Roxy around the Clock

Entry forms for the annual Roxy Surf Jam have been released, and the next two major drawcards on the girls-only surf calendar get under way in Cape Town mid-March, and include an early winter splash at Durban’s tropical Bay of Plenty late May.

>> Click here to complete the entry form online
>> Click here to here to download and print the entry form
>> Click here to go to the Surfing South Africa website.

The ‘names’ likely to enter this event as title contenders include World Junior Team members Tarryn Chudleigh and Chantelle Rautenbach, and also including star talent in Nikita Robb, Tanika Hoffman, Holly Armstrong, Sarah Baum, Heidi Palmboom, and Alice McGregor.

Speaking to gsport this week, Surfing SA’s Robin de Kock said that women’s surfing is a priority for the local organising body. “Girls and women’s surfing has been identified as the sports most significant growth area,” de Kock said.

“It is one of Surfing South Africa’s priorities to promote girl’s and women’s surfing both at every level from recreational participation, grass roots, school and club, provincial, national and international."

Surfing South Africa’s brand-new Junior Team coach Tasha Mentasti told gsport that she’ll be down to ‘suss’ out the action, as she assumes the reigns of her new responsibilities. “It’s the first time (SSA) has made a woman a coach, of boys and girls,” said Mentasti. “I’m very proud.

And although it can’t be said that she ‘likes’ the cold Cape water, the good conditions and high surfing standards have assisted her to accept the temperature.

“Yeah, I love Cape Town,” says Mentasti. “I’ve been coming here for years, and I’ve got used to the cold water (laughs). There’s a very wide variety of waves, and there’s a lot more girls which enter the competition, which is good for competition, good for surfing, and it’s just nice to see. It’s an all-fun contest.”

Roxy is one of the driving forces behind women’s surfing in South Africa, alongside the significant activities of Billabong’s ‘Girls Get Out There’ Surf Series.

Among it’s many activities, Roxy sponsors surf schools in the West Cape, East Cape and KwaZulu Natal regions, as well as an annual Roxy ‘Learn To Surf’ Tour over the summer break period, that has introduced over 5,000 girls to surfing over the last three years.

Apart from the Roxy Surf Jams, they also the Annual Roxy Wahine Cup, as well as Rosy Hodge, South Africa’s only women on the Elite World Championship Tour, in a personal sponsors package.

Surfing SA recognises the significant input of Roxy and Quiksilver in local girl’s and women’s surfing, without which it “… would not have reached the level that it has,” says Robin de Kock.

“Talent identification is vital,” continues de Kock. “By ‘spotting’ talented surfers in the novice, U12 and U14 groups, Surfing SA is able to ensure that our standards are improved each year.

And what is the state of women’s surfing in South Africa? Says de Kock: “I would rate it at about 7 out of 10. There is still work to be done at the Senior Elite Level and in the U18 Division, but compared to our major rivals Brazil, USA and Australia, I believe we are really up there.”