The South African surfing team to compete in the 2024 International Surfing Association World Surfing Games to be held in Margara, Arecibo, Puerto Rico from 23 February to 3 March 2024 has been announced by the Surfing South Africa Board of Directors.
The 2024 ISA World Games is very important as it is the last chance for surfers to qualify for the 2024 Olympics.
The South African team of three men and three women includes Sarah Baum (Durban North), 2023 SA team member Danielle Powis (Cape Town) and new cap Natasha van Groenen (Cape Town). Olympic coach Christopher Bond and SSA operations manager Reza Denicker are in charge of team management.
Baum has qualified for the 2023 ISA World Games in Paris, with Danielle Powis or Natasha Van Groenen joining Baum as the second female surfer to compete at the Olympics in Tahiti this July. There's still a chance to do it.
KZN Local but based in Australia, Sarah Baum first represented South Africa at the ISA World Junior Championships in France at the age of 14 and is a top-ranked activist in the World Surf League.
Daniel Powis is a former SA champion who won the annual Victoria Bay Quadrangular Surf Contest two years ago. Van Groenen qualified to join the South African team based on his ranking in the WSL.
“We are very excited about the capabilities of this team,” said Surfing South Africa Chairman Isaac February.
“Each individual is very mature and fully understands what it takes to win at this level. This gives us high hopes for success at the 2024 ISA World Games, the 2024 Olympic qualifying event.” I believe this team will make South Africa proud,” February said.
In addition to the final Olympic qualifiers, the ISA World Surfing Games will also determine the women's individual and overall team champions of the world.
original copy: Surfing South Africa, edited by gsport
main photo caption: KZN Local but based in Australia, Sarah Baum first represented South Africa at the ISA World Junior Championships in France at the age of 14 and is a top-ranked activist in the World Surf League. photograph: Sarah Bohm (Facebook)
Photo 2 Caption: Daniel Powis is a former SA champion who won the annual Victoria Bay Quadrangular Surf Contest two years ago. photograph: Daniel Powis Facebook
Photo 3 Caption: Natasha van Groenen qualified to join the South African team based on her ranking in the World Surf League. photograph: Natasha Van Groenen (Facebook)