WP Bodyboarding

November 2008
Hi all,

Not trying to be over the top here, but from attending the last AGM this weekend its quite a shock to see where bodyboarding stands this side of the world and where its heading. There is soo much talk and hype about the sport run down here in Cape Town but the question you need to ask yourself are you just doing bodyboarding cause you dig it etc or would you like to see it go somewhere and become a well known sport taking off with big events, crazy coverage etc?

There need to be some serious questions asked as appears that only about 15 people if that were bothered to rock up showing there support and dedication for the sport. Its no wander why it is where it is, i believe all of you dont have any right to complain about the sport / mag / website if you cant put the effort in to give something back to the sport. If you were at the AGM you would understand why things are failing to happen and why sponsors couldnt give a dam anymore about the riders and the sport.....now i think about it almost all of you out there i do hope that your sponsors give you a cake of wax and a free sticker if they are feeling generous!! If you are meant to be supporting the products you are riding for you need to make yourself visible and show that you are sponsored for a reason. With not showing up to special meetings like this just shows you are taking the sponsors for a ride and milking them for your own joys.

Sponsors -- if any of you are reading this i would suggest questioning yourselves where your team riders stand and how envolved they are with the sort in reality. Too many SA bodyboarders dont appreciate the sponsors and the the sponsors need to ask themselves what are you as a rider putting back into the sport / promoting their company? How are you benifiting their company at the end of the day and are you boosting their sales or are you just there for the freebies!!! I think most riders i have come across in SA that are sponsored have pretty much put nothing back into the sport / promoting there sponsors....im not talking about i surfed a contest thats all my work done.

Bodyboarding 1,187 views

22 Replies

Elementree
November 2008
Firstly.

I would like to thank Jane McClure, Johnny Maritz, Peter Lambert and Lea Swanepoel for their efforts in bringing WP safely through 2008. Jane and Johnny. Your hard work and determination over the years have built a solid foundation for those assuming your roles and you have left massive shoes to be filled.

Secondly.

Yes Mark i agree with what you say.
Yesterdays turn out was, for lack of a better word, pathetic!

I would like to say a big thank you to all who showed their support, it was great once we got the ideas rolling and i can only see our province going from strength to strength this coming year. Much appreciated guys n girls.

Those who weren't there have NO say in my opinion. AGM's are not held because we like them. No. They are held for members to air their views on the club/province...positive or negative, share ideas and ensure that the correct people are voted into the exco in order for you to ensure that YOUR province is run in a manner in which you would like to see it run.

Certain exco members bust a gut over this past year and have, in my opinion, taken the WPBA to the next level by securing government sponsorship for our events and development...

Yes that's right...the government have splashed out on bodyboarding to a grand total thus far of R52 000...yes guys...52K...52 BIG ONES to help see WP bodyboarding into next year.

Now if that doesn't deserve recognition i don't know what does.

Well done to all involved in making this happen and a special thanks to Sally Mellish, our beloved treasurer, who spent many a night crossed eyed after spending days, if not weeks, rounding up all the required paper work. Thanks Sal!

Yes guys n girls, we are a young committee, but we have a lot of support from incredibly dedicated members and WE WILL make 2009 a year to remember.

I will be posting an official press release tomorrow.

Cheers
Gareth White.
craigtrilivas
November 2008
I was pretty bummed to see such a poor show too.
Okes need to pull finger and do now cos its not really fair on the few that set aside time out of their lives and schedules for others to benefit and to get slapped in the face like that.
What kind of hope does that actually give anyone?
And people wonder why the Central Kwazulu Natal team always does so well?
Its cos they put their all into what they love.

Its no surprise man really.

Guys, if u look in the mag, its all the WP mense representing and busting out.
The mag is like 3/4's WP represent!!!
This province has more than enough quality to win and win constantly too
If everyone just made an effort and went for it, im sure we could bring the Fishman trophy here to the West Side for years to come.
When I heard that like half our teams strongest riders didnt even do to Sa's I was kinda bleek to say the least
I know that to some it was maybe beyond thier control tho.

Hey i have only been doin WP for a year now but Im willing to help out wherever I can cos Im so sick of seeing such a F*$#ing awesome sport suffer for so long!!!!

