Rough Sea Warning Thrills Cave Rock Gladiator Pit Entrants

Source: www.sabaonline.co.za

posted by Olivia Jones on 18th April 2006

Cave Rock Gladiator Pit presented by Movement Bodyboarding Magazine and 662mob
Speciality South African Bodyboarding Association (SABA) Tour Event
Cave Rock on the Bluff, Kwa Zulu Natal - South Africa
April 19 to 26, 2006


The South African Weather Service has issued a rough seas warning for the east coast of South Africa for Tuesday, April 18. This is bad news for boats but music to the bodyboarders’ ears that are competing in the Cave Rock Gladiator Pit presented by Movement Bodyboarding Magazine and 662mob. The event only requires one day of large waves; the window period starts on Wednesday, April 19 and runs until April 26. Open to only 32 of the most competent big wave bodyboarders, the event carries the biggest prize purse out of any South African Bodyboarding Association (SABA) event – a whopping R20, 000.

"The large cold front has generated a strong swell which is moving up the eastern seaboard over the next 48 hours. With a change in the wind and weather forecast for Wednesday, it looks like the inaugural Cave Rock Gladiator Pit may kick off with a bang- or rumble of large surf rather," commented event organizer and former US Bodyboarding Champion Alistair Taylor (Pietermaritzburg).

The surf on Wednesday is expected to be in the 6-8 ft range at 14 second intervals, which in laymen’s terms translates to waves around 4 to 5-metres (12-15 ft). The wind is predicted to come from the north swinging to a moderate north easterly later in the day. These conditions are perfect for the Bluff especially on a swell from the south west.

"It looks like we could be in for a day of some of the best bodyboarding South Africa has ever seen," added Taylor.

A few last minute entries have been received; the revised list includes Doug Lindsay (Durban North), an old-school bodyboarder from the previous generation of top competitors. Lindsay thrives in big, heavy surf conditions.

A wildcard slot has been allocated to 17 year old Jake Rosenberg (Bluff), a young north beach local who recently placed first in the U20 division of the KZN bodyboarding held at Umhlanga.

Cave Rock has a fierce reputation for being one of the most treacherous reef breaks around. The spot has claimed lives and has always been the training ground for South Africans wanting to go to Hawaii.

The pre-contest function takes place at the Wave House in Gateway on the evening on Tuesday, April 18 where the contestant names will be drawn from a hat to make up the heats which will be posted later this evening on www.sixty40.co.za

For more information please call Alistair Taylor on 082 863 6665.

Following the Cave Rock Gladiator Pit the next event on the SABA calendar is the 5A rated Wimpy Rossi Pro-Am in Margate from April 28 to 30.

Cave Rock Gladiator Pit Contestant Profiles:

1. Alistair Taylor - 7 times SA champ, 4 times finalist at Pipeline in Hawaii, 4th in the world in 1998, 1st in sixty40 peer poll in Best Big Wave Rider category
2. Karla Taylor- 2 times women's world champ and current SA women's champ, and the only girl in the event
3. Eddie Solomon - big wave maniac from California, USA
4. Spencer Skipper- one of the best bodyboarders in the world and excellent performer in large, heavy surf, thanks to his upbringing in Hawaii, USA
5. Ross McBride- top international bodyboarder from California
6. Wayne du Preez - one of the top rated SABA men's division competitors and regular at the Bluff
7. Vaughn Harris - multiple SABA and current Pro Champion from Southern Cape
8. Rylin Richardson - underground big wave charger from the north coast of KZN
9. Adam Morley - freak talent from Mossel Bay, a big wave area in its own right
10. Ian Kruger- Cape Town, loves big heavy waves, has done well at pipe in Hawaii
11. Heavy Dave – Cape Town, underground big surf fanatic
12. Wesley Fischer – from Durban, one of the best bodyboarders in SA, recently selected for SA Bodyboarding Team to compete at ISA World Games and winner of the last SABA event in Cape Town
13. Mark Watts - newcomer to the pro ranks from KZN, has been one of the best junior riders in the country the last few years
14. Philip Rodrigues – Durban based, multiple SA champion and also top competitor on the world tour in previous years, has won a couple of international events
15. Hankus Loubscher - world traveller and big wave aficionado from Cape Town
16. Ian Metcalf - currently living in California, USA originally from Cape Town and also a very competent big wave surfer
17. Darren Halse - currently living in the UK, one of SA's top bodyboarders in years past, from Amanzimtoti
18. Rob Gray - underground big wave rider from north beach and regular when cave rock is happening
19. Karl Liebenberg - old school North Beach local and one of the best men's competitors on SABA
20. Jared Houston - one of the best junior riders in SA and quite capable of taking out the established pros
21. Jonathan Oliff - big wave addict from north beach Durban
22. Inacio Serrao – Warner Beach bodyboarder who has made numerous finals and semi-finals over the past three years in the boys, junior and drop knee divisions
23. Sacha Specker - one of the best pro riders in SA, recently qualified for the SA Bodyboarding Team to compete in the ISA Games in the US later this year- hails from Camps Bay, CT
24. Sean Oberholzer - Doctor from Cape Town, underground big wave guy
25. Jason Devanaugh - emerging talent from the junior division from North Beach in Durban
26. Matthew Botha – 17 year old Mossel Bay bodyboarder
27. Derek Footit - top pro bodyboarder from the south coast of KZN, not afraid of big barrelling right hand waves like Cave Rock
28. and 29. Twins Wayne and Neil Smith - top pro bodyboarder from the south coast of KZN
30. Wayne Beekman – from Margate, SABA men's division champ and competent big wave rider
31. Stuart Bradford - one of the best drop knee riders and north beach local
32. Doug Lindsay (Durban North), an old-school bodyboarder from the previous generation of top competitors; thrives in big, heavy surf conditions.
33. Wildcard - 17 year old Jake Rosenberg (Bluff), a young north beach local who recently placed first in the U20 division of the KZN bodyboarding held at Umhlanga.

For any more updates please check:

www.movementmag.co.za
www.sixty40.co.za
www.sabaonline.co.za

Movement Bodyboarding magazine is a new publication created by current world bodyboarding champion Ben Player from Sydney Australia; it is rapidly making waves in the bodyboarding world and is poised to hit South African Shored soon.

662Mob is bodyboarding/clothing line produced by Eddie Solomon, a big wave bodyboarder from California, who also runs possibly the biggest bodyboarding website in the world (www.bodyboarder.com)

Issued on behalf of:

Alistair Taylor
ATD South Africa
Mobile: + 27 (0) 82 863 6665

Issued by:

OJ
Olivia Jones Communications
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 537 8840
Email: [email protected]

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