For the first time South Africa will be sending a team of 9 male and 5 female para surfers and 6 support team members to the World Para Surf Championships in Pismo Beach California from 4-11 December 2022. Each year the team grows in numbers, (dis)ability classifications and skills.
In 2020 the SA team came 6th out of 22 countries and brought home 4 medals. After missing 2021 (due to the Pandemic), team South Africa 2022 are eager to get out there and show the world their skills and win Para Surfing medals for South Africa!
These are the incredible Para Surfers who are set to represent South Africa in California: Raemondo Lessing (WC), Noluthando Makalima (WC), Michele Macfarlane (WC), Caleb Swanepoel (WC), James Sinclair (KZN), Similo Dlamini (KZN), David Williams (KZN), Doug Hendrikz (KZN), Martin Ferreira (GP), Tracy McKay (KZN), Alulutho Tshoba (KZN), Oliver Sinclair (KZN), Asande Sibisi (KZN), Sabelo Ngema (KZN), Jean Paul Veaudry (EC).
The team will be accompanied and supported on the ground and in the water by five team coaches and a team physiotherapist from South Africa.
The athletes have shown hard work, bravery and commitment and now have the opportunity to fly the South African flag proudly as they tackle the world’s biggest para surfing competition. This group of diverse and differently abled sportsmen and women proudly represent everything South Africa stands for.
That all said, team SA is still in need of assistance and funding support to get everyone to the World Para Surf Championships. The overall total needed to get the entire team to California is R1,019,000. To date the team has already raised R680,724.65, and are now in need of raising a final R338,276 to ensure Raemondo Lessing and Noluthando Makalima (the two newest members to the Para Surfing team) as well as two team coaches and team physiotherapist get to California.
There is a Backabuddy page for fund donations, however, there are various ways in which brands, companies and individual sponsors can assist the South Africa Para Surfing Team:
- Cover the costs for a specific athlete and their chaperone (an example of this would be to support team members such as Raemondo and Noluthando)
- Contribute to the South Africa Para Surfing Team as a whole – no amount is too small, and every little bit helps.
- Contribute / sponsor specific expense items.
- There are extensive opportunities for branding and exposure leading up to and during the Para Surfing World Championships for anyone that would be keen and able to get involved and support.
Additional info
All funds raised will be allocated to the following costs per athlete:
- Flights and assisted airport transfers R25,000, Subsistence R6,000, Ability friendly accommodation R13,000, Entry and Classification Fees R6,000 and Visa R2,750
- Total cost per athlete: R52,750 (team total cost of R738,500)
- Total cost per athlete support team member (coaching, chaperone and management team): R46,750 each (support team total cost of R280,500).
For any additional information, please contact: *Roxy Davis 0716700667 or [email protected]
*Roxy Davis is a 9 x South African Surfing Champion and is the South Africa Para Surfing Team Head Coach. Roxy is an International Surfing Association (ISA) course presenter and currently doing her PhD in Disability Studies and Surf Therapy at UCT.