Embarrassing for a sport that has just boosted its junior series to be biggest globally

of the City Surf Series.

The statement on the WSL website was short, and did not mention any details. “The WSL Discipline Committee today announced that Williams has been fined and suspended. Upon completing his suspension, Mr. Williams will be permitted to re-enter WSL competition with a probationary window extending to mid 2018.”

But between the lines, people at the beach say the apparent misconduct came via an expletive-laden rant at judges before VIPs and sponsors, which is embarrassing for a sport that has just boosted its junior series to be the biggest in the world, with no fewer than nine events for our juniors to choose from.

Unfortunately for the prodigiously talented youngster, who won the 2015 Quiksilver King of the Groms speciality contest out of the world’s best youngsters, the ban means he will miss a significant portion of these events because he can only surf in a contest again after July 31. It’s a desperately unhappy situation. The sanction will deny him a golden opportunity to further his career at a crucial time when he needs points to climb higher on the WSL Junior Qualifying Series. He is ninth on the WSL Africa Junior rankings but 119th in the world JQS rankings.

The ban also curtails his chance to improve on local results to make the national team for the world junior championships in October, and that’s without any censure by the governing body Surfing South Africa.

SSA General Manager Robin de Kock told me that they have to follow due process, according to their consti- tution, before coming to a decision, and more so because he is a minor. The WSL could come to a decision quicker because they’re a corporation.

While you wouldn’t wish any hardship on someone so talented, Sebastian is still young and has plenty of time to find his way. Perhaps this down time will induce posi- tive catharsis that points him along the path toward a top professional future, where he belongs.

Iconic braai maestro Jan Braai has come up with a novel MTB event. The Tour de Braai cruises the beautiful mountains of the Klein Karoo and the Western Cape over five days. Instead of gels and sticky foods, the water point is a lekker braai. See www.braai. com/braaitour/tour-de-braai/

The International Surfing Association has teamed up with the Association of Paddlesurf Professionals to consolidate the leadership and growth of the exploding sport of SUP worldwide.

The fourth stop on the WSL Championship Tour has relocated to Praia de Itaúna in the State of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil this year. The new location for the Oi Rio Pro has been previously utilised by WSL Qualifying Series events.

A thumping 8 foot swell hits today in fresh NW winds and frontal weather, but not enough rain sadly. Muizenberg will be fun, and quite solid. Could be four feet and clean offshore. Tomorrow, beautiful light SE winds and pumping surf again although Muizenberg goes a bit onshore, despite lots of swell.