Upsets Galore in Round One of Wimpy Rossi Pro-Am

posted by Olivia Jones on 1st April 2005

Big upsets and huge 6ft (2-metre) storm surf was the order of the day with former US Champion Alistair Taylor and event favourite Derek Footit (Margate) eliminated in round one of the 5A rated Wimpy Rossi Pro-Am at Margate Main Beach.

“I had a shocking heat that was one of my top five worst ever performances. The waves weren’t bad I was just out of rhythm and in the wrong place at the wrong time every time. I hope that Karla does well tomorrow and that all of the other girls give of their best to give her competition and push the local level higher,” commented Taylor.

The highest scoring heat proved to be the most exciting with Cape Town’s Daniel Worsley who has recently moved up from the Junior division beating his older rivals with a near perfect 17 out of a possible 20 points total heat tally. It was Worsley’s big air reverses which caught the judge’s attention and now he has been dubbed the man to beat. Fellow Capetonian Ian Kruger placed second knocking out last year’s finalist Derek Footit (Margate) with JP Fourie (Zululand) in fourth.

Seven times SA Champion Taylor who has recently moved back to South Africa was disappointed to suffer an early round elimination at the hands of Stuart Bradford (Dbn) and Wayne Smith (Uvongo); Jonathan Oliff (Dbn) was ousted out in fourth place.

Lesser known pro rider Rheinhard du Toit (Zululand) made his intentions clear by beating former SA Champ and defending event champion Craig Maree (Dbn); the pair disposed of Nick Philips (Zululand) and Steven Keuning who placed second at SA Champs in the Pro division last year.

Late entrant Doug Lindsay (Dbn North) was penalised by losing his seeding but this did not stop him from winning his five-man heat ahead of runner up David Lee (Margate) and Lloyd Pereira (CT). Sihle Xaba (Dbn) was disappointed to finish fourth with Robert Gray (Dbn) fifth.

Nearly 20 bodyboarders entered the popular Development division; local knowledge proved crucial with outstanding performances coming from the heat winners Michael Ansermino, Dean Collicott, Stephen Brandsma and Dane Klusner (all Margate).

A cold front predicted to come through tomorrow is expected to bring a favourable offshore (south westerly) wind with even bigger waves.

All of the big guns in the pro division will take to the water including Vaughn Harris (Southern Cape), Wesley Fischer (Dbn) Sacha Specker (CT) and Craig Jenkins (Dbn).

In addition to the generous prizes there will be valuable South African Bodyboarding Association (SABA) rating points up for grabs which accumulate over the year to determine the ultimate SABA champion as well as national team selection.

Organisers have opted to utilise a three day contest window period in order to stage the two day event in the best surf that the venue has to offer.

This popular tournament is sponsored by the Wimpy Margate and Rossi Bodyboards with Ocean Sport providing product prizes.

Issued on behalf of:
South African Bodyboarding Association (SABA)

Southern Kwa-Zulu Natal Bodyboarding Contact:
Wayne Beekman (Chairman)
082 822 1825
Email: [email protected]

Issued by:
Olivia Jones Communications
082 537 8840
Email: [email protected]

2634 views

Comments

South African Bodyboarding Association News

South African Bodyboarding Association
South African Bodyboarding Association News

Wimpy Rossi Pro-Am

Event Page
Results
Gallery

Wimpy Rossi Pro-Am Sponsors

Rossi Board CompanyWimpy
Wimpy Rossi Pro-Am Heat Sheets
4th April 2005
Rodrigues Takes Pro Title in Style
3rd April 2005
Township Bodyboarder's Dream Comes True
3rd April 2005
2005 Wimpy Rossi Pro-Am Quick Facts
31st March 2005
Bodyboarding Super Star Couple Competing At Margate
30th March 2005
Over 150 Bodyboarders Expected to Converge on Margate
18th March 2005

Copyright © 2024 Sixty40 Bodyboarding. All rights reserved.