Ride of his Life - McCarthy finishes in the Top 5 on 2007 World Tour

posted by Gareth White on 10th December 2007

PRESS RELEASE

WHILST competing in his first year on the International Bodyboarding Association (IBA), World Tour, Mark McCarthy, from Richards Bay has claimed an astonishing fourth place overall on the IBA World rankings.

The annual event takes place in locations spanning the globe, at well known as well as remote surf spots in destinations such as Venezuela, Chile and Australia. Winning the tour is the most highly coveted award known to bodyboarding and sees competitors from across the globe going head to head, competing for the sought after title of Mens World Champion.

"It is a dream come true to be able to compete against the world's best bodyboarders in some of the world's best waves. Two years ago I would never have seen myself competing against some of my idols, it has been an amazing year and would never change it for anything", said McCarthy of this year's campaign.

McCarthy began the tour with an amazing second place in the renowned, Human Cronulla Shark Island Challenge in Australia and took many by surprise as he claimed numerous high ranking finishes on the tour, which concluded recently on 7 December, in the Canary Islands.

Throughout the contest, which was held at El Confital on Gran Canaria, McCarthy proved himself time and time again, riding with the passion he is renowned for - passion that saw him making it through to the semi-finals. Unfortunately he was unable to fend off the challenge of eventual contest winner, Uri Valadao from Brazil. Valadao went on to win the event, but could not stop Ben Player from Australia, from becoming the 2007 IBA Mens World Champion.

Over the past year McCarthy has earned the respect of nine times World Champion, Mike Stewart, who has been sharing his wealth of knowledge with him and working on improving his performance.

"One of the things that attracted me to Mark is that he works very hard at what he wants. He will do what ever is necessary to get to where he wants to be", commented Stewart on McCarthy's determination.

McCarthy dreams of claiming the World Title in the near future and has already focussed his attention to next year's tour, which begins in the surfing paradise of Hawaii, in mid February.

"I am incredibly excited about next year's tour and will be starting my training routine shortly with my eyes fixed on claiming the World Title", said McCarthy of his dreams.

If he stays on his present course he will be realising his dreams, but what the future holds for him is up to him more than anything else", added Stewart.

With his plans put on hold for the time being, McCarthy is heading back to South Africa, where he plans to spend time with his family over Christmas and help out at bodyboarding clinics for disadvantaged children before departing for Hawaii in January.

Compiled by:
Gareth White

Distributed by:
Olivia Jones Communications

INTERVIEW:

Gareth White: Please fill me in on your journey through the rounds at El Confital, highlights, stressful moments and what went down in the semi's (I missed the web cast because I was at work - bummed!)

Mark McCarthy: My hardest heat for me was my first heat with Jaime Jesus (Portugal), John Showell (Aus) who were in great form. I was lying in 1st place for most of the heat and with only one good score, JS and JJ both then got 8 point rides and pushed me down to 3rd and there was only 5 min remaining. I needed to get an 8.17 and with 1 min to go a good set rolled in. I left the first wave and went on the 2nd wave with 5 seconds to go. As I took off and bottomed turned, I heard my watch beeping which meant time was up ... I raced down the closing out face of the wave and launched an invert and landed in the flats. I was really happy to pull it off. Every one on the beach was screaming! It was a really good feeling ... I always dreamt of wining a heat in the last 5 seconds ... I was lucky and will try not leave it to the last 5 seconds ever again.

There was a big build up on my next heat with no 2 on the ranking Amaury Laverhne as he needed to make it to the final to win the world title. We both started well and as he opened with a 7 point ride and I had a 7.6 and then got a 6.9 with 7mins left. He surfed well but could not find good a second score and ended up needing a 7.8 ride - so I advanced to the quarter finals.

In the quarter finals I had Jaime Jesus (Portugal) from my first heat who was riding really well. I was able to pick up two 7.5 rides in the first 10 minutes while Jaime was not able to find the right waves, so I advanced to the semi against Uri Valadao.

