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Port Elizabeth Surfer in top World Surfing Games Team

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Mossel Bay surfer, Shaun Joubert, led team South Africa to overall team honours on the final day of the 2013 ISA World Surfing Championship in Santa Catalina, Panama over the weekend.

Team South Africa, which comprised of two surfers from the Eastern Province in St Francis’ Dale Staples and Port Elizabeth Surfer Faye Zoetmulder, are the new 2013 Reef ISA World Surfing Games Team Champions. The team included Mike February, Davey Brand and Tanika Hoffman all from the Western Cape with Jeffreys Bay’s Etienne Venter as the manager/coach.

Joubert is the new Men’s Reef ISA World Surfing Games Champion following some powerful turns and aerial tactics which earned him the Gold medal.

“This has been a very intense week of waves and hot weather in Panama along with the warmth from the Panamanian people who have welcomed us during this whole time,” remarked ISA President Fernando Aguerre. “I know that at times we didn’t have the waves that we wanted, but being patient with the waves is part of being a good surfer understanding that waves come and go just like in life we have to take the time so we can find the best.”

The perfect reef break of Santa Catalina allowed the world’s best surfers to compete at their highest potential and fight for the Team Championship and individual Gold Medals.

To finish the event, the Men’s Final featured Shaun Joubert (RSA), Cristobal de Col (PER), Russell Moloney (AUS) and the local hero, Jean Carlos “Oli” Gonzales. The South African, in the first minutes of the heat took the lead earning an impressive 9.33 points. He then backed it up 8.33 solidifying his lead. The Panamanian was the only one within reach, but was unable to find the right wave to get the necessary score to move up to first place.

In the end, Joubert (RSA, 17.66) earned the Gold Medal, Gonzalez (PAN, 14.90) earned the Silver Medal, Cristobal de Col (PER, 12.93) earned the Bronze Medal and Russell Molony (AUS, 6.93) earned the Copper Medal.

“I really enjoyed the waves in Panama, we had amazing waves throughout the event,” said the Gold Medalist Shaun Joubert. “It’s nice to come as a team and actually be at the beach cheering the other guys and you want your team to do well. It’s fun to see all the flags and people from other countries; it’s a special event.”

Team South Africa finished on 11,102 points to claim the winner’s Fernando Aguerre World Team Champion Trophy, The IOC President’s Trophy, the 5th Century Cup of the Discovery of the Pacific Ocean and the Gold Medal. Australia placed second with 10,332 points and Peru third with 9,636 points.

Faye Zoetmulder and Dale Staples arrive back in Port Elizabeth at the PE Airport at 12 noon on Wednesday.

ISA World Surfing Games Champions
Team South Africa, the 2013 Reef ISA World Surfing Games Team Champions. Photo: ISA/Rommel Gonzales

Faye’s proud Dad, Michael Zoetmulder tweeted this earlier today:

Well done Faye – you are proving that Port Elizabeth is a breeding ground for hot talent.

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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.