took off around the world, and today it is one of the fastest growing water sports”.

 Van Vuuren has not entered many contests of late, as he is usually on the other side of the lens when it comes to surfing, and other extreme sports. He has “mainly helped to organize events, most times have been filming other guys having all the fun so competing this year will be a nice change of scenery!”

Van Vuuren, who is now back living in South Africa at Melkbos just outside of Cape Town, will be competing in the SUP event at the South Coast Surf Classic. Having started surfing at the tender age of 9, and competing a few years later at the age of 15, Van Vuuren’s wealth of experience and status as one of the pioneers of SUP makes him one of the favourites for the SUP title at this year’s event.

When the SALSA (South African Longboard Surfing Association) sanctioned longboarding division kicks off at this year’s South Coast Surf Carnival, defending champ Jason Ribbink (Durban) will be keeping his eye on two-time ISA (International Surfing Association) champion Matthew Moir (Cape Town). Moir, the premier longboarder in the country and one of the best in the world, is lucky to even be competing again, having recently suffered from a stroke which left the right side of his body completely paralysed.

Moir described the experience as “so scary”, but thanks to the fact that he was fit and healthy before the blood clot on his brain caused the stroke, was able to fully recover. Thankfully, he was also able to get the correct medication in time, and “is just stoked to be alive”. Moir also believes that his swift return to the competitive area was thanks to his family, wife Kim and son Riley, who “have always been there for me, especially this year after my stroke, they got me back in the line up and pushed me when I needed it”.

Moir first started surfing thanks to his parents, who introduced him to the sport when he was 6 years old at Muizenberg. His first board, a 5'11 Tich Paul single fin, meant that he started out as a shortboarder, and only started longboarding at the age of 16, thanks to his brother. His talent was obvious when he won the first longboard contest he entered – SA Champs at Durban where he claimed the junior division title.

This was merely the beginning as, over the next few years Moir would dominate the local and international longboard arena, claiming 6 national titles, 2 ISA World titles, the Rabbit Kekai Costa Rica Longboard Pro, as well as the South Coast Surf Carnival Longboard title in 2007.

Over the course of a very successful career, Moir has grown to love competing, “it is a great feeling when you come out the water and you know you have done well. I have learnt that, win or lose, you have to take it as it comes and lucky for me I have had more wins than losses and I’m having fun. Surfing is amazing and I love being in the ocean and surfing different waves all around the world”.

The South Coast Carnival is sponsored by Tourism South Coast, Jeep Apparel and Independent on Saturday. Contributing sponsors to the event Island Style, Pick’n Pay Scottburgh, Bilt Surfboards, Thermo Plastic Concepts & Equipment (TCE), Maisch Fins, Nestle Pure Life Water, Natural Curve surfboards, Bokomo, Ocean 2 Air Kitesurfing, Southern Comfort J Bay Accommodation, Cyclone Kiteboarding, Pro Class Wetsuits, uShaka Surf and Adventures,Specsavers and Aunty YO’s.

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