Star Studded Line Up for Vodacom Bodyboarding Showdown
posted by Olivia Jones on 13th June 2006
Durban Beach Africa presented by Vodacom and SABC
Vodacom Bodyboarding Showdown
Bay of Plenty Beach – Durban, South Africa
30 June
A star studded line up including former women’s world champion Karla Costa-Taylor (Berea, Dbn) and former US tour winner Alistair Taylor (Berea, Dbn) have entered the Vodacom Bodyboarding Showdown. The event takes place on Friday, June 30 at the Bay of Plenty Beach which is known for being more open to swell than some of the neighbouring breaks on the Durban beachfront.
The Vodacom Bodyboarding Showdown is one of the water sports highlights at the 2006 Durban Beach Africa festival presented by Vodacom and the SABC; the festival runs from June 30 to July 9 along the Golden Mile. Vodacom has a reputation for being the Greatest Supporters of SA supporters.
The Vodacom Bodyboarding Showdown is a South African Bodyboarding Association (SABA) sanctioned specialty contest which boasts a R10, 000 prize purse which will be shared amongst the five divisions - Pro, Drop Knee, U20, U15 and Ladies. The Vodacom Bodyboarding Showdown is a national competition open to all bodyboarders from around South Africa and will be run by the North Beach Bodyboarding Club.
To spice up the Pro division title race Costa-Taylor has opted to take on the men and has her heart set on first place. The petite bodyboarding powerhouse grew up in Brazil and moved to South Africa a few years ago with her husband Alistair. At Natal Trials last month Costa-Taylor bodyboarded to an easy victory bruising egos with near perfect scores over her husband and 20 year old North Beach hot shot Rylin Richardson (Durban).
National bodyboarding team member Wesley Fischer (Berea, Dbn) and winner of the most recent SABA event Mark Watts (Westville, Dbn) are also amongst the favourites capable of taking top honours in the Pro final.
Reigning South African Boy’s Bodyboarding Champion Ian Campbell (Morningside, Dbn) is expected to dominate the U15 heats with big names like Jake Rosenberg (Bluff, Dbn) tipped to win the U20 division. 2004 SA Women’s Bodyboarding Champion Robyn Sorenson (Berea, Dbn) will have the upper hand of local knowledge in the Ladies contest. Wesley Fischer (Berea, Dbn) and Sasha Taljaard (South Beach, Dbn) are perennial favourites to win the Drop Knee division where bodyboarders are judged on their manoeuvres executed whilst riding in a half kneeling stance.
"Durban will always be the hub of surfing in South Africa and we at SABA are thrilled that Vodacom has sponsored our event and that we are a part of Durban Beach Africa," commented bodyboarding champion Alistair Taylor and current SABA Chairman.
There will be no second chances for competitors in the Vodacom Bodyboarding Showdown, due to the event running over one day only the event organisers have selected a straight elimination format which allows no room for error.
SABA's ongoing national development programme is expected to attract newcomers in the hopes of toppling the old guard in the Vodacom Bodyboarding Showdown. The Taylors will be running a Vodacom Development Bodyboarding Clinic for free open to all members of the public at midday.
The sport of bodyboarding started in 1971 in Hawaii, thanks to surfing legend Tom Morey. From its humble beginnings, bodyboarding has grown into an international sport and is an immensely popular alternative to surfing. Due to the easy entry level bodyboarding attracts a large number of competitors. At the highest level of riding bodyboarding is a supremely acrobatic sport where most of the manoeuvres are pulled off in mid-air as will be showcased in the Vodacom Bodyboarding Showdown.
The Vodacom Bodyboarding Showdown entry fee is R50, joining the North Beach Bodyboarding Club is encouraged but not mandatory for this event. Entry forms will be available on www.sixty40.co.za as well as on www.sabaonline.co.za. The closing date for final Vodacom Bodyboarding Showdown entries is 5.00pm on Tuesday, June 27.
Cellular giant Vodacom and the national broadcaster, the SABC, have both come on board as associate sponsors for the Durban Beach Africa Festival this year which runs from June 30 to July 9 on the Durban beachfront.
Issued on behalf of:
Vodacom for Durban Beach Africa
www.vodacom.co.za
Issued by:
Olivia Jones Communications
Email:
[email protected]
Cell: 082 537 8840
Office: 031 467 8800
For information about the Mr Price Pro Surfing please contact:
Kirstin Scholtz
Email:
[email protected]
Cell: 083 309 5115
Office: 031 467 2927
For information about other events contact Durban Beach Africa Media Consultants:
Zakiya Communications
Email:
[email protected]
Yoliswa 083 6590244
Mandy 083 3757694
Dennis 083 8599730
Office: 031 208 2303
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