Josh Salie (UCT) and Telana Flanagan (NMMU) captured the individual titles while the University of Cape Town (UCT) took the men's and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) the women's team trophies at the 2008 Billabong SA Students Sports Union (SASSU) Surfing Championships at Cape St Francis today (Wednesday). Competing in crosswind 0.6 to one metre waves that provided the occasional excellent ride, Salie, the 2007 runner-up, turned the tables on UCT team-mate and defending champion Chris Bond who had to settle for second place this year.

"It's really cool to win the title this year because there were some very good surfers like Chris (Bond) and Kyle (Jacobs) in the final," Salie said. "I just tried my best in every heat, and it worked."

Kyle Jacobs and NMMU team-mate Greg Hayseldon finished third and fourth respectively.

Flanagan was in a class of her own throughout the women's event, successfully defending her 2007 title by winning every heat she contested, including the final. Kerri-Leigh Anderson (UCT) took second place ahead of Angelique Laurie and Lara Humby, both from the University of Stellenbosch (US), who placed third and fourth.

The men's team event reached a nail-biting conclusion when NMMU went into the final with an advantage after four of their team reached the semis. UCT's only hope of retaining the crown they won last year was for their two competitors in the final to finish first and second, and that's exactly what Salie and Bond did, much to the joy of their squad.

In the women's division, NMMU recorded a more comprehensive victory over UCT with US almost grabbing second spot but eventually having to settle for third.

The individual champions pocketed a Billabong voucher to the value of R1 000 along with a pair of VonZipper sunglasses and Kustom shoes while the top eight men and top four women all received Billabong kit and a pair of Kustoms.

The 15th annual Billabong SASSU Surfing Championships was sponsored by Billabong and proudly supported by VonZipper, Kustom, Cape St Francis Resort, Seals Surf Club and the Eastern Province Surfing Council.

Billabong SASSU Surfing Championships
Cape St Francis

Results

Men
1.  Josh Salie (UCT)
2.  Chris Bond (UCT)
3.  Kyle Jacobs (NMMU)
4.  Greg Hayseldon (NMMU)

Women
1.  Telana Flanagan (NMMU)
2.  Kerri-Leigh Anderson (UCT)
3.  Angelique Laurie (US)
4.  Lara Humby (US)

Men's Teams
1.  University of Cape Town                                 4415 points
2.  Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University           4275  
3.  Cape Peninsula University of Technology        3380  
4.  University of Stellenbosch                                2990  
5.  Rhodes University                                             2665  

Women's Teams
1.  Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University           2400 points
2.  University of Cape Town                                  2525
3.  University of Stellenbosch                                2460
4.  Cape Peninsula University of Technology        1700
5.  Rhodes University                                            1560  

For further enquiries about the Billabong SASSU Surfing Championships please contact contest organiser Hugo Loubser at 082 575 1826