Ladies division winner Sarah Horlock • Photo - Michael McCarthy
The Pelican Island Invitational, presented by the Pelican Island Crew and Singlefin Events from Durban, took place on Sunday where 25 “loggers” took part in the first ever surfing contest to be held at this venue.
The event, which attracted top singlefin longboard competitors from Durban, made use of a waiting period to ensure there would be waves on competition day. With a big cold front bringing large swell up the coast and favourable tides promised for the popular long boarding spot it was decided to run the event.
It did not look so promising early on as competitors made their way to the Island in cold, rainy weather to find onshore conditions, hardly a wave breaking and the resident hippo in a bit of a grumpy mood. It did get better though and although the waves remained small it was contestable and the “sliders” had a great time in the preliminary knock out heats as judges and spectators all huddled under one gazebo as the rain continued.
Mens division winner Brad Weare • Photo - Michael McCarthy
By the time the ladies hit the water the sun had come out, the wind dropped and a good few sets started coming through for the riders to impress the judges with style, wave selection and creativity. In the end it was Brad Weare, multiple SA Longboarding Champ, former ASP Longboard tour contender and SA team member, who took the win in the mens division followed by one of the contest organisers Wesley Coetser and local Gregg Horlock in third. In the Ladies it was local surfer Sarah Horlock who took the win and another trophy to add to her growing collection.
The visiting competitors were full of praise for the event, the locals and our area and really had a lot of fun. Thanks go out to the judges and all those involved in making the event a success especially the prize sponsors and Dries for the trophies. Show the sponsors some love and go an visit their site, like their pages and spread the stoke.
Ladies division winner Sarah Horlock - • Photo - Michael McCarthy
See related article: Pelican Island Single Fin is on!
Message from Wesley Coetser of Single Fin Events
Thank you, for everyone who came down to support the Pelican Invitational.
Driving onto the island to be greeted by a sight of a Hippo floating sure added to the excitement of the day. We had a mix bag of weather, but thankfully the weather finally gave in and the sun won and shined upon us.
Conditions were tricky with 2 foot little runners coming through and the thought of the hippo lurking around in some of our minds added to the excitement of the heats. Judges seated with Binoculars in hand and calling out colours as each logger shredded the little 2 foot runners the scores were rolling in and the stoke was high that were finally running this event. High fives, Nose rides, old school tunes, and stylish logging was the order of the day, and for some catching almost all the fish at Pelican inbetween heats – Matt Hancock.
A Huge thank you must go to all the sponsors that supported the event , and supporting Traditional logging and keeping this genre of surfing alive.
- Of the Sea
- Club House Breweries
- Tidal Tao
- Find the Stoke Surf Shop
- NamikoSwim
- Surf Alliance
- Pelican Island surf riders surf shop
Thank you to the Pelican island Locals and logging community for allowing us to run this event and sharing your waves with us, it was so good to see to communities come together and share the love of logging.
A shout out to Surf Alliance which helped with all the social media and updates on the events, Thank you !!
Mike Mcarthy, ( PITPILOT ) thank you for all your hard work and making sure the event was called on the right day and putting it together and for even missing your heat to be in the water taking some water footage, everything you did on the day was much appreciated. A Huge thank you to Kerry-Lea Coetser for all your running around on the day and making sure everyone was where they needed to be at the right time, and helping Mike out with everything, your hard work behind the scenes is beyond appreciated.
Take a look at the Event Gallery
Results
Ladies division winners:
3rd - Kelli Mavian, 1st - Sarah Horlock,
2nd - Erin Wulfsohn - Photo - Supplied
Mens division winners: 3rd - Greg Horlock, 1st - Brad Weare, 2nd - Wesley Coetser, Event Organiser Michael McCarthy - Photo - Supplied