Its high time we got to where we deserve to be and what that takes is teamwork.

PS: Go GUNNERS!
dsc
November 2008
Ok, a small point of positive crit from my side - I did not even know it was happening. I heard some of the guys mention something but couldn't work out what it was about.

I would maybe have expected it to come up on the site but then you know what thought did..

Possibly my fault again is that I am not a WPBA memeber yet and maybe communication went to members.
November 2008
Hey DSC,

cool not to worry all good, mainly those on the WPBA should be coming as esp and those that are contest riders.

All,

As Gareth says its not there cause they have nothing better to do but its there to benifit the growth of the sport and its upcoming riders....

If you want to see bigger contests and bigger sponsors of the events / sponsors sending their riders to this event and that etc then you need to show up on behalf of your sponsor and to show your concern about how things go down next year.

WPBA has a lot of potential and some great people on the committee, as Gareth says it feels like slap in the face for those on it and the sponsors to see such poor turn outs to events like this. Hopefully this is a big wake up call to everyone, somehow doubt it as know a lot of the strong riders are too selfish and couldnt be bothered with investing their time back into the sport and just want to milk it for what its worth. Then again those riders never get anywhere further then the local contests and they wander why.... there are future generations of upcoming riders (youth mainly) that are stoked to get involved and would love to check the peers at these events and inspiration. When you were a grom werent you all excited to see the pro riders in the same room, maybe say howzit to them or here a compliment? Those are the small things that kepts my stoke with the sport going and made such a difference to where i am now...those were some of the best times when someone like the Cockwells would tell you how sick your barrel was or the flip out the bowl when you are only a grom growing up... dont rob the future generations of the sport.....yes its very simple why Oz gets much further then us and NO its not always due to waves, look how commited the owes are to the sport and maybe you will pick up some pointers...

There is a post on the main page on Sixty40 under News Briefs, also join up on the facebook group and then you will get all email / alerts of anything going down with the WPBA...

DSC -- cool, you back from Jozi?
dsc
November 2008
Mark, very valid points bru - Gareth and Craig you guys too.

As with anything in life, and achieving success in whatever it is you do, dedication is key.

When I speak to some of the guys and I hear that there are far more groms in the water at Derdesteen on a Friday arvo than there are standups, it makes me so stoked. When I see the Glen beach groms charging hard whatever the conditions, I feel the same stoke. Glen, whilst being probably the most siff wave in the country that only really gets good once every 10 years, maybe, is the cutting ground for a lot of okes that enter the water in Town for the first time. Over the last year or so, maybe more, the local standups have started to hand out just that bit more respect in the water from what I have seen. I only say this cos I live around the corner and its an easy spot for me to mission to for a quick wave. Boogy is growing again.

Point being, there are plenty of boogers in the water these days and it does make me a little miff when I ask them if they know about this site and the mag; often times they don't. And so, we must tell them. Even the older guys that are now most likely working and riding a short/long board - just bring boogy up in conversation.

I know this site is not the WPBA's official site but a lot of what goes on in the SA community happens right here and we could not ask for a better platform to express views and ideas. I also don't deny the fact that if we want change and more support from the brands then we need to be a part of these evenings and show our support. I can't deny that if I was in CT for it that I would have been there - I simply did not know it was happening.

Mark, no, still in electric fence land. Though I heard there more waves in my Ballie's swimming pool than at home!
dsc
November 2008
Separately, whilst this is a WP related topic - I would love to see more participation from other riders around the country.

I think it's safe to say that there are a bunch of regular contributors on these forums and I want to encourage others from all over SA to start having more of a say. There is nothing to be afraid of by expressing your opinion and generating good ideas.
November 2008
Ja for sure as DSC says, this is an open forum just like the rest no matter what you want to put down .... free for all as they say

Will also be good to see how many bodyboarder actually read these forums / vote above to give indications of numbers.
Kelly
November 2008
I'm not reading this whole thread ... but I got the just of it from the first few sentences.

Poor turn-out means nothing - no-one wants to attend and no point having people there who have no input and will cast an uninformed vote. A poor turn-out only means anything, in my opinion, if a suitable committee for 2009 was not appointed ... and it is all about finding the right people for the job. In some provinces, the same person has been chairing for years and doing a good job and an AGM is such a formality that it is almost not even required.

