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Cape Classic Venue

  • KellyKelly
    June 2007
    SpyDude wrote:
    Maybe they should consider derdes for the cape classic next year and not hold it in half a foot glen beach again.....

    http://www.sixty40.co.za/?newsitem.php?i=414

    A few comments followed on from this so thought I'd pull the discussion into the forum. It is a very valid argument and one which is a big issue for me. Whenever the argument comes up the one argument given as pro these venues is that they have the potential to draw the crowds. How many is my question? Durban is probably the only venue which is worthwhile based solely on spectator numbers. By holding at poor venues you are making your contest less newsworthy so it won't get the desired exposure in the media following the event. Sort out the media for any event and it will reach 1000's and not just a few hundred or so (or less) which come to watch - besides how many will actually stay to watch the contest in poor conditions. A lot does rely on conditions - Durban for example has the potential to be the best contest of the year or the worst. But in Cape Town a roaming venue or at least a better choice of venue might allow for the possibility of a great contest. I've not surfed Glen Beach but does it ever get really good? Or what are the chances?

    Example: Cave Rock event last year - by their own admission the media efforts fizzled off a bit as everyone rushed down to the Wimpy-Rossi comp but it ended up on TV and got some really good print & web coverage. It's a blue print - use it as an example and bodyboarding will move forward. That is what the sport is about.

    Another factor limiting venue is that divisions such as Boys & Ladies need to be considered. On various occassions I have been punting a 3 tiered tour - Amateur, Pro-Am and Pro tour events. Comps like Cave Rock can then count towards SABA rankings and can be held at spots like this which are not suitable for some divisions. In the Cape, it would be great to have a Pro tour event. e.g. K-Bay which probably rates on as many riders favourite spots as The Wedge. At the moment - keeping the SABA tour as solely Pro-Am is holding the sport back. Let's remove the shackles! Not much will change to current events - it will just mean events like the Cave Rock contest can feature as part of the SABA Tour and count towards rankings points which determines our SABA champ for the year.

    The discussions have been happening (although this year I'm not as involved as last year so I can't tell you where it stands) but next year would be a good time to bring about some change.

    But the important point I'd like to make --- get the venue right for the waves and then put efforts into making sure the contest gets as much exposure as possible.

Bodyboarding 1,204 views

17 Replies

  • SmTSmT
    June 2007
    I agree with Kelly,
    Rather try a little harder to get to a venue and see something worthwhile than have easy access to typical contest grovelling!
    Focus on something positive like progressing the sport rather than keeping us bogged down in mediocrity.
    Perhaps having a "Super Tour" aspect to SABA, competing in events at Caves, Cave Rock, Kalk Bay, etc. I think it was a step forward dropping certain divisions from SABA this year, it pushes those who now have to compete in a higher division and that will lead to progression.
    Keep riding for the Love of it!!!!
  • ElementreeElementree
    June 2007
    I'm fairly new at this...and i have commented on this topic before.

    I think the idea of having "speciality" contests for select groups of riders is a good one.

    I feel that the time of year during which The Classic is held has a lot to do with the lack of good conditions, but then again March can cook-just look at the weekend before The Classic, epic swell up and down the coast.
    It is a very touch and go time of year, just before the "big-stuff" arrives.

    As for venues...Glen Beach, never really surfed there so i don't know whether or not it produces "the goods."
    I think it was Jared who pointed out that Glen was actually quite a secluded location with the beach barely visible from the road.
    I agree with that-unless you knew about the contest you wouldn't know it was there.
    I will say that given the conditions around Cape Town over the weekend of The Classic, Glen Beach did have some of the best waves available.

    Other locations mentioned by members in previous threads were...
    Caves & Lands...
    Caves, like Kelly said...too hectic a break for some of the divisions and Lands in my opinion just doesn't have the parking vacilities-if the event was held there riders and their famalies would take up most of the parking, leaving very little available for spectators.

    Other options?
    Long Beach...but will it get the swell?
    Onrus Beach out near Hermanus...same also...will it get swell...Marthinus?

