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Durban Beach Festival Hosts Highest Rated Bodyboarding Event of 2007

Source: www.sabaonline.co.za

posted by Olivia Jones on 22nd June 2007

The popular Durban Beach Festival in association with SABC and MTN is hosting the highest rated bodyboarding contest of 2007 from June 29 to July 1 at Bay Beach. The Durban Beach Pro-Am carries a 5A South African Boarding Association (SABA) rating which is bound to attract the cream of the SA bodyboarding crop to Durban to compete.

SABA Chairman Alistair Taylor who commented on the enormity of the event said, "Due to the Durban Beach Pro-Am carrying the highest rating and the most points, this event will be critical to anyone aiming to win or do well on the SABA circuit end of year ratings."

The event also features a record amount of prize money for the women's division and with two times Women's World Bodyboarding Champion, Karla Taylor (Durban) in the event, there should be some fierce competition. Spectators can look forward to a spectacular showdown amongst the top women as the upcoming ladies will be going all out to attempt to topple Taylor's domination of the SABA circuit thus far and grab the lion's share of the cash.

A few international bodyboarders are expected to enter as expatriate Brandon Foster who is now living and competing abroad will arrive with his Road Warriors tour. Foster has a string of impressive results under his belt and will be the clear favourite to win the drop knee title. World renowned Australian rider, Brendon Newton, will be in Durban to take part and give the locals a run for their money. Newton has a reputation for his reckless abandon approach to riding big and dangerous surf so he will be the one to watch if Neptune delivers big swell.

The different divisions include pro, ladies, Factory7-drop knee, juniors, men, masters and boys. There is a total prize purse of R22 000 which will be divided amongst the different divisions with the pro’s receiving R12000; the Factory7 Drop Knee division and ladies will receive R5000 respectively. Competitors have much more to gain than just prize money as there will be valuable SABA points at stake which count towards the crowning of the year end tour champions.

"The timing of the event is perfect as it will be held in the middle of winter at the Bay of Plenty which typically picks up more swell than North Beach and New Pier. We hope to see some epic and maybe even sizeable surf for competitors to show off the aerial antics that bodyboarders are famous for," said Taylor.

The Durban Beach Pro-Am is presented by Debis Fleet Management, HB Bodyboards and the Durban Beach Festival, in conjunction with Factory7.co.za, sixty40 bodyboard magazine, Bad Boy, ATD Bodyboards, Wimpy, Executive Surveillance CCTV and The Comfort Group.

Entry forms have been posted on www.sabaonline.co.za and www.sixty40.co.za; the closing date for entries is June 24.

The contest will also feature a free development clinic, hosted by Debis Fleet Management, on the final day of the contest. All equipment will be provided and participants will be taught by some of South Africa's top bodyboarders including Sihle Xaba (Durban).

The final day of the contest will also feature live video streaming to www.sixty40.co.za to cater for bodyboarding enthusiasts that can't make it down to the beach, or who are watching from overseas.

The city of Durban will be heating up this winter as the countdown towards Durban Beach Festival begins. The festival which has a brand new look and feel will be happening from June 29 to July 8. Beachgoers can look forward to a visual feast of music concerts and fashion shows as well as a large array of sporting activities.

Since the programme is currently in the process of being finalised, watch the website for regular updates www.durbanbeachfestival.co.za.

ENDS/

Contact:
Michelle Govender
Mobile: 079 499 8327
Email: [email protected]

Prepared By:
Activate Communications

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