Team South Africa are now the official 2013 Reef ISA World Surfing Games Team Champions. The team included Mike February, Davey Brand and Tanika Hoffman - all from the Western Cape. Joubert is also the new Men’s Reef ISA World Surfing Games Champion, following some powerful turns and aerial tactics which earned him the gold medal.
Joubert, who was the oldest member of the SA squad after turning 22 earlier this month, led his team victory by dominating the men’s division from start to finish, advancing directly to the Grand Final by never finishing outside the top two in any of his seven heats, posting four of the top eight single ride scores, including the highest (9.87 out of 10), and three of the top six heat tallies.
After demolishing his opponents on the last day, leaving them needing a combination of two rides totalling 17.50 points as he advanced to the last four, Joubert then topped that in the final by racking up rides of 9.33 and 8.33 for a 17.66 point total.
The current ASP No 104 and multiple SA age-group champion used a canny combination of excellent wave selection, superior heat management and long rides, punctuated by explosive manoeuvres, with his variety of carves, cutbacks, vertical re-entries and aerials, setting him apart from the rest.
“I really enjoyed the waves in Panama, we had amazing waves all event,” said an elated Shaun Joubert on the awards podium.
“It’s nice to come as a team and actually be at the beach cheering the other guys and you want your team to do well. It’s fun to see all the flags and people from other countries, it’s a special event.”
In an interview shortly after the final, Joubert also explained how he had felt in tune with the waves at Santa Catalina in Panama ever since the team’s arrival a couple of days before the event started, comparing them to the similar right point breaks found around his home town of Mossel Bay. He also expressed his appreciation for the support of his teammates and how comfortable the entire team had been at the event ,which is a tribute to manager and coach Etienne Venter, who motivated the team with an average age of just 20 to beat the world’s best.
While Joubert’s crown was the cherry on the top and contributed significantly to the team title, the performances of every team member was vital. Mikey February, fellow Kommetjie surfer Davey Brand, David van Zyl (Glenashley), Tanika Hoffman (Clifton) and Faye Zoetmulder (Cape St Francis) all finished in the top 16 in their respective divisions, as Team SA triumphed over the other 23 national teams and 120 surfers at the event.
The event gathers the best surfers from every continent as part of their National Teams in an “Olympic style” event. The surfers contend for medals and the honour of representing their respective countries.
There are no cash prizes awarded. Athletes compete for individual and team gold, silver, bronze and copper medals, as well as for the coveted Fernando Aguerre World Champion Team Trophy, which is awarded to the gold medal-winning National team.
The countries that participated were Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Panama is the southernmost country of Central America, bordered to the north by the Caribbean Sea, to the south by the Pacific Ocean, to the east by Colombia and to the west by Costa Rica. The wave is world-class. It breaks along a shallow reef that creates a perfect right-hand powerful and hollow wave. Santa Catalina handles solid swells in the 8-12 feet range.
Mossel Bay is really proud of our golden boy!
Shaun Joubert riding one of the waves in true champion style
ARTICLE: TERSIA MARAIS
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