Kowie makes a big splash
Organisers ‘stoked’ after successful Port Alfred Easter Festival
The inaugural Port Alfred Easter Festival with anchor sponsor Royal St Andrews Hotel in the driver’s seat has been hailed a huge success after a bumper weekend of festivities with the Rip Curl Cup and Rip Curl GromSearch competitions taking centre stage.
Joint sponsor Sea Harvest, with back-up from the Port Alfred Business Forum and Sunshine Coast Tourism, ensured the Easter Festival programme has a bright future ahead.
With the surfing and bodyboarding competitions adding a colourful vibe to the West and East Beach precincts, the Sunshine Coast Tennis Open, Sunshine Coast Open Pairs Bowls, Sunshine Coast Croquet Challenge, Royal Port Alfred Golf Club Easter 2 Ball Alliance, Easter parkrun, Nemato Change a Life handball exhibition tournament on the beach, Port Alfred Rock and Surf Club Species Spectacular fishing competition and the Cycle Asylum/Port Alfred Round Table family-friendly 10km fun ride ensured scores of people of all ages had an active Easter weekend.
Add to that the Masimbambisana Boxing Development tournament, with former world champion boxer Vuyani “The beast” Bungu making an appearance as the VIP guest, it all ensured an upbeat and something-todo atmosphere throughout the festival.
Royal St Andrews Hotel MD Justin Bekker said he was proud of everyone involved in organising the festival, with every event pulled off “exceptionally well”.
“It was amazing to see the buzz around town and how much everyone was enjoying themselves,” said Bekker.
“Especially overhearing comments from visitors saying how amazing our locals are and how beautiful the town is. We’ve had nothing but positive feedback and it was better than we could have imagined.
“A big thank you to everyone who helped make it happen, from sponsoring and organising to even just spreading the word, the people of Port Alfred came together in a massive way which I don’t think has ever been seen before.
“We cannot wait to pull it off again next year, the ideas have already started flowing. Thank you, Port Alfred!”
Wouter Hensens, of Sunshine Coast Tourism, said the festival was “an amazing success”.
“Visitors and guests alike enjoyed themselves thoroughly and as SCT [Sunshine Coast Tourism] we are delighted at how everything came together.
“A special thanks to Justin Bekker who was instrumental in sponsoring, hosting and running some of the key events.
“Also Clinton Millard, Ed Gutsche and Lauren Meyer deserve recognition for going over and above in bringing everyone and everything together.
“I hope to see this become an annual festival for everyone to enjoy.”
Port Alfred Business Forum chair Clinton Millard, who is also vicechairperson of the SA Bodyboarding Association, said the festival was a great shot-in-the-arm for business in the region.
“The event is exactly what we’ve been needing in Port Alfred.
“We saw retail business soar, and accommodation and hospitality establishments being full and producing a great service. The large influx of people is what we needed to help through the quiet times.
“But all hats off must go to the main event organisers, Royal St Andrews Hotel,” Millard said.
Of the Royal St Andrews Hotel SA Bodyboarding Challenge, which he coorganised, he said: “It was a great event with riders from all around the country who came down to see what the surf had to offer. And they all really enjoyed it with the added extra events.
“So we are ready to host the SA national champs in September.”
Not forgetting the surfers who found time to play despite a packed programme of surfing.
Cape Town surfer Sam Winter said in between heats: “It’s been a great weekend … I had a jol last night and can’t wait for what’s to come next.”
Another surfer, Loghan Tilsley, said the event had been “super, super sick [impressive] … it’s a super-sick venue … and great people to be around”.
Cape Town’s Remi Fourie had been in Port Alfred for a month in the buildup to the Rip Curl GromSearch and Open competitions to prepare.
“I am super excited … because this [Port Alfred] is an amazing place and needs this kind of exposure as to how
great a place it is,” she said. “So I am super excited to surf the competitions [GromSearch and Rip Curl Cup] and I’m here just to have fun also.”
The founder of Masimbambisana Boxing Academy who hosted the development tournament, Monwabisi Hans, was high in his praise of the organisation of the Festival.
“A big thank you to Royal St Andrews, Pick n Pay, Wharf Street and each and every one who helped us host this tournament… especially Mr Ncapayi from Ndlambe Municipality for providing the hall.
“I’m very very excited and really appreciate everything.”
Ann Wright, vice-president of Surfing SA and contest director for the weekend’s surfing events said: “Port Alfred is a great venue for everyone to showcase surfing and bodyboarding at the Rip Curl GromSearch and Rip Curl Cup.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be here, actually very stoked to be here … there is a festival going on and we are
excited. Surfing SA is very proud of the GromSearch hosting …”
A highlight of the Festival (for some, the main highlight) was the town’s first ever Bands on the Beach concert, headlining with Arno Carstens and featuring Georgetown, aKING, WONDERboom, and December Streets.
The goal of the event was to raise funds for Port Alfred’s NSRI Station 11, with a target of R150,000 from a portion of ticket sales.
Safety was a priority during the weekend.
NSRI volunteers monitored the river and the sea from key lookout points during the surfing events on East Beach.
SAPS reinforcements included the Mounted Unit from East London, much to the delight of those attending the Good Times Fair on the River.
In addition to their usual duties, Multi Security maintained a strong presence at West beach during the setup and running of the Bands on the Beach concert.