Here's the team that'll be flying the EP flag at the SA's this year - to be held in Cape Town (roving venue). Well done to all those that made it.

WP just pip EP for the 2012 Billabong Grom Games. Nonetheless, our local lighties did their province proud. Alex Van Rijswick won the boys u14, with Peter Coffey (u16) and Zoe Smith (u12) getting second spots in their age groups. Check out all the results, the wrap, the shots and the video here.

Check out who made the EP Longboard team for the interprov in Vic Bay.

Check out Stan's shots from the 1st EP Open surfing trials at Seals held Sunday 18 March 2012. Stonkingly good surf wrapped round the point and the ou's were going OFF!

U8                  Christian Davidson
U10                 Saeed Abrahams
                      Aneeq Moodaley
U12 G             Zoe Smith
U12 B             Ryan Lightfoot
                       Usamah Kannemeyer
U14 G             Tamlin Gill
                       Ibtehaj Jaylanie
U14 B             Alex van Rijswick
                      Rhys Talati
U16 G             Aaishah Abrahams
                       Nadia Jaylanie
U16 B             Peter Coffey
                      Bernardt Pretorius
                      Paul Van Rijswick

The 2012 Executive committee would like to offer a basic SSA Introductory Judging Course to our affiliated members. This course takes only a couple of hours and would give one an introduction to judging and the criteria as well as contest administration etc. (It will be run by the 2012 EPSC Executive and one of our experienced EP/National Judges.) A nominal fee may be asked to cover costs. Once you have done the introductory course and shadowed our experienced judges for a couple of trials (you need approximately 30 hours – voluntary), you will then be able to take part in the ISA Level 1 Judging course. Once we have numbers we will schedule a date for sometime near the end of March.

Parents do not think this is just for the kids. If you are interested in watching surfing events and giving good advice to your child, you may consider doing the introductory course. All other surfers who have already judged at previous trials and would like to take part in the ISA Level I Judging course please send me your details asap.

Shirley Fairall (EPSC Secretary)
Phone: 041 466 2224                                                    
Mobile : 082 929 9623
E-Mail : epscsec@vodamail.co.za

Eish, not such lekker conditions for the first trial of the year, but the ou's still made the effort at manky onshore Pipe. You know it was kak when the only pic taken at the comp is a mobile phone snap - thanks Jono! The Interprov is in Vic Bay this year, so definitely some extra motivation to make the team and get the chance to surf a great right point with only 3 other peeps in the water.

The 2012 EP Surfing calendar is below as a downloadable file. All EP events/trials have been highlighted in a colour. Please make careful note of all events which you or your children will be involved with.  

You will see our season kicks off with our first  Grommet trial next Saturday at Pipe. See attached poster for the details of the Grommet trials. Shireen Abrahams  will be in charge of Grommets this year. If you know of any young kids who have not yet become involved with EP Surfing please give them the relevent info. We also encourage you to spread the word to the young groms whom you meet in the water when surfing your local home breaks.

All 2011 members are encouraged to re- affiliate for 2012 as soon as possible. We would prefer it if this could be done  on line to make it easier for us at the trials. We would also prefer it, if you could do a direct transfer so that we are not carrying extra cash around at the beach. The affiliation form is attached.

Affiliation for 2012        R150 per individual
Trial entries                 R50.00  per trial
Social membership       R50
Club affiliation              R150

You will see we have not increased the 2011 fees. Please complete the form and return to me with a copy of your deposit slip.

Banking details :  Standard Bank,  Rink Street 050417 A/C no.  080298818.

SA LONGBOARD CHAMPS

SA Champs is scheduled to take place in Vic Bay from 30 April until 5 May 2012

TRIAL DATES

1 ST TRIAL DATE:               SUNDAY 29 JANUARY 2012
VENUE:                                PIPE
TIME:                                    REGISTRATION FROM 07:00HRS until 07:45. Trial starts at 08:00hrs
DATES SET FOR THE OTHER TRIALS:
2 nd TRIAL:          19 February
3 rd TRIAL:           4 March
4 TH TRIAL:          18 March
NOTE: As always, top 3 of 4 results will count for team selection

MEMBERSHIP

Annual membership fees at R150.00 per person. Family membership R200.00 + R50.00 for each additional member. Membership fees payable at the first trial or in advance.
Trial fees R50.00 per trial payable on registration or in advance.