Government funding - well done. The other provinces should learn and WPBA should work through SABA to assist the other provinces acquire such funding from their local government.
dsc
November 2008
Kelly is right, it's not broken and therefore does not need fixing. The WPBA committee is more than capable as has been evidenced over the years. If the ou's don't want to attend, then sobeit.

If they have crits and ideas, get in touch with the relevant committee members or alternatively post topics in the forums and what not.
lyle
November 2008
i dont think border even exist anymore??? never mind having a committee etc! so i reckon wpba and kzn are doing really good!!
StJohnLombard_Bodyboarder
November 2008
border needs a flippin association!
November 2008
Ok sure then, so the next question is should WPBA be bothered with a once a year AGM?

The only reason why WP has bodyboarding contests and events is due to normally 6 dedicated owes that are willing to commit. By the looks of things if these 6 people step down there will be no WPBA and then no events. From my point of view yes it appears to be doing ok but yes its also on a thin line of not existing.

I just find it interesting how many owes complain about the sport and contests and it not going anywhere and then they dont want to help out or give their input. The AGM from my understanding is to also vote for your new leaders for the next year who are going to take the sport forward...if you dont want to vote pretty much means you dont care at all, its simple as that. This isnt really based on free riders as they never attend contests and thats fair play...but those that want to do contests and make the team etc then you should be voting.

Its like here in SA if you dont make the effort to go vote next year or register this weekend you dont have any right to complain about the state of this country and where its at, its down to you as an individual to see that it goes places.
Russell
November 2008
Ok guys besides the fact that I am spitting fire right now I'll give you some feedback from a sponsor:

Bodyboarding, SABA and their provincial associations are constantly trying to gain funds/sponsorship for the sport to help host events and make the sport more attractive for future growth.

Hot Buttered came aboard as the official sponsor for the Western Province School League earlier this year (about 6 months ago) and agreed to commit for a 2 year period. Up front HB supplied Tee Shirts Rashvests and a host of prizes totalling which can easily be considered a large some of money.

As of today, HB do not have one photograph, one press release or one bit of feedback from the organization to communicate the benefit for us as a sponsor in being involved. Once product was handed over all forms of communication ceased to exist.

It would have been far more beneficial to me to have spent the equivallent funds on picking up another 6-8 Team Riders.

So in closing before you guys sit back and bleat about supporting brands who support Bodyboarding, rather take note of the fact that in many cases brands who are trying to make a difference are being taken for a ride. Its only a matter of time before we wise up and move our money elsewhere!

Russell Shaw
Hot Buttered, LMNOP, Custom-X, Bad Boy, Gotcha, Lifes A Beach.
South Africa
Spy Dude
November 2008
oooooooo someone f****ed up!!!

ashamed
craigtrilivas
November 2008
Yo Russel didnt u sponsor a guy called Gareth Russel when HB first came back onto the scene with quality boards etc back in like 98 or so?
He ripped man!
Then he just dissapeared

Anyways I dunno what ur opinion of him was but in my view he reresented HB hard.
Those 70/30 rail boards were pretty flippin ill too

Anyways its a bit kuk to hear that a brand like urs is bummed cos u shouldnt hav to be and thats the bottom line.
dsc
November 2008
Good to get feedback from sponsors - very important.

I am going to take a bold step and speak from a phtographers point of view. I am not speaking for ALL of us but one thing we do all have in common is that we ALL have other full time jobs and make time outside of a normal work week to take shots of the riders, edit and post on the site and submit to Sampi. This also means we sacrifice plenty in order to get the shots.

We still need to get to wherever the waves and riders are - petrol, food and many other small expenses. Our camera equipments costs shed loads not to mention the need for a decent PC and internet to showcase ourselves.

At this stage of bodyboarding in SA and most likely the foreseeable future too, we cannot do this as a full time job and actually earn a living from it. However, we are expected to be here there and everywhere and get the shot, everytime. The same goes for the videographers.

I am not complaining as our love for the sport quiet obviously goes deeper than that, else we wouldn't be taking the shots, standing in the sun and freezing cold.

