Roxy Giles from NMMU George Campus triumphed in the women’s section for the second consecutive year, with Varsity College’s Nicole Pallet in second place and Jessica Lee University of Cape Town (UCT) in third position.
The winner in the men’s section was another NMMU Madiba - Jean du Plessis from the university’s Port Elizabeth campus, with UCT’s Daniel Wilson and Varsity College’s Wade Simkiss making up the rest of the podium.
NMMU PE also emerged as the winner of the team competition in the men’s category, while Varsity College took the honours in the women’s team competition. UCT was the overall winner of the Institutional Trophy donated by Robin de Kock, General Manager of Surfing South Africa
The tertiary institutions that took to the water in search of victory in this year’s USSA Surfing Championships included NMMU (PE), NMMU (George), defending champions University of Cape Town, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, University of Stellenbosch and Varsity College from Durban.
This was the fifth year in a row that NMMU George hosted the top surfing students of tertiary institutions from around South Africa, sanctioned by Surfing South Africa.
The recipients of the five trophies were:
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Jean du Plessis (NMMU PE) – Individual winner: men’s category
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NMMU PE – Winner of the team competition: men’s category
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Roxy Giles (NMMU George) – Individual winner: women’s category
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Varsity College – Winner of the team competition: women’s category
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UCT – Overall winner of the Institutional Trophy donated Robin de Kock, General Manager of Surfing South Africa (men’s and women’s points combined)
NMMU’s Roxy Giles is amongst the twelve team members (eight men and four women) selected by USSA officials for inclusion in the 2014 USSA Team that is set to participate in various international university surfing competitions.
NMMU George sport manager Hugo Loubser expressed his pride at the team’s achievements, with special recognition towards Roxy Giles for successfully defending her title. He also congratulated the individual participants who had achieved their personal goals. “It was once again a very successful competition that showcased the extraordinary talent of South Africa’s students. We are looking forward to hosting it again next year,” Loubser concluded.
Chris Dunt, the Contest Director, expressed his sentiments as follows in a post event report: “I commend all the surfers for the exemplary matter in which they conducted themselves throughout the event and congratulate, not only the individual and team winners, but all the surfers who participated by displaying a very high level of performance surfing, which was not only enjoyable to watch, but made the contest a pleasure to run”.
Students who represented the NMMU George Campus in the Surfing Champs were, Ruben Lammers, Juan Reynierse, Kelly Olivier, Chris Elliot, Jaco van der Westhuizen, Ruan van der Westhuizen as well as Roxy Giles (winner of the individual ladies category).
Ruben Lammers, from the NMMU George Campus, completing an air reverse at the annual USSA surfing competition, at Victoria Bay. He finished combined 18th in the championships.
Juan Reynierse, also from NMMU George, in action at the USSA Surfing Champs at Vic Bay. He finished combined 18th in the championships.
Defending champion of the women’s section of the annual USSA surfing competition, Roxy Giles of NMMU George, in action.
Roxy Giles from NMMU George and winner of the women’s section of the 2014 USSA surfing competition with her father, Leonard Giles, a former national surfer and South African veterans champion.