Billabong SA Grommet Games

​Port Elizabeth will host the 24th edition of Billabong SA Grommet Games at Pollock Beach in Port Elizabeth from Thursday to Sunday.

Over 100 surfers representing six districts out of three provinces will compete in the 24th edition of the Billabong South African Grommet Games which gets under way at Pollock Beach in Port Elizabeth this Thursday and ends on Sunday.
 
The tournament is supported by Billabong, the Department of Sport and Recreation SA and the National Lotteries Commission and will officially get under way this Wednesday evening at7.00pm when the official opening function takes place in the Victoria Park Grey Primary School Hall.
 
A highlight of the evening is bound to be a presentation by respected South African Big Wave surfer, Matthew Bromley. The Billabong Team rider recently surfed some huge waves in Hawaii and his presentation on this experience is bound to enthrall the young surfers. Another Billabong surfer, Josh Enslin, will also be on hand on Wednesday night to share a few anecdotes on his Guinness World Record set at the Pipe in December last year.
 
The annual hosts of the SA Grommet Games are the Nelson Mandela Bay Surf riders.
 
The SA Grommet Games ( or SA Development Championships as it was called in the early 90’s) was Introduced into South African surfing culture after unification in 1991 and is a transformation and development tournament that gives young surfers from around the country an opportunity to compete for their respective districts in a major surfing contest. 
 
Many South African surfers who began their competitive surfing careers at the Grommet Games have gone on to compete in National Championships and other elite tournaments and a number have represented South Africa in International competitions.

The Billabong SA Grommet Games is regarded by Surfing South Africa as a vital and important tournament and takes its place with distinction alongside other major National events as a defining tournament on the Surfing South Africa calendar. 

Girls and boys from different backgrounds, communities and cultures are represented across the eight divisions with the youngest surfers in the contest competing in the Under 9 Boys and Girls Divisions and the oldest participants taking part in the competitive Under 15 Boys and Girls group.

The Grommet Games highlights the ongoing transformation process within Surfing South Africa and districts are set strict criteria when it comes to selecting their teams.
 
While much of the focus is on surfing, events such as a paddle battle, beach flags and a tag team surfing competition are included in the activities that take place over the four days.
 
The Team with the highest points total will take home the Mandela Bay Trophy, which was won by Cape Town Surf riders in 2015 while the team that displays the most spirit and support during the contest will win the coveted Team Spirit Trophy.
 
Teams competing at this year’s event are from City of Cape Town Surfriders, Cape Winelands Surfriders, Eden Surfriders, Buffalo City Surfriders Association, eThekweni Surfriders, Ugu Surfriders Association and the hosts, Nelson Mandela Bay Surfriders.
 
The Billabong SA Grommet Games is supported by Billabong, the Department of Sport and Recreation South Africa and Lotto. The event is presented by Surfing South Africa and hosted by the Nelson Mandela Surfriders.
 
Surfing South Africa is the recognized governing body for the sport in South Africa and a member of the South African Confederation of Sport and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA).

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