A total of 47 young surfers from all corners of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) competed in the first event of this year's Lizzard Tag Series which was held in contestable surf at St Mikes on Sunday (June 12).
After a week of huge surf in the area, participants in the Lizzard event were greeted by muddy but good contestable waves which were ideal for the format used in this type of team orientated contest.
Unlike standard surfing events which focus on individual performance, the Lizzard Tag Series uses the Surfing South Africa “tag team” format which means teams of all age divisions made up of girls and boys compete against each other in teams of five.
"This is a great format for these young surfers” said Lizzard's Gavin Roberts, "The tag event is a team contest which is as important as individual competition. The team thing is also fun. The surfers make up their own teams and get to give their team a special name. They all feel part of something and are not just in it for themselves."
The winners, who named themselves the Zig Zag Team comprised Dylan Gouws, Jan Bond, Mnqobi Radebe and Tide Lee Ireland. In second place was Team Gudaskas made up of Koby Oberholzer, Cameron Perreira, Zamani Gwenza, Lindo Mbhele and Mdu Ndevela while Team Chickens, comprising Brett Payne, Thokozane Sithole, Sibusiso Duma and Blessing Ntuli, was third.
The fourth placed team was The Groms made up of JJ Harris, Vugane Bhenga, Leroy Mentasti, Sean Wilson and Mthuthu Nxumale. The members of these four teams shared R2 500 in prize-money.
The event attracted surfers from the Trafalgar Surf Club, the Umzumbe Surf Club and other parts of the KZN South Coast as well as Central KZN.
The next Lizzard Tag Series event takes place at the Pipe at Strand Beach on July 24 and the final event in the series is scheduled for Pollock Beach in PE on September 11. The entry form is available on www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za.
The Lizzard Tag Series is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa, the governing body for the sport. This event was hosted by Southern KZN Surfing Association.