After my quarter final they decided to run the Semis in the low tide. They were dying and there were not that many good rideable waves coming though as it was really low ... Uri picked up a few insiders and built up a good lead. At the end I needed a 7.5 and waited 6 minutes and no waves rolled in. Just as the buzzer went a good set came and I got a really good ride, the ride I needed to win the heat but it was too late. I was really disappointed in not making the final but also that they decided to run the semi finals on the low tide.


How do you feel about the contest as a whole? Well run? Good waves? Good location?

Everything for the last event was just perfect, the location was great and really accommodating for all spectators. The logistical side of the contest site was good too. The live scoring system made it exciting to watch and also benefited the riders. We were also lucky to have good swell running for the whole waiting period. It was a really well organised contest and just an amazing setup. Definitely the best setup, so good to see and hope that the rest of the tour will be as well run. The live webcam with 3 different angles was visible to the world! El Confital is a right hand reef point break with 2 really good barrels sections so the riders could ride to their fullest potential. So there was a good vibe between the riders and the whole town on Las Pamas.

Could you fill me in on how you feel about your rookie year, highlights from the year, disappointments, memorable experience, etc?

It has been am amazing year for me with many unforgettable moments. I would never change it, but with all the ups and are a few downs ... one disappointment was going to Venezuela with and getting a bad result there and losing the chance of winning the world title. But I can take all the lessons that I have learnt this year and focus on my 2008 goals.

What was it like competing against the Worlds best?

It is like a dream come true to be able to compete against the world's best in some of the world's best waves. Two years ago I would never have seen myself competing against some of my idols so it's all time for me and would never change it for anything.

We hear that Mike Stewart has taken you under-his-wing and has helped a lot when it comes to preparing you for comps...is that true and if so what would you like to say about his help?

I met Mike last year when we surfed in the final in Maui together, he has been really supportive to me from day 1 ... I have now signed up a with the Science international team so I have been doing the tour with Mike and staying with him at most of the contest. He has been helping to adjust my riding equipment to better my riding. Also spent many nights with Mike in Oz during the shark island event and absorb all the information that he knows about Shark Island. Mike is a really clever person and has lots of wisdom to share. So I am really grateful to be on his team. It is amazing that Mike is still doing so well on the tour and will be doing it next year again.

What are your immediate future plans? Where to now?

I am going to fly back to South Africa after the Canary Islands event to spend some time with my family and friends for Christmas. I would also like to help out and do a few clinics back in South Africa. Then I plan on heading to Hawaii in January and get ready for Pipeline contest.

Will you be on the tour next year?

Yes, I can't wait for next year, I am going to start training and getting ready and take on 2008 110%! There are going to be 10 events on the tour next year so I can plan my year a lot better as I also want to go to on some good surf trips too. But next year will be really exciting and hope to take down the world title.

Where and when will the 2008 tour start?

The tour will start in Hawaii next year in Feb and then will go to Brazil, 2 events in Australia, Chile, Venezuela, Spain, Portugal and then Canary Islands again.

Who would you like to thank?

Well a big thanks you too my amazing family that has been really supportive, all my friends and special thanks to Laureth Craggs.

Big thanks to all my sponsors for making it possible for me to do the world tour this year. Thanks to everyone for believing in me.

2118 views

Comments

MJMichael van Huyssteen
11th December 2007 16:12
Well done Mark - a great result - good luck for the 2008 tour - bring home the title. Cheers MJ

International Bodyboarding Association News

International Bodyboarding Association
International Bodyboarding Association News

Mudial Bodyboard Confital

Mudial Bodyboard Confital
Event Page
Gallery
Ben Player 2007 Mens World Champion
7th December 2007
Uri Valadao & Lilly Pollard win Confital
7th December 2007
El Confital Pro - Day 4 Highlights
6th December 2007
El Confital Pro - Girls fire up day 3
5th December 2007
El Confital Pro - Day 2 heats up with awesome waves ...
4th December 2007
El Confital Pro - Day 1 gets underway
3rd December 2007
El Confital takes shape ...
2nd December 2007

Copyright © 2024 Sixty40 Bodyboarding. All rights reserved.