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Local Surfer off to Panama to represent South Africa

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Two Eastern Cape surfers have been named in a six member team to compete in the 2013 ISA World Surfing Games in Santa Catalina, Panama next month.

Port Elizabeth star female surfer Faye Zoetmulder is joined by St Francis Bay legend Dale Staples in the team with Etienne Venter of Jeffreys Bay selected as the Manager/Coach. The six member team was named by an independent sub–committee of the Board of Directors of Surfing South Africa also features Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay), Mike February (Kommetjie), Davey Brand (Kommetjie) and Tanika Hoffman (Clifton).

The average age of the group is 22 but despite their youth all of them have competed at international level in the past nine months.

The last ISA World Surfing Games were held at Playa Venao in Panama in 2011. South Africa finished 7th overall that year but the 2013 team will be determined to improve on that position as they take on surfers from more than 32 nations at the long right-breaking point break in Santa Catalina. South Africa must finish in the top eight to be invited to compete in the 2014 ISA China Cup in Hainan Province, China in January 2014.

At this stage a lack of sponsors and funding means that team members will have to raise the R25 000 or so to make the trip to an event that is regarded as the “Olympics” of surfing. With less than four weeks to go before the World Games gets under way they have limited time to book flights and accommodation.

Over 32 countries from five continents will compete in the 2013 ISA World Surfing Games, a biennial event which determines the ISA World Team champions as well as the Men’s and Women’s Championship titles. The top eight teams will also contest the Aloha Cup and will be fighting for international team rankings.

Surfing South Africa is the recognized governing body for the sport and is a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA). All South African surfing teams that participate in international events are ratified by the Board of Directors of Surfing South Africa.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.