KNYSNA NEWS – A year after a group of Knysna men was set to become the only team from the Southern Cape to take part in the Lifesaving SA Surfboat Shootout, they will finally get their chance this weekend. They were initially scheduled to take part in the 2020 edition of the competition, but that was cancelled due to the outbreak of Covid-19.
The crew, originally made up of Cameron Ward-Able (46), Jeffrey Willcocks (53), Ivan van Lier (54), Darren Berry (39) and Steven van Lier (50), formed part of the Knysna Surf Lifesaving Club (KSLC).
Unfortunately, this year Berry can't make it due to other commitments, but Martin Els (39), who has been training with the crew for over nine months, will be taking his place.
History was already made with the team's entry into the race last year, but after a year's worth of further intensive training, they are more than ready for the competition to be held at Addington Beach, Kwa-Zulu Natal from 24 to 26 April.
When the start gun goes off, they will officially become the only surfboat currently competing from not only the Southern Cape, but the whole of the Western Cape.
Last year, head of KSLC Mike Wood observed with some interest how the crew was charging around Buffalo Bay in a 1960s surfboat. Wood, besides being a qualified lifesaving instructor, has a long history of surfboating and took it upon himself to arrange a special concession from Lifesaving SA to allow a late examination date so that the Knysna team could enter.
After undergoing intensive training, all the crew members managed to pass their exams and became lifesavers at the end of February 2020.
Surfboats are often named after tough and legendary competitors in the sport and the Knysna boat is no exception. This boat had a renowned sweep from King's Beach named Mauritz Goedhals and the boat goes under his nickname, "Marie".
The crew is immensely thankful to their sponsors who have made their trip possible, namely: Forty Degrees, MC&R Construction, Woodmillers, Cape Island Construction, VSM Joinery, Island Pools, and Green Space.
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