By Robin de Kock –Surfing South Africa-

Bertie Stuurman
South Africa

Bertie is a humble kid from Pellsrus in Jeffreys Bay who has amazing surfing talent. His style has been compared to the great Mark Occhilupo. During the recent Billabong Pro in J-Bay, Occy was shown some photos of Bertie surfing Super Tubes and he raved about this young kid with the big bottom turns and radical top turns.

Bertie does not have an easy life. His mother, the main bread winner in the family, suffered a stroke last year, making it impossible for her to continue working. His father is a fisherman but due to the current poor economic climate he has no work either.

Bertie is a very private person though and expresses himself through his surfing. People sit up and take notice of him when he surfs as they notice his radical, aggressive style of surfing. Because of this, at every contest he surfs in, people make an effort to watch his heat to see his special brand of back hand surfing.

Not only is Bertie a private person, he is also very proud and is determined to achieve. He is currently in grade 11. When he finishes school at the end of 2009, he wants to study further and obtain a university qualification so that he will be able to improve his and his family's lives.  

Nickname: Bertie

Birthplace: Jeffrey's Bay

Favorite break: Seal Point

Favorite Surfer: Bobby Martinez

When I am not surfing I like to: Play soccer and touch rugby with my friends

Goals in Surfing: Compete in the local Surfing South Africa surf series and place in the top 8 my age division.

Favorite School Subject: Economics

School name: Humansdorp Secondary High School

Favorite food: Roast Chicken

Favorite music: R&B

If I could travel anywhere in the world, I would go to: Mexico

About International Surfing Association
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for surfing, bodyboarding and surfriding. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964 and the Junior World Championships since 1980. 

ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of over 50 countries on six continents. Its headquarters are located in San Diego, California. It is presided by Fernando Aguerre, first elected in 1994 in Rio, and re-elected six times since.  The ISA's four Vice Presidents are Alan Atkins (Australia), Robin de Kock (South Africa), Maile Aguerre (Hawaii) and Mike Gerard (USA).

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