Banking details:
BANK                                ABSA
CURRENT A/C                    NO 1009700052 – EP LONGBOARD SURFING ASSOCIATION
BRANCH                            KEMPTON ROAD

EP Surfing ended the year  with a EP close comp for the Juniors on the 19 and Seniors on the 26. The juniors comp was held in difficult  howling onshore conditions with king Neptune not supplying very large surf for the seniors who need it. In the competitive surfing world a good competitor must compete in all conditions and so the best surfer wins.

The prize giving was held on Saturday night with a nice turnout of enthusiastic surfers attending. It was great to see so many new young faces at the event and  the large support from the CYOH surf club.

CYOH Surf club on Port Elizabeth won the sportsmanship award for all their effort in supporting surfing in 2011 and their endless community building projects.

Tahra Uren and Kai Wolf won female Junior surfer of the year for winning their respective age groups at  SA Champs. Most improved juniors  went to two St Francis bay surfers Crystal Hulett and Josh Chips.

At every competition this year Eastern Province have a strong presence of Judges, which indicates not only are our provinces surfers top quality, but our judges are getting national recognition. Brad Beck has been very active in EP Surfing this year and was awarded not only the most improved senior surfer of the year, but also judge of the year for his fantastic support of the sport in Judging.

Female surfer of the year went to Emma Smith for achieving her South African colours this year and Junior Male surfer of the year went to Jose Faulkner for a string of success during the year.

Dylan Lightfoot achieved a  2nd  place in worlds - U16 Division  and was awarded male surfer of the year for this achievement. The years achievement award went to Gina Smith for winning three events in her division, while Zane Manuel was the Academy surfer of the year. The Eastern Province Academy team showed off their trophy at the prize giving they won in the Grom Games.

Achievements of Eastern Province surfers in the 2011 year:

1. Faye Zoetmulder holds 33rd place in the Women's QS and 7th in the World pro jnr division.

2. The 3 x National Junior Team 2011 Members – Dylan Lightfoot, Steven Sawyer, Emma Smith – South Africa achieved a 2nd at worlds in 2011.
The six National Junior Team trialist that will surf SA Trials in Durban 2 weeks time – Dylan Lightfoot, Matthew McGillivray, Emma Smith, Gina Smith, Tahra Uren (Steven was selected but cannot go as he goes to Hawaii). Out of 15 trialists in total, EP has 6, the highest number from any province.

3. Jose Faulkner - from surfing and winning Grom Games u12 he has gone on to make every u12 National Surfing Event final and the finals u13 SA Junior Champs (3rd). He ended the year rated the number 3 - u12 in SA.

4. We then have the South African Surfing PST rankings with EP surfers showing a very strong presence:
Grommets - Team 1st in the Grom Games
Christian, Angelo, Rewaldo, Jose, Bruwellyn, Zane, Josh, Richard, Ashleigh, Robyn, Crystal, Cathrine
Juniors - Team 3rd in SA Champs juniors
Jarred, Emma, Matthew, Tahra, Jose, Kai (Crystal surfing for Academy Team) 
Open/U20 - Team 3rd in SA Champs seniors
Steven, Dylan, Faye, Emma
Masters - Team 2nd in SA Champs masters
Michelle, Kurt

5. Our SA Champions:
Grommets – Jose Faulkner u12, Crystal Hullet u14, Zane Winozein u14
Juniors – Kai Wolf u13, Tahra Uren u15

6) Surfers who performed well at all events and their Rankings on the South African PST rankings
2011 PST rankings:
Jose Faulkner u12 boys - 3rd
Matthew McGillivray u14 boys - 4th
Gina Smith u16 girls - 1st
Tahra Uren u16 girls - 3rd
Dylan  Lightfoot u16 boys - 1st
Emma Smith u20 girls - 3rd
Steven Sawyer u20 boys - 1st
Dylan Lightfoot u20 boys - 2nd

At every competition this year Eastern Province have a strong presence of Judges, which indictes not only are our provinces surfers top quality, but our judges are getting national recongnition. Brad Beck was awarded the trophy of judge of the year for his fantastic support of the sport in Judging.

EP Surfing would like to thank everyone who contributed to making 2011 such a successful year and the Lotto for their financial assistance.

Check out Dirk's shots and all the results from the EP Open on Saturday. 

Check out all the shots from the Lizzard Tag Team comp at Pipe on Sunday 11 Sept. Started off in some testing onshore conditions, but then cleaned up into fun small offshore. Plenty of pictures of the surfing and the beach action.