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Houston Set for a Classic Launch!

posted by Gareth White on 31st March 2009

Jared Houston, 19, from West Beach, is a young man who aims to defend local pride by claiming victory in the Pro division at this years 4A rated, Sport Unlimited/Spur Cape Classic bodyboarding contest, due to be competed from 2 to 5 April.

Houston, who has won the event twice before in other divisions, aims to make 2009 his year and feels that he is prepared for the challenges he is about to face when competing for his share of the R60 000 prize pool.

Having recently returned from his maiden journey to the surfing proving grounds of Hawaii, he tells us that he feels that his newly acquired tactics might just give him the edge over the competition.

"I like to prepare myself to such a level that I know that I will be able to beat anyone when I am riding at my best", said a confident Houston.

"I like my competitors to know that my body is in the same place that my mind is. Focused on winning."

No stranger to tough competition he is aware to the mammoth task that lies ahead of him and by no means does he view it as an easy one.

"Competition at the event will be fierce and there are so many guys who are fine tuned to contest riding that you can expect some upsets."

"Riders like current SA Champ, Mark McCarthy (NKZN), Michael "Ratt" Ostler (CKZN), Adam Morley (SC), and Mark Watts (CKZN) will be tough to beat, but I feel that I learnt a lot in Hawaii and I am ready to test some new techniques", added Houston.

The contest, which is organised by the Western Province Bodyboarding Association (WPBA), in association with Ocean Minded, is reputed to be one of the most anticipated contests of the year as it makes use of what is known as a "roaming venue" whereby there is no predetermined contest venue.

"Cape Town is gifted, surf wise, in that we have two contrasting coastlines that favour dissimilar wind and swell directions", commented WPBA Chariman, Deon Meyer.

"By utilising the roaming venue format we can make full use of the Cape coastline, and irrespective of weather conditions, should be able to find contestable surf."

"We have been very fortunate this year in securing substantial funding from the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport", commented Meyer.

"Funding that without which we would have been unable to elevate the event to it's current standing as a world class bodyboarding contest."

On top of the R15 000 donated by local government towards the contest a further R17 000 was pledged towards development within the sport of bodyboarding in the Western Cape. Funding, that Meyer says, will enable the WPBA to source hidden talent from within the disadvantaged communities of the Western Cape and bring joy to those who have never experienced bodyboarding.

"We will be running development clinics for disadvantaged children this coming Saturday and hold a mini contest for them on Sunday. What we hope to achieve this year is for us to be able to source and train a future South African champ. Someone who, without assistance, might have never reached their true potential as a top flight bodyboarder", said Meyer.

Breaking news is that the event cut-off point has now been extended to the event briefing, due to take place at the Big Bay Life Saving Club at 19:00 tomorrow night (01-04-09).

So if you haven't already entered then you might not want to miss out on this opportunity.

The event organisers are also considering delaying the running of the Boys and Juniors divisions until the