Two events with a long history in Stilbaai are taking place this weekend:
– the 27th Stilbaai Galjoen Derby (Saturday, 11 August)
The Vintner’s Surf Classic started out with 12 winemakers who loved surfing – and hate playing golf! – and decided that when they are invited for the annual golf day by their suppliers, they are going to surf!
They did so for the first time in 2000 at Onrus and after their first get-together, they moved it to Stilbaai or Jongensfontein and it has been taking place ever since on a Friday in August…
Winemakers, viticulturists and marketers working for a winery are invited to join in one of three main categories – Junior, Senior and Ballies – and the top four surfers of each category go into a final show down. The day end with a get together in the evening where all competitors gather for a prize giving.
BIG RED – When the surfing winemakers battle it out in the ocean, it is not only for ultimate bragging rights, but also for a fantastic charity.
It’s called Surf4Life and was founded in honour of the late Taryn Pratt to help continue her legacy of assisting people in the community through surfing and fundraising events. Some surfing winemakers knew Taryn well and decided to get involved.
Every year all the Vintner’s Surf Classic winemakers supply delicious red wines and these are crafted into a collector’s wine called BIG RED, always bottled in magnums. Some of these bottles are being auctioned to raise money for the Surf4Life Campaign and others will be commercially available for sale.
So, keep an eye out to see where the surfing action in taking place on Friday and join the family and friends and enjoy the surfing – or knee boarding – action and fun.
See photos of the Vintners Surf Classic HERE
Thank you Vintners for visiting Stilbaai / Jongensfontein for the 19th annual year. All the best with the surfing and have fun!
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