A suggestion from my point of view is for brands to build relationships with us and vice versa. Often times we are not limited in our creativity to simply take photographs - we probably write too, or at least can give it a decent go. I know I can. This could ensure good coverage for the brands as maybe there would be something in it for us too; like a branded hat to shield us from the sun. All the riders know who we are and see us standing there/in the water and this is a simple way of subtly getting the brand out there.

Lastly, there are so few of us in any case, maybe some of the "soccer moms" can take their little point and shoots along on a Friday arvo and take one or two snaps of their lighties in the sponsored gear and give it to them to pass over. It is not easy for us to be there when we have a job we need to be at to pay the bills.
Spy Dude
November 2008
bodyboarding will NEVER pay they bills...

its for the love of the game and nothing more
November 2008
Craig / HB

Yes both with you guys on that one...except dont know who the rider is though, but im from DBN originally...but yeah thats why things like this need to be bought forward in the AGM's so the committee know how to tackle things going forward. Not to say that they wont take suggestions either and are always stoked to listen.

DSC

Yes think any photographer is there with you on that one, as much as i love to shoot i enjoy riding also and more shooting means less time for me in the water also, so trying to get that balance right can be tricky esp when you working full time and only have a couple of hours here and there to shoot / surf. I think the Sponsors also need to get in more direct contact with the photographers / videographers if they are looking for footage of certain team riders. Ive shot so much stuff and got heaps of sick images that sit on my hard drive of current team riders that Sampi probably doesnt have and never been show cased to the public. If the sponsors work closely with the photographers and they are amped to sponsor them some basics im sure they will also be stoked as its a nice compliment for their time standing on the beach / swimming around in the impact zone freezing with ice cream headaches!! Photographers also give brands good coverage as they are down most of the time where the action is at and whenever you walk onto a beach and see a photographer shooting the surf everyone eyes him out and its just fact cause they know something is going down...Also as you say DSC photographers have other skills apart from just shooting surf, it could be shooting other more brand focused shoots like stock items, catalogs, adverts etc -- get in contact and find out! Yeah also the writeups etc of the events and the list is endless....

Spy,

Yeaaaah.....WWF is the way hahaha.. no for sure will be a while before we can make a living off it here in SA...thats why i dont just shoot bodyboarding ....dum dii diummm, ok i shoot pornos also...lol. Nah but apart from working full time and shooting bodyboarding im super busy shooting so much other stuff.
Spy Dude
November 2008
i shoot stuff, its fun. Dont fuck with me, i keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeel u!
craigtrilivas
November 2008
That image is off the chain son!!!
Markus, im a Durban boy myself
I think sponsors should target the okes who r the scene all the time as opposed to okes who rip but only get seen in the mags.
That way maybe even I could get a sponsor MOOHAHAHAHA!!!!

Dont anyone get sensitive now, i'z just messin wit ya'll
lyle
November 2008

Quote:
Ok sure then, so the next question is should WPBA be bothered with a once a year AGM?

The only reason why WP has bodyboarding contests and events is due to normally 6 dedicated owes that are willing to commit. By the looks of things if these 6 people step down there will be no WPBA and then no events. From my point of view yes it appears to be doing ok but yes its also on a thin line of not existing.

ok, sad thing is this happens in all sports. i play hockey and cricket at club level. and it comes down to the same 4/5 guys doing all the organising and i always felt that if they left that would be the end of the club i play for. guess what, they did. one moved to UK, the others to jossi and CT. and the club looked shaky. ilove both games and decided id coach and take over. point is, not everyone is capable of running or contributing o clubs. they dont have time or just cant handle it, but there is always someone who can, and will take over when needed.

dont get to bumbed, its not just bodyboarding its all sports.

as for HB, that is a huge bugger up from someone... never kick a gift horse in its mouth. assemble the mob, someone needs a lynching
lyle
November 2008

craigtrilivas wrote:
That image is off the chain son!!!
Markus, im a Durban boy myself
I think sponsors should target the okes who r the scene all the time as opposed to okes who rip but only get seen in the mags.
That way maybe even I could get a sponsor MOOHAHAHAHA!!!!

Dont anyone get sensitive now, i'z just messin wit ya'll

i kinda agree with you craig. i was in a local EL booger shop and was chat to a bloke. you know how he identified me?? ''you the guy that rides the yellow rossi?'' now thats good advertisement right there

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