Hout Bay brother and sister, Holly, 17, and Ryley Smith, 15, will represent South Africa at an international lifesaving competition in Durban next month.
The Camps Bay High School pupils and Llandudno Surf Lifesaving Club members will join a national team to compete in the 2024 International Life Saving Federation Africa Championships on Tuesday and Wednesday March 19 and 20.
Seven teams from seven countries will be competing.
The club’s chairman, Frank Solomon, said he was very proud of Holly and Ryley.
“Our volunteer lifesavers patrol the beach and rescue swimmers in distress. We have been saving lives on Llandudno Beach for 52 years. Our club membership consists of nippers, juniors, seniors and masters age groups.”
Holly said she had loved the ocean from a young age.
“My dad and mom used to take my brother and I to the beach most days, and we would surf for hours. We pretty much grew up in the ocean together. When I was under-11, my brother and dad also got me into paddling, which has helped my lifesaving huge amounts.
Last year, Holly and paddling partner Georgia Singe won the K2 (doubles) junior women marathon at the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in Vejen, Denmark.
“I’m hoping to make the SA paddling teams again,” she said.
Holly, who started with lifesaving as a nipper at the age of 8, said she was honoured to have been selected to compete in Durban as part of the national team.
“I’m very happy as this is the highest level of lifesaving I’ve made so far. My training routine is quite hectic as we train most days twice a day, but I enjoy going to school knowing I’ve already done one thing before school even starts.”
Ryley said he had started lifesaving from the age of 6.
“As I was not allowed to compete at such a young age, my dad used to do our own sessions with me. I’ve always had love for the ocean as my dad took me to the ocean when I was very young. We used to go surf Muizenberg for the entire day.“
Ryley holds Lifesaving South Africa’s Victor Ludorum Trophy for under-13, under-14 and under-15.
“I would describe my training routine as wake up at 4am, go for training, come home, go to school and then usually go back to training after school.
“I am super stoked to be representing at the African games. It has been a long, long time dream to be competing for lifesaving on such a high level.”