    Out my way there's Big Bay, that attracts and has the ability to attract a crowd, but it's a miff wave and rarely gets good.

    There's Derdesteen-not a lot of Parking and no public toilets, but it has the potential to attract passers by and produce the goods-given a touch of oceanic surge. This year however, it was as-flat-as-a-pancake.

    Like Kelly says...conditions play an important role...there's only one entity who has the power to decide whether or not it's gonna be good.

    In my mind if we want to attract public attention we have to get on "The Box" and the only way to do that and make people go...oooohhh aaaahhh.
    Having said that...and just like everyone else has said...who wants to film 2 foot, mushy shorey?
    The only way to go is for riders to be pushing the limits, riding "big"swell in testing conditions...that should get the producers rubbing their grubby little mitts.

    K-Bay is a good idea for a speciality event(hasn't that already happened though-K-Bay Shoot-Out?)... what about parking and locals?
    Peter would have to pull some strings and buy a couple blokes beers if we were to dominate the break over a weekend in maxing conditions...ha ha
    Caves...yummy...same thing though.

    Come on guys n girls lets put our kops together and come up with a constructive proposal we could approach SABA with...lets have a game plan.

    :lol:
  • Spy Dude
    June 2007
    Ok i am old enough to remeber the spur surfabout contests and sitting on the harbour wall watching occy getting pitted off his nut at 4-6ft kalk bay to a packed out brass bell was something to behold.
    but kalk bay is fickel but when it works its one of the best bodyboarding stages to be on... and beleive it or not the local surfers do actually respect a contest when its held there... but its fickel....

    Hoek..... um hallo............
    caves..... proberbly the most beatiful venue around
    Llands .... you can park a bus down there for the judging tower.. locals might be a problem

    Schlong beach..... yeah well
    The Kom.....
    365........ choice venue for a contest

    End of the day a roving
  • Chinnychinchin
    June 2007
    In general, I don't think a separate contest for separate devisions is a good one, purely due to the size of our sport. But with that said, it's great having a Cave Rock Gladiator Pit or a BayView Big Wave, awesome concepts, I dig it (they're def important for the image of our sport, IF THE PUBLIC CAN ACTUALLY GET TO SEE IT. I don't think that heavy contests like this should become the norm as far as contests go "Divide and conquer".....To divide up our sport and few very generous sponsors, would be to conquer it in my opinion. I think contests are an important growing mechanisim for getting our sport seen and percieved by the public, and in the worlds eyes, bigger is always better..... like ,"wow, look at the size of the Bodyboarding contest, theres a judging tower 10 meters high, a tent selling the latest gear and DVD's, and give-aways by the pro's!! , the sport must be growing, it's looks cool"...rather than, "hey look, why are those people standing around, what are they doing? Is it a surf club contest? There must be like 15 people there, oh look there's like one silly flag, looks lame". I'd rather have a 1000 people rocking to a live band at a contest with crappy waves, but everyone can see it, merchandise is bieng sold, the big companies are thinking, "there's money to be made here, lets get involved" and there is a pumping vibe, than a contest at a spot no-ones ever heard of or seen, so can't find, unless you are on the sms list.....

    This might be done at some big contests already, I don't know, but how about a VIP tent and chill out area, with live video coverage, a few DVD's, snacks and drinks, with a few Pro riders, who are not competeing (?) as hosts to schmooz some special VIP invitees, like potential corporate sponsors, (coke, energade, powerade or who ever) to show case to them the potential our sport has, but in a professional way. Dunno just a quick thought....
  • Len at ScienceLen at Science
    June 2007
    i just hope that the right people read this. for two years now we had 3 to 4 ft waves at kogelbay (cool bay) while glen beach were dead. i am sure that boland would not mind if wp use coolbay as the cape classic venue. if the old people can not walk the road down to caves let them sit in the parking lot and have a arial view. coolbay is protected against the se winds and the water not as cold as glen beach. thanks guys for mentioning this.
  • Marthinus
    June 2007
    I agree with Len..
    Caves is such an epic spot, the ideal bodyboarding wave..

    I think we gotta reconsider what the factors are that determine the venue of a contest.

