12th annual Durban Surf Carnival takes place in early June

This event, sanctioned by the Stand Up Paddleboard Association of South Africa (SUPSA) and KwaZulu-Natal Longboard Surfing Association (KZNLSA), will host a number of surfing disciplines.

2014 will also include SUP Course Racing which is a new discipline to the event. The Forgotten Soul Retro surfing competition will once again be on the line-up, exposing the history of South African surfing with surfers riding surfboards manufactured in the 70s and 80s as well as longboarding - going back to the “roots” of surfing.

With a number of sponsors lending their support to this annual event that draws crowd’s young and old from around the country; one such sponsor, Natural Curve Surfboards, will introduce an “experimental design” to one of the winner’s prize.

Hugh Thompson, owner of Natural Curve Surfboards, said it all started with a client of his from Cape Town who made him aware of the research that was being done in Australia regarding shark attacks on bathers and surfers and wanted him to base his design on that research. Basically, the stripes on surfboards act as a potential deterrent and causes optical distortion to the shark’s vision. Thompson says, “Even though this research is still under development and is experimental, if it helps to lessen any attacks, I am all for it.”

The surf carnival, is free to the public to watch, and not only can one catch all the surf action, there is also a free to enter SNAP SHOT Photographic Competition that one can enter as well as a free surfing clinic.

All entries close for participants on Saturday, 31 May. For more information, phone Paul Godwin on 0835601185 or email [email protected]. Alternatively, visit durbansurfcarnival.blogspot.com.

Sponsors to the event are: Jeep Apparel, The City of Durban, Independent on Saturday, Container Conversions, Gooderson Leisure, Thule, Maisch Fins, Larmont Surf, Natural Curve Surfboards, Coreban SUP, Naish SUP, Learn to Surf School, Thermo Plastic Concepts & Equipment (TCE)

One can also find information on event and about Nerve Events, here. Alternatively, visit and like the Facebook page or follow @NerveEvents on Twitter.