The Rebel Sessions 2017 prize winners were each awarded their share of R100 000,00 at an awards ceremony held In Kommetjie, Western Cape, South Africa on Saturday night.

After a disappointing winter with no surfable days at the Dungeons it was only in the last week of the waiting period ending October 31st that the swell finally arrived with a vengeance. This meant that the twenty invited surfers who paddled into the line up on Monday 23rd October ended up surfing some of the biggest Dungeons ever paddled into with virtually no preparation. Considering this lack of practice the crew all put in their best effort and delivered spectacular days surfing in a seven-hour marathon Session.

The 20 foot plus waves that slammed into the famed Dungeons reef outside Hout Bay, Cape Town were tricky even by Dungeons standard and the one award that virtually every surfer was in the running for was the Consequences award for the Worst wipe out. It was a close call but, in the end, the R10 000,00 prize money went to Kommetjie local Dougal Patterson who took off on a beast early on in the day, hit a bump midway down and ended up skipping down the face before the heaving lip slammed into him.

The award for Motivation goes to the Rookie of the Session and it was 23-year-old Swedish national Odd Perssons who pocketed the R15 000,00 for his efforts on the day. Odd’s only been surfing the Dungeons for the last couple of seasons but his enthusiasm for riding big waves was evident as he racked up a high wave tally and surfed with guts and skill making him a deserving winner.

The top two prizes; Inspiration, for the biggest wave ridden and Dedication for the waterman of the session award, both had long-time Dungeons standout Mike Schlebach and new big surf sensation Matt Bromley in the running.

In the end it was Matt Bromley who took top spot and R50 000,00 for the Waterman of the session award, rewarding him for consistently catching the biggest and best waves and surfing them with style and grace. While Mike took the R25 000,00 for the Inspiration award for surfing the biggest wave of the day.

Rebel Sessions would like to thank supporting sponsor RRD (Roberto Ricci Design) as well as NSRI (National Seas Rescue Institute), Magic Seaweed and the Waves4Change Organisation for their involvement and support.

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Swedish national Odd Perssons showing the form that won him the Motivation – Rookie award in the 2017 Rebel Sessions.