World Junior Surf Champs

The 2007 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships got off to a colourful and noisy start in the city of Almada outside Lisbon in sunny Portugal on Saturday, as surfers and officials representing 28 nations took part in the traditional Parade of Nations and Sands of the World ceremony. 

 

National flags flew proudly as the almost 300 participants marched through the streets to the applause and cheers of the locals.

South Africa played a major role in the Parade as the International Surfing Association bestowed on team member Lungani Memani of Port Alfred the honour of taking the Athletes Oath on behalf of all the surfers.

This Oath is based on the IOC principle of Fair Play and Good Sportsmanship, and it is the first time in history that a South African has been given this unique honour.

Memani, one of five ISA Scholarship recipients in 2006, is competing in his second ISA World Junior Championships for South Africa.

The South African "vuvuzelas" brought the sound of Africa to Portugal and were sounding at full blast when the South African team mounted the podium in third green blazers and ties, by far the smartest team on display.

Team captain Klee Strachan poured sand collected from all the team members’ favourite surf spots in South Africa into a special transparent container, representing the coming together of all the competing ISA nations.

During the ceremony ISA President Fernando Aguerre official launched the championships, emphasizing how important the gathering of 261 surfers from 28 countries is to world surfing.

South Africa are seeded fourth behind 2006 champions Australia, Brazil and Hawaii, and are the defending Tag Team champions.

Competition gets under way at Costa da Caparica Sunday May 6 and ends with the finals on May 13.

Live webcasting, heats, press releases and photos will be available on the International Surfing Association website throughout the event.

Go to the Western Province Surfing website to view photos of South African team in the Parade of Nations and to the Surfing South Africa website from Sunday May 6 for more on the event.