Steenberg youngster becomes the first black wave-rider to win national title

made the semis of the Open Women.

There are many young surfers “busting down the door”, as Aussie surfing pioneer Rabbit Bartholomew wrote in his famous book.

What a lot of people don’t know is that Benjamin almost did not go to East London. He was in a bit of a slump after the heady days of making the SA team to the World Games in Mexico earlier this year, and his second place in the SA Champs last year. Emslie was coach at the Games, and guess who won the SA Champs last year?

However, this year, things weren’t going quite so well. Benjamin hadn’t banked the results he wanted in the inaugural City Surf Series.

He told de Kock that he thought he might take some time out, and didn’t think he would go to East London.

De Kock used his considerable powers of persuasion to convince the youngster to reconsider, suggesting that should he do well, he would be right back in contention to wear the green blazer again.

The surf over the six days of the SA Champs was wild. A giant swell pummelled the East London coast. The people who made the finals in their respective divisions had battled adverse conditions to make it that far.

This was his chance. He took it with both hands.

Amazing what a difference a day makes.

An epic long range groundswell builds today, with 4-6’ sets peaking this afternoon at 10 foot with periods of 18 seconds. Winds, unfortunately, are strong SSE and not pure SE, which is a bit frustrating, but there will be waves for sure. Tomorrow looks properly epic – to use some hyped surfing hyperbole – because not only is the wind decreasing all day, it’s gone pure SE, which means offshore breezes gently brushing 6-8 foot waves into barrelling perfection. The swell gradually subsides all day.