The Zigzag Durban Surf Pro, set to take place from 10-12 May, has been CANCELLED due to a sewage leak at the Durban Harbour.
The extent of the contamination poses a serious health risk and threat to the marine life alongside the marina and along the beachfront. The World Surf League (WSL), the global sanctioning body for professional surfing, and the organisers of the City Surf Series (CSS) took the decision to cancel the event for the safety of the surfers and event staff.
“It was not an easy call to make and we looked at many alternatives,” said Colin Fitch, WSL Africa Operations Manager. “We need to maintain the safety standards associated with an international sports event and we have the support of Surfing South Africa, the national surfing federation, on this call,”
“Our domestic tour is so important to us, our sponsors and especially our members but we will not take any chance with the future of our sport and organisation by not doing the right thing,” said Fitch.
The WSL Africa surfers’ representative, David van Zyl, was in full agreement with the decision to call off the competition.
The Zigzag Durban Surf Pro would have been stop no. 4 of eight on the 2019 WSL Africa Tour and the third CSS event of the year.
The City Surf Series organisers are looking to add another event to the 2019 calendar to ensure that the surfers do not miss out on the opportunity to earn valuable points on the Qualifying Series (QS) rankings for the year.
The next event, the Vans Surf Pro Classic, will take place from 31 May to 2 June in Lambert’s Bay.
More information will be available on www.worldsurfleague.com and on the WSL App.
2019 WSL Africa Tour Schedule:
- March 27-30 Senegal Pro Dakar, Senegal M&W QS1,500 - Completed
- April 18-20 Nelson Mandela Bay Surf Pro Port Elizabeth M&W QS1,000 + JQS1,000 - Completed
- April 22-24 Royal St Andrews Hotel Port Alfred Surf Classic Port Alfred M&W QS1,000 + JQS1,000 - Completed
- May 10-12 Zigzag Durban Surf Pro Durban M&W QS1,000 + JQS1,000 - Cancelled
- May 31-2 Jun Vans Surf Pro Classic Lamberts Bay M QS1,500; W QS1,000; M JQS1,000
- Jun 13-17 Volkswagen SA Open of Surfing Port Elizabeth WQS3,000; MQS1,000; M&W JQS1,000
- Jun 27-29 O’Neill SMTH Shapes Pro Junior Ballito M&W JQS1,000
- Jul 1-7 Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill Ballito M QS10,000; W QS1,000
