• Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
Home BLOG
Press Releases

Greg Emslie and his "SAFARI" shield at the CWC Cape Town 2010

alt
 

Greg Emslie, Spider Team rider, wins the 2010 Cold Water Classic Cape Town on his Spider board.

alt

 

South African Surfing Championships

Spider Surfboards team riders starred in the 2010 South African Surfing Championships completed at St Mikes on the KZN South Coast on the weekend, winning four of the eight individual titles, finishing runner-up in two divisions and reaching the finals in another two. Former ASP World Tour campaigner Greg Emslie, SA’s highest earning pro surfer with more than US $600 000 in prize-money, clinched his second SA Open Men’s Title and, along with runner-up and fellow East Londoner, Devyn Mattheys, helped the Border provincial surfing team to secure the prestigious Presidents Cup. In the Open Women, reigning ISA World Masters Champion and Port Shepstone local Heather Clark showed she is well on the way to a full recovery after her horrific car accident last year by capturing her umpteenth national crown, while rising star Tanika Hoffman (Kommetjie) surfed her way into the final where she placed fourth overall. Former ASP World Pro Am champion David Malherbe from Coffee Bay was another who contributed to Border’s team victory by winning the Kahunas (over 45) division where Durban’s Murray Niven came in third. The peerless Chris Knutsen, a four-time SA Men’s Open champion in his heyday and the reigning ISA World Grand Kahunas (over 50) champion, maintained his unbeaten record since SA Masters events were introduced to the local surfing calendar back in 2007 by clinching his fourth consecutive national title. And for the second year in a row Grantley Read from Zululand finished runner-up in the Grand Kahunas. “What a fantastic performance by all the Safari Surfboards team riders in the SA Champs,” said legendary surfboard shaper Spider Murphy. “Congratulations to all the guys and girls who participated in the event and particularly those who created history by winning national titles.” “It’s a pleasure working with such talented surfers and really gratifying to contribute to their success at SA’s longest running event.” Safari Surfboards was established in 1963 and are the exclusive providers of Spider Murphy’s shapes. Contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

 

Royden Bryson Wins Cold Water Classic 2010

CWC10_Scot_FinalDay_39

PRESS RELEASE

Safari Surfboards congratulates Royden Bryson on winning Cold Water Classic in Scotland

 Durban based Safari Surfboards congratulates team rider Royden Bryson on winning the 6-Star rated O’Neill Cold Water Classic at the renowned surf break of Thurso East in Scotland today (Monday).

 Bryson, a former Dream Tour campaigner who finished runner-up in the Cold Water Classic in Cape Town last year, cut a swathe through the top seeds in the event before opting to use an patient strategy of waiting for the best waves to comprehensively defeat Yuri Sodre in the final, leaving the Brazilian needing a massive 8.90 at the final siren

 The 27 year-old former East Londoner pocketed US $20 000 and 3 000 precious ratings points by utilising all the practice he has gained in cold water and extreme weather since moving to Cape Town four years back to win the ‘Northernmost’ contest on the ASP World Tour which featured water temperatures of 4 degrees, sub-zero air temps and even a snow storm yesterday!

 Bryson credited his surfboards shaped by the legendary Spider Murphy at Safari Surfboards as a major factor in his victory.

 “I’m so stoked to have won this event and I’m very fortunate to have a shaper like Spider making my boards. All I’ve got to do is stand up and they go off!" Bryson said after being knighted with the unique Excaliber sword event trophy and being granted a small piece of land in Scotland over which he is now the ‘Lord’.

 Murphy was equally complimentary about Bryson, saying that the victory was the result of Bryson’s hard work and professional approach to his career.

 “Royden has shown that he is at home in any conditions. The 5’10” x 17 3/4 x 2 1/16 rounded pin he rode was ideal for his high-speed manoeuvres while the soft rails ensured that he didn’t bog anywhere on the face of the waves,” Murphy explained.

 “Royden always comes and spends some time in the shaping bay when he’s in Durban and he’s really careful with his boards, keeping the one’s he likes best for contests unlike many other pros who ride their best boards until they are broken.”

 “He’s been building up to this win for a while now and its going to be great for his confidence going forward.”

 ‘Lord’ Bryson is now joint top of the standings in the five-stop O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series with Stuart Kennedy (AUS), winner of the first event in Tasmania earlier this month. Both have a fifth place finish to add to their victories. The next event is in Cape Town at the end of July, followed by Canada and then Santa Cruz, California, where the series leader will be awarded a US $50 000 prize-purse.

Safari Surfboards was established in 1965 and are the exclusive providers of Spider Murphy’s shapes. Emoceanl Surf are the UK distributors for Safari Surfboards.

 

Miss France and her Spider Surfboard!

miss-france-and-her-spider-board