    Do we choose a venue because of the quality and consistency of the waves produced, or because of its location and visibility to the public?

    I think that as contestants we can say that the quality of the wave should be the primary factor when choosing a venue for a contest but evidently this is not the case with the Cape Classic, well not for the last two years at least.

    I understand how important it is to get public/media attention and that's probably why its been held at Glen for the last two years, but at the end of the day contests are about seeing who the best riders are on the day and surly this can only be achieved accurately if the best possible conditions are surfed. Not true?
  • Spy Dude
    June 2007
    I still want to see a 100% DK contest at a point break.....
  • Jared HoustonJared Houston
    June 2007
    chinny chin chin has got some really valid points.i will make sure that a WP commitee member sees this string as they can use it.

    As for venue,i have,and always will say that caves is prime!the beach there is actually far more visble fro the road than at glen beach.And its not actually as out of the way as everyone thinks.I have been there befor on a sturday,and sunday,when the weather has been wesome and there was hardly even space to walk on the beach-we have spectators.

    WE most def have waves there.I do know that WP biggest grip with caves though is accesibility.Setting up takesforever due to that absolutely hanus walk down,and it is always the moms that end up carrying(i am largely responsible for this so dont think im pointing fingers.)

    Other than that caves isour spot,so why dont we as the contestants make more of a concerted effort at the contests to help out,by setting down etc and putting up banners?

    Maybe then we will get what we wnt?i know i want to surf caves for next years classic!
  • DarkhorseDarkhorse
    June 2007
    the one and only thing which sucks and i knw its lame, but carrying a generator down there is pretty much like 95% impossible!
    i once had to bring one down to hoek and over the rocks with a friend. bloody hell. lets jsut say the cut hands and almost broken toes were not worth it!

    but ag ya, the wave is epic, i i really relaly think tis time that a contest is held in proper waves!
  • SmTSmT
    June 2007
    :lol: I agree with Spy Dude, 100% DK CONTEST gets my Vote!
  • Peter Lambert
    June 2007
    Koelbaai is rad because everyone can camp there and there is a mad ass kinda team vibe where everone can braai at night and chill and that kind of thing. The waves are also normally medium to good, and caves picks up heaps of swell. Yes its a bit far from the road, but I don't think thats really an issue despite what some people say.

    Hoek is also awesome, and should not be discounted. Anyway its a zillion times better than glen beach..... does anyone seriously even surf glen beach on the boogie? I thought it was just a kak kak kak wave, even when its good.

    oh well, the above is my PERSONAL opinion, am sure that some will disagree!
  • PooN
    June 2007
    They have life saving compitions all the time @ lands and there are always many people watching. So the people hav to walk 10 min down to the beach. The waves are good most of the time with the south easter. Parking is not going to stop anyone from coming to the contest. The parking thing is bs. The only reason i dont come watch the contest is that glen beach always has shit waves (or most of the time). I watch the wedge classic every year as it always has people busting huge and the waves are so good. Its all about the waves look a lot of people watch the wedge classic and wen the parking is full the people have to walk all the way from the hotel and they do.

    ITS NOT THE PARKING ITS THE WAVES!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Ian
    June 2007
    the way i see it is (people have mentioned this before) the cape classic is held at a set venue like glen beach for 2 reasons...For the public eye to see because the contest happens in summer season and camps bay is usually packed! then there are shops, restuarants, some fairly good parking and a vibe onn the small beach....even though this is true, doesnt mean the waves are good!!

