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The attempted record by local surfers and the rest of the country for the most women riding longboards on the same wave on Sunday 12 August was cancelled due to bad weather conditions. Only 15 surfers were up for the challenge and pledged to set the record next year.
“This attempt was all part of the La Muse Longboard Surfing Classic to celebrate womanhood, the ocean and community at Muizenberg. On Saturday 11 August the conditions were excellent for the second La Muse Classic, but it was a bit on the chilly side when we tried to attempt the record the next day,” says Charmaine Bunting, organiser of the La Muse Classic.
Featuring several of the country’s top female longboard stars such as Taryn King, Mia Baard and Marishka Diebold, the event also encouraged women of all ages, backgrounds and varying capabilities, who might otherwise feel intimidated to surf in a regular contest, to come together to enjoy and share a common love for the ocean.
“As the name ‘La Muse’ suggests, the event promotes the concept that surfing is more than a mere competitive sport but a ‘source of inspiration’. It is this element of ‘stoke’ that has inspired this fun-filled ladies’ event which seeks to introduce competitive women’s surfing in a fun, friendly and easy-going environment,” Bunting says.
In honour of Women’s Month, each day (Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 August) commenced at 07:30 with a yoga session to salute the sun while a range of body products from the Skoon pamper tent, suncreen from Back to Nature and The Store pop-up were available throughout each day.
“The energy of sisterhood at the La Muse Classic is intoxicating,” says Chio Moulang, CEO of The Store. “Our aim is to present an event that ticks all the girly boxes. This collective of like-minded women have come together to surf, dance, shop, get pampered and try save the world”.
As daughters of Mother Nature, the La Muse Classic partnered with oceanpledge.org to make this year’s contest a ‘Blue Ocean event’.
“Waste management is a top priority and partnerships with Faithful-to-Nature, Rolling Wood, Bootleggers, Expressions on the Beach and Hang Ten Cafe ensured that the contest remained single-use plastic free. Beach Co-Op was doing their monthly beach clean-up during the event and Waste-Ed demonstrated how to pack eco-bricks so that the plastic found on the beach can be used for social upliftment purposes,” she says.
In addition to protecting the environment, La Muse will be giving back to the community by collaborating with the Young Knitters’ Club of Lavender Hill, an NPO that empowers women with opportunities for education and employment. Each contestant received a hand-knitted beanie sponsored by Seven.
The results:
u.14:
1st Lisa Rose
2nd Sarah Scott
3rd Remi Fourie
4th Enya Van Niekerk
u.18
1st Leila Steytler
2nd Caroline Brown
3rd Amber Borton
Novice
1st Tasmin du Preez
2nd Caren Holtzhausen (EP)
3rd Samantha Vietri
4th Sarah Jane Steele
Mystics (30 to 40 years)
1st Stefi Muller
2nd Karin Schermbrucker
3rd Elizabeth Gunther
4th Claudia Hopkins (EP)
Divas (41 to 50 years)
1st Charley Pollard
2nd Michelle Schoeman
3rd Lisa Ringwood
4th Deborah Patterson
Lady Legends
1st Mel St Arnaud
2nd Therese Russel
3rd Charmaine Adams
4th Jacqueline Partridge
Open
1st Angelica Schon
2nd Mia Baard (EP)
3rd Raylin Wanne
4th Krystal Tavenor
spilhaus@iafrica.com.
