Surfers from five districts flock to Victoria Bay
Eden Surfriders kept their winning title for the third consecutive year during the Vic Bay Quad held last weekend, from 3 to 5 May at Victoria Bay.
Ninety surfers from five districts travelled to Victoria Bay - one of the most popular surfing destinations in the country - for this yearly event.
The Vic Bay Quad is held in memory of the late John Pfaff who initiated the surfing event in 1976 as the then chairperson of the original Southern Cape Surfing Association.
"For Dad, surfing wasn’t just a sport, it was a way of life. He’d be thrilled to see people still flocking to Vic Bay for the Quadrangular,” his son David Pfaff said at the opening function last week when visiting competitors were welcomed to the Southern Cape.
The participating teams included Cape Town Surfriders, Cape Winelands Surfriders, Eden Surfriders (all in the Western Cape), Nelson Mandela Bay Surfriders and Buffalo City Surfriders (both in the Eastern Cape).
Wave action
Surfing South Africa's Ann Wright, the contest director, said the event was well attended as usual and competitors enjoyed beautiful weather. "The waves at Victoria Bay did not disappoint," said Wright, who is a surfer herself.
Those who came to take a peek over the weekend might have bumped into former world champion surfer Cass Collier from Cape Town Surfriders, who is considered a true legend by many.
Collier competed in the category for men over 50, where he took second place.
"The category winner, Charles Reitz of Eden Surfriders, said he felt honoured to compete with such a legendary surfer," said photographer Deidre Cloete, who described it as a real privilege to capture Collier in action.
Top surfriders
The Open ladies' winner was Tasha Mentasti of Eden Surfriders and the winner of the open men's category was Luke van Wyk of Cape Town Surfriders.
Other category winners: Shaun Joubert (men over 30, Eden Surfriders), Craig Johnston (men over 35, Cape Town Surfriders), Tyrell Johnson (men over 40, Buffalo City Surfriders), Tristan Johnson (men over 45, Buffalo City Surfriders) and Trevor Hansen (men over 60, Nelson Mandela Bay Surfriders).