SA Interclub comp at Jbay

Jeffrey’s Bay to host the 2014 Billabong South African Interclub Championships this weekend.

Twelve teams representing eleven surf clubs from all parts of South Africa will be in action at Kitchen Windows in Jeffrey’s Bay this weekend where the second annual Billabong SA Interclub Championships is scheduled to take place.

The Billabong SA Interclub Championships is presented by Surfing South Africa, supported by the Department of Sport and Recreation South Africa and hosted by the J Bay Boardriders Surf Club who won the tournament in Yserfontein on the West Coast of Cape Town last February.

In winning the event in February 2013 the J Bay Boardriders earned the right to chose their “stadium” for this year’s and enter two teams into the contest.

The Eastern Cape is well represented by a total of seven surf clubs. These are made up of the J Bay Boardriders, the JBU and the J Bay Surf Club, all of whom draw their membership from the Jeffrey’s Bay community, the powerful CYOH Surf Club and fellow Port Elizabeth clubs Sunset, the oldest surf club in South Africa, and the newly formed Gravitas Surf Club. The Kowie Boardriders Club from Port Alfred will be joining their Eastern Cape counterparts at the event for the first time.

Last year’s hosts, the well organized West Coast Boardriders Club, will travel to Jeffrey’s Bay determined to bring the Interclub trophy back to the “weskus” and club chairman Josh “Dutchie” Louw has picked a solid team. Louw is fiercely proud of his club and his team riders and is determined to prove that they are the best club in South Africa.

Other clubs from the Western Cape are Natural Energy from the Strand, the Maties from the University of Stellenbosch and the newly formed 9 Miles Surf Club who are based in the Strandfontein area.

The 2014 Billabong SA Interclub Championships will use the Aloha Cup “tag” format which sees teams of four men and one woman competing against each in a 50 minute heat. All the points scored by each of the surfers count towards the final team score.

Although competition will be fierce in the water the annual Interclub Championships is an extremely social affair once the heats are over. With this in mind the famous Mexican Restaurant will host the social function when the surfing is over for the day on Saturday. All participants at the event are welcome to enjoy what the Mexican has to offer.

Josh Enslin, the Billabong Team & Events Manager is looking forward to the tournament. “ In the spirit of our commitment to roots surfing, we are super stoked to support the 2014 Billabong Interclub Championships. This event offers surf clubs from all parts of South Africa the opportunity to get together with fellow competitors, friends and family. It is a chance for everyone to have a good time while crowning the 2014 SA Club Champions. It is great to partner with Surfing South Africa and the Department of Sport and Recreation South Africa and we look forward to staying involved in club surfing well into the future. On behalf of Billabong South Africa our thanks go to defending champions and hosts J Bay Boardriders, the JBU, EP Surfing Council and the Kouga Municipality for their support and assistance. Best of luck to all the participating clubs.”

All Teams are requested to meet at Kitchen Windows in Jeffrey’s Bay at 8am for an 8.30am start.

The names of the team members, the heats and the format will be available on the Surfing South Africa website www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za from Thursday evening.

The 2014 Billabong SA Interclub Championships will be fueled by Red Bull.

Surfing South Africa is a member of the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA). SSA is the recognized governing body for all surf riding in South Africa and is recognized as such by the Department of Sport and Recreation South Africa.