Stage set for Bodyboarding Showdown at National Champs

Source: www.sabaonline.co.za

posted by Gareth White on 11th September 2007

THE 21st annual 5A rated South African Bodyboarding Championships are two weeks away and riders are already honing their skills in hope of booking their place in history as a Champion.

The event, which will be held at the Wedge in Plettenberg Bay from the 24th of September is being organised by the Eastern Province Bodyboarding Association (EPBA) together with the South African Bodyboarding Association (SABA) and promises to be a show-stopper.

Throughout the year, the Wedge has been providing riders with consistently good swell and near perfect banks, all of which was on display at the 4A rated Wedge Classic, held in July. Plettenberg Bay locals say that there has been a lot of good surf recently and that they hope it remains as consistent for the contest. Samuel Kammfer, Kobus Oosthuizen, Justin Lindsay and Lyndell Pells, who all form part of the EPBA team and will definitely share the home break advantage in the competition.

Central Kwa-Zulu Natal Bodyboarding Association team member (CKZNBA,) Mark Watts is rumoured to have already arrived in Plettenberg Bay ahead of the event in order to become accustom to the wave. Watts, who competes in the Pro Division, hopes to improve on his second place in the Wedge Classic, which he narrowly lost to fellow CKZNBA team-mate Wesley Fischer. Fischer has been in good form this year and won back-to-back SABA events at the Wedge after he claimed victory in both the Pro and Drop Knee Divisions at the Durban Beach Pro-Am, held during the Durban Beach Festival in July this year. Fischer not only hopes to be crowned as the South African Pro Division Champion, but also to claim top honours as the overall winner in the division for 2007.

Mark McCarthy, who will be competing in the Pro Division as part of the Northern Kwa-Zulu Natal Bodyboarding Association team (NKZNBA) is currently in second place on the International Bodyboarding Association (IBA) tour rankings. In his rookie year on the tour McCarthy has taken the bodyboarding World by surprise with his competitive prowess and is sure to be a name to look out for.

Western Province Bodyboarding Association team member (WPBA,) Jared Houston hopes to defend his Juniors Division title, but will be facing tough competition in the form of Michael Ostler (CKZNBA). Ostler has been giving Houston a-run-for-his-money at SABA events this year and after a gripping final at the Wedge Classic, Ostler managed to walk away as the winner. Other riders to look out for would be Chris Elliot (WPBA,) Jaryd Enslin and Emile von Vollenhoven, both of whom form part of the Southern Kwa-Zulu Natal Bodyboarding Association team (SKZNBA.)

The Drop Knee division has come alone way over the years and now, for the first time at S.A Champs, riders will be competing for prize money. Drop Knee is a difficult skill to master, but riders such as Sasha Specker (WPBA), Derek Footit (SKZNBA,) Vaughn Harris (WPBA,) Sean Tickner (CKZNBA,) Chris Bosman (EPBA,) and Wesley Fischer (CKZNBA) are proficient enough in the discipline to put on a crowd-pleasing display of talent.

EPBA team member and Men’s Division competitor Ryan Jucker, is reported to have broken his nose recently while surfing at the Wedge, but should recover in time for Champs. Jucker resides in Plettenberg Bay and won the Men’s Division at the Wedge Classic, but will surely have his work cut out for him when he faces the likes of Jamie Higgins (WPBA) and Wayne Beekman (SKZNBA.)

A significant battle will unfold in the Masters Division in which veteran bodyboarder Michael van Huyssteen (CKZNBA,) will be competing for his 10th Championship title. He will have to fend off the onslaught of challenges from Southern Cape Bodyboarding Association (SCBA) team member Wesley McQuillan, who won the Masters Division at the Wedge Classic. Another foe for van Huysteen to be wary of is Brett Simpson from the WPBA team. Simpson disappeared from the contest scene in the mid 90’s, but has returned as hungry as ever and eager to claim his first championship title.

This year sees the inclusion of the Ladies Division into the divisions where cash prizes are on offer. Competition in the division is always fierce and this year will be no different with so much at stake. Riders to look out for are local contenders Lyndell Pells (EPBA,) and Geline Derbyshire (SCBA,) as well as Wedge Classic winner, Pamela Bowren (WPBA.)

The Boys Division might host the youngest competitors, but winning at Champs means as much to them as it does the other divisions. Riders likely to go head-to-head are Andrew Raath from the Boland Bodyboarding Association team (BBA,) Sebastian Koopmans (WPBA,) Jason Selby (WPBA,) who won the division at the Wedge Classic and local rider, Murray van Vuuren (EPBA,) who claimed second place and would love to win on home soil.

Event sponsors have been incredibly generous and have donated cash prizes to the value of R23 000, making the South African Bodyboarding Championships for 2007 the richest South African bodyboarding contest to date. Organisers have catered for public needs and as planned there should be food and beverages available, as well as running commentary from industry personalities.

Spectators are encouraged to make their way down to Hobie beach and head towards the Wedge to witness South Africa’s finest bodyboarders riding one of the best waves South Africa has to offer.

The Ocean Minded will be doing a beach clean up at the S.A Champs with the bodyboarders and public to keep our beaches clean. The aim is to make the event the best yet and set the benchmark for future contests.

The South African Bodyboarding Championships 2007 is hosted by the Eastern Province Bodyboarding Association together with the South African Bodyboarding Association and is brought to you by Science Bodyboards, Reef Wetsuits, Factory 7 Bodyboard Shop, debis Fleet Management, Pennypinchers, Plett Tourism / Bitou Municipality, Robberg Estates, Bobbin Craft, Arnette, Environ and Havaianas.

3690 views

Comments

South African Bodyboarding Association News

South African Bodyboarding Association
South African Bodyboarding Association News

SA Champs

SA Champs
Event Page
Results
Gallery

SA Champs Sponsors

ReefScience Bodyboards
debis Fleet Management (Pty) LFactory 7
Penny PinchersArnette
HavaianasRobberg Estates
Good news for Girls
21st December 2007
Lee, Specker, Bowren and Ostler are the new SA Champs
30th September 2007
SA Champs: Day 6 and the super swell arrived for Finals
29th September 2007
SA Champs: Day 5 Development Clinic a Raging Success
28th September 2007
SA Champs: Day 4 brings more good swell and early exits
27th September 2007
SA Champs: Day 3 brings good waves and solid riding
26th September 2007
SA Champs: Day 2 Surfed in testing conditions
25th September 2007
SA Champs: Day One starts on a sombre note
24th September 2007
SA Champs Heat Sheets
24th September 2007
Anticipation builds ahead of SA Champs
23rd September 2007
Own your own centrefold spread from SA Champs
18th September 2007
South African Bodyboarding Championships celebrates 21st Birthday
6th September 2007

Copyright © 2024 Sixty40 Bodyboarding. All rights reserved.