As the owner of Malta Surf School, I am proud to say that the Fajtata Classic was a roaring success. I had thrown all my energy behind this competition and was delighted to see surfers from all over the world taking part. The atmosphere was electric, and everyone was in high spirits as they prepared to take to the waves.
On the day of the competition, we had a total of 18 surfers taking part, each eager to show off their skills and impress the judges. The waves were perfect for a surfing classic, with a light breeze and good swell. The day was slightly overcast, which at least kept us from frying in the sun.
The early heats saw four surfers take to the sea simultaneously, each wearing a different coloured rashy. Judges had to be chameleon-eyed to see them rack up points, and you could see from the get-go that the standard was going to be high. As we rolled through the day, we combed through talent, leaving the top four apart in the semi-finals.
The semis were intense, with four surfers giving it their all. Scoring these was tough, but we finally whittled it down to the top two surfers: Wayne Botha and Thomas Carraro. The final was truly nail-biting, with two exhausted surfers facing a sudden change in conditions as the wind’s angle altered slightly, reducing the swell and making it more challenging.
In the end, it was Wayne Botha who stole the show and took home the first prize. He surfed exceptionally well on the day and stacked a higher overall score after one particularly excellent set with no less than three sharply executed tight turns. His family and friends were there to cheer him on, and he took home a sweet new Olaian surfboard, much to the delight of his son who gratefully accepted it as a gift from his papa.
Thomas Carraro came in second place, and Matteo Saccardi took home the third prize. It was a great day for all involved, and I was proud to see everyone come together to celebrate the sport of surfing.
At Malta Surf School, we organised some awesome prizes for the top three and goodie bags for all the competitors, which included an awesome traditional ftira to keep them going. The day was full of laughter, high spirits, and great surfing, and I was delighted to see everyone enjoying themselves.
When the long, fun day was over, we all had the energy to hoist our champion upon our shoulders. I then had the honour of spraying him, and some crowd members with prosecco… Some say they are still soaking to this day. I cannot wait for the next Fajtata Classic, and I know it will be even bigger and better than this one.
Special thanks
Raffaela for the amazing shots, and Mark Bencini for being the Head Judge on the day and Mark Bomba magazine.
Decathlon Malta for supporting the event with top prizes, surf wax and good vibes.
Teresa of Fajtata Kiosk, who you should all know by now, provided the rocket fuel for the surfers: incredible traditional ftira.
Stay tuned for the next one