South African waveski surfer Bruce Viaene from East London has just been crowned the US Open Waveski champion at the Ventura Paddle Surfing Championships.
Vaiene took the top honours in a novel virtual format that pitted him against some of the world’s best waveski exponents, and brings him his second major title within a week.
Viaene won the Western Province Open over last weekend, winning the crown for the second year in a row. This morning it was announced that he had just clinched the coveted US Open Waveski title, beating competitors from all over the world with an 18.10 combination score, narrowly beating World Number #2, Virgile Humbert from France.
The Ventura Paddling Surfing Championships co-ordinated a first of its kind for the sport; a virtual online waveski competition, where athletes from France, Australia, America and many others took part.
The entrants were required to submit video footage of themselves surfing, recorded during the month of October. These videos were judged by three international judges. Viaene took on the challenge, and ventured down the coast, to Jeffery’s Bay to surf the well-known breaks of the area, and gather the necessary footage for the competition.
Watch his winning wave here:
“It’s been a tough year, but I am thankful to my sponsors and supporters who have continued to encourage me, and to Macski Waveski who have always made it possible for me to chance my dreams” said Bruce Viaene.
Viaene is now in full preparation for the up and coming KZN Waveski Open, scheduled to take place on the 12th & 13th December 2020, and hopes to walk away defending another title.