    Kalk Bay is a perfect venue for a hardcore bodyboarding event...a big parking lot right infront of the break, just off the road..if you have a big bus or something parked there for judging with big banners you actually going to cause accidents with the amount of attention you going to get!! As spy dude said..its mad fickle and will need a waiting period of sorts..but when the wave is on it will be one of the best events in terms of waves, media coverage and and all-round interest from the public...( stay tunned for kalk bay shoot out 2007)

    The hoek is a world class break but is also out of sight from the public....but the wave works super regulary and is perfect for media coverage....but you wont have the crowd "wow" factor. The hoek can have a world tour event running on a day but if you drive down to the parking lot you wont see a thing! same as caves...

    lands is another crazy good wave but parking can become a problem and stand-up locals are going to have to be put on a leash!

    long beach is a no-no! my opinion of the wave is that it is a perfect stand up wave and sometimes fun to bodyboard.....not for a contest...no "wow' factor..at all...

    all in all..i think we gotta up the standard of the waves we have in contest so that the public can see what bodyboarding is really about!
  • PooN
    June 2007
    AGREED WITH IAN
  • Chinnychinchin
    June 2007
    Great to see some constructive input.

    Ok here's some more.....all the communities in the Cape have community newspapers, where are the ad's, results and photo's? I see surfing articals in the Table Talk all the time but NEVER see anything about BBing. Come on guys. They even just have an artical about a rider, with a few photo's and a short write-up on their success/progress, it's not always about the artical, it's all about the photo, lame or not, it's a visual connection to the public that says, "hey, our sport is still alive, in fact it's kicking (scuz the pun!!!) and growing...watch this space!!!" What about posters? I know it can all become expensive, but an A3size 2 colour ad for an upcomming comp, in the winow of the local surf shop, Spar shop or Pick' n Pay, or even the local school notice board, can do wonders for our image as a healthy, growing sport. The local newspapers also have ad inserts, how about a small A5 size 1 colour ad, it's a shot gun approach, but it can work. or small ad's handed out in the parking lots of the famous beaches.
  • ElementreeElementree
    June 2007
    Chinnychinchin wrote:
    Great to see some constructive input.

    Ok here's some more.....all the communities in the Cape have community newspapers, where are the ad's, results and photo's? I see surfing articals in the Table Talk all the time but NEVER see anything about BBing. Come on guys. They even just have an artical about a rider, with a few photo's and a short write-up on their success/progress, it's not always about the artical, it's all about the photo, lame or not, it's a visual connection to the public that says, "hey, our sport is still alive, in fact it's kicking (scuz the pun!!!) and growing...watch this space!!!" What about posters? I know it can all become expensive, but an A3size 2 colour ad for an upcomming comp, in the winow of the local surf shop, Spar shop or Pick' n Pay, or even the local school notice board, can do wonders for our image as a healthy, growing sport. The local newspapers also have ad inserts, how about a small A5 size 1 colour ad, it's a shot gun approach, but it can work. or small ad's handed out in the parking lots of the famous beaches.

    Funny you should mention this...

    About a month ago i contacted the Sports Editor of Independant Community Newspapers(they do Table Talk, Tyger Burger and all the other local newspapers)...he said he was keen to run some stories on WPBA Bodyboarding-in fact he gave me a 2 hour deadline to put together a profile of a rider from the Durbanville area...i couldn't make the deadline, but have since put the profile together and just need a couple pics to wrap it up-so possibly you might see it in next weeks Tyger Burger(hopefully) I have also done a profile on a young rider from the T.View area...also need some pics...and hopefully it will get published.

    I'm actually going to call him now and chat about getting the profile published.

    I have sent in a shortened version of the write-up i did for the WPBA Trial #2 held at Derdesteen a few weeks back-i'm currently doing a write-upu for yesterdays Trial and will also send it in, but that would be published in a community paper from the Southern Suburbs because it was held at Witsands.

    Might i point out that the space allocated to sports in these community papers is minimal...so i'm gonna have to push to get stories published.

    On a lighter note....a journalist from the Peoples Post(a community newspaper focussing on the S.Suburbs), got in contact with Jamie Higgins over the weekend and came to the Trial yesterday to cover the story-wicked cool!!!!

    The journo got contact details from this very website...awesome hey?...big up sixty40!!!

    So look forward to seeing more bodyboarding coverage in the near future....

    Peace out! :lol:
  • ElementreeElementree
    June 2007
    Chinnychinchin check the Table Talk this week for a profile on Jared Houston and news of a up and coming development clinic put together by WPBA, in association with Sport Unlimited...

    I hope that this is what you were asking for...more to come i assure you!
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