VETERAN Amanzimtoti surfer Gary van Wieringen is jetting to El Salvador to compete in the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship in Surf City from October 18 to 24. It will be the seventh edition of the prestigious competition. Van Wieringen said he was looking forward to competing on an international stage again since 2013 in Ecuador. “I’m feeling really good about the competition, and training has been going well. The surfboards are great, so I’m very well prepared,” said Van Wieringen.
There are three other South Africans who will compete in the event. Tyrell Johnson and Tasha Mentasti are in the 40–49 age division, while Heather Clark and Van Wieringen are in the 50–59 division.
Six ISA World Masters Surfing Championship events were held between 2007 and 2013. International Surfing Association’s president, Fernando Aguerre, said he was happy for the return of the competition.
“The level of surfing and competitiveness runs hot in so many over-40 surfers, and I am thrilled at the opportunity to see the world’s best back in action. This event is a true celebration of surfing,” said Aguerre.