The Tofo Surf Series 2023, a surfing competition with a social purpose, once again brought together lovers of the sport at Tofo Beach, in Inhambane Province, from September 23 to 25.

This event, made up of three stages throughout the year, involved surfers not only from Inhambane, but also from other parts of the country, promoting the sport and boosting the local economy.

The competition pitted surfers from six different categories against each other: U14, U16, U18, men's open, women's open and longboard.

This year's competition began in April, with the third stage and grand final scheduled for December 16-18.

During this final event, the athletes who accumulate the most points over the course of the three competitions will be crowned winners in their respective categories.

With around 70 athletes taking part, most of them from Praia do Tofo and some from Ponta do Ouro and Maputo, the Tofo Surf Series once again demonstrated the vitality of the surfing community in Mozambique.

Bruno Lopes, president of the Mozambique Surfing Association (TOBAN), said that the event was a national milestone.

"The Tofo Surf Series aims to improve our town's economy, give visibility to our athletes and, who knows, open doors to a professional career. With this event, we want to see our best surfers competing internationally," he said.

The Tofo Surf Series 2023 is proving to be a victory for Mozambique's surfing community, with athletes, enthusiasts and supporters uniting around the sport and the spirit of competition, heading for the grand final in December.

TOBAN's membership of the ISA (International Surfing Association) has already borne fruit. The country had two athletes, one male and one female, take part in a training camp in Senegal, which culminated in a competition of different athletes from Africa, with Mozambique winning first place in both genders.

This is a significant milestone for Mozambique and reflects the nation's continued progress and commitment to developing surfing and highlighting local talent. In the coming weeks, two Mozambican judges will take the ISA referee course and the country will now have two accredited referees at national competitions.