Cape Town last hosted the South African Surfing Championships in 2006 and next week, from Thursday to Sunday ( May 24 – 27) it will be back in the Mother City as one hundred and twenty eight of the country’s best Men, Women and U20 Boy and Girl surfers representing eight provinces compete in the 2012 Billabong SA Championships.

Sponsors Billabong will once again partner Surfing South Africa in presenting the 47th edition of this special event which not only determines the province that will win the Presidents Cup but also decides the 2012 individual champions in the Men’s, Women’s, U20 Boys and U20 Girls divisions.

While every surfer in each of the provincial teams contributes points towards the eventual winners of the Presidents Cup, only the four champions will earn prize money in the finals.
This year the prize money for the Men and Women is a huge R10,000 each while the U20 Boys and Girls champions will take home R5000 each. In addition the winner of the Men’s final will automatically be included in the South Africa team that next competes in an ISA World Surfing Games and will be presented with a national team blazer at the prize giving.
This year will also see the introduction of the Von Zipper Air show where the winner will pocket R1000 in cash.
Awards for the Da Kine Highest Heat Score and the Kustomized Best Manouvre will also be made and Zigzag will present R2000 and a unique trophy to the surfer who “blows up” during the championships.
All registered members of the Surfing South Africa Pro Surf Tour (PST) who compete in the championships will earn 4A rated PST points.

Border are the defending champions having dominated at the Billabong SA Championships in Seal Point last year champions while this year’s hosts, Western Province, who were fourth last year, have won the Presidents Cup every time the event has been held in the Cape Peninsula and are determined not to break the tradition.

2011 SA Champions Greg Emslie and fellow Border surfer Nikita Robb are once again in the Border team and will be defending their titles in the Men’s and Women’s division but last year’s Under 20 champions are not competing so the 2012 Billabong SA Championships will determine at least two new National title holders.

The 47th SA Championships will get under way with an Officials meeting at 6pm followed by the Manager’s meeting at 6.30pm at the Kommetjie Junior School Hall next Wednesday, May 23.. The official opening function will take place at the same venue at 7 for 7.30pm.

In keeping with the Cape tradition of ensuring that the best surf is chosen for each day of competition, the tournament will be mobile, meaning that each day’s venue will only be determined on the morning of the event.
Long Beach, Outer Kom,365, Witsands, Misty Cliffs and even Kalk Bay Reef are all potential venue choices when the championships get under way at 8.30am on Thursday May 24.
Over 100 heats will be run between Thursday and Sunday (May27) when the contest is expected to end at around 5pm

Each day’s venue will be posted on www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za and on Surfing South Africa’s Face book page as soon as it is made but surfers and officials are urged to gather in the Long Beach car park each morning at 7am to hear the venue first hand. To follow the 2012 SA Championships check out the Billabong Face book Profile page and to see who is in the eight provincial teams go to www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za. Heats and the schedule will be posted on the Surfing South Africa website by Monday May 21.

Surfing South Africa is the governing body for the sport in South Africa and is a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee ( SASCOC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA)