Buffalo City is poised to welcome the world to its shores this weekend, as the final plans come together for the highly anticipated 2024 World Waveski Surfing Titles presented by Buffalo City Tourism from June 29-July 7.
More than 100 elite international athletes will converge on East London to compete at Nahoon Reef, bringing an expected boost of more than R5m to the local economy with them.
The preparation for the event has seen extensive collaboration with Buffalo City Metro Municipality, SAPS, law enforcement, Buffalo City traffic department, Buffalo City waste management, Buffalo City beaches, Buffalo City fire department and dive unit, NSRI, Red Alert Security Solutions, and Red Alert Emergency Medical Services join forces.
Key stakeholders convened at Reef Café on June 18 to finalise the plans set to roll out.
Event co-ordinator Trystan Viaene expressed excitement about the collaboration, saying, “The support from local businesses has been incredible.
“Working with so many different stakeholders, to bring to life one event has been a fabulous journey to ensure harmony is in place among all service providers.
“It has been wonderful watching our partners team up and work together to ensure this event is truly world-class.”
Nahoon Reef will transform into the epicentre of this prestigious competition, with its small parking lot being repurposed into a vibrant contest village.
Consequently, the public will be unable to park at Nahoon Reef parking from June 27 until July 7. To accommodate this, the Buffalo City Metro traffic department has arranged for half of the parking lot to be blocked off for event structures, which started on Monday. The entire lot will be closed from Friday.
Reef Café parking lot will serve as the primary parking area, though spaces are limited. Overflow parking at Nahoon Corner will be managed with a roadblock to prevent congestion.
Additionally, SAPS will monitor the main entrance to the Nahoon Point Nature Reserve throughout the event, ensuring the highest standards of safety and security for attendees and participants alike.
The public must adhere to event regulations, which include a strict no-entry policy for non-competitors at the Nahoon Reef break during competition times.
For those unable to attend in person, live streaming will be available at on the website, www.sawaveski.co.za, allowing supporters worldwide to join in the excitement from their homes. Buffalo City residents and visitors are invited to engage with the event through several key activities.
The meet & greet, at Vincent Park Shopping Centre at 3pm on Thursday June 27, offers a chance to interact with world-class athletes.
The flag parade on Friday June 28 will commence from Beach Break Cafe at 3.30pm, showcasing the vibrant representation of nations participating in the event, and adding to the atmosphere.
This event promises to be a showcase of athleticism and community spirit.
For more information, visit www.sawaveski.co.za or contact info@sawaveski.co.za.
