The Surfer Kids Non-Profit won its second Grommet Games Medal in three years. Sibulele Ntosho, who joined The Surfer Kids in early 2018 and was selected to represent Eden Surf Riders in the under 8 division, qualified for the closely contested under 8 final and surfed his way into third place, earning valuable points for his team and winning a bronze medal. This was The Surfer Kids’ second medal in three years at the South African Grommet Games, since Owethu Tabata also finished third in the under 8 final in 2017.
Sibulele Ntosho surfing in the U8 Final
Photo Credit: Petronel Posthumus
The 2019 South African Grommet Games was held over three days, from March 21st to 23rd. This national event, supported by the Department of Sport and Recreation SA, was completed in perfect weather and ideal surf at its traditional venue, the Pipe at Pollock Beach in Port Elizabeth.
The strong, well balanced Cape Town Surf Riders Team beat their Garden Route neighbours, Eden Surf Riders, into second place. This second place finish, however, was Eden’s best result since the event was first held 27 years ago.
2019 Eden Surf Riders Grommet Team
Photo Credit: Petronel Posthumus
Cape Winelands, another Western Cape District, finished third overall. Hosts, Nelson Mandela Bay Surf Riders, came fourth and fellow Eastern Cape District, Buffalo City Surf Riders, finished fifth, while Ugu Surfriders, from KwaZulu Natal, and eThekweni Surfriders, also from KwaZulu Natal, (and last year’s runners-up) finished sixth and seventh overall.
There are eight individual surfing divisions at the Grommet Games, ranging from under 8 to under 16 boys and girls divisions. Almost 100 girls and boys participated in the 2019 Grommet Games, representing 7 district teams, spread out over three coastal provinces. The event, which is Surfing South Africa’s premier entry-level inter-provincial tournament, has a 25-year history in South Africa. The first Grommet Games, which was formerly known as the South African Development Champs, was held in 1991 and has been held every year since then, missing only two years. The primary focus of the event is integration, transformation and development within the sport of surfing.
Finalists in the Under 8 Division, with Sibuele Ntosho (Bronze Medal) second from the left
Photo Credit: Petronel Posthumus
The Surfer Kids is a registered Non-Profit Organisation, based at Diaz Beach in Mossel Bay, working to “empower youths from marginalised communities through surfing.” Children are recruited from within some of the poorest communities in Mossel Bay, in conjunction with TM Ndanda Primary School, located within the townships of Isinyoka, Asazane and Fairview, an area informally known as JCC Camp. Children from the organisation have been attending the South African Grommet Games, as part of the Southern Cape / Eden Surf Riders Team, every year since 2012.
The 2019 Sea Harvest South African Grommet Games was presented and run by Surfing South Africa. Surfing South Africa (SSA) is the recognised governing body for the sport of surfing in South Africa and is a member of the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), the African Surfing Confederation (ASC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA).
A full list of results and photo gallery is available at: https://www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za/2019-sea-harvest-grommet-games-presented-by-sport-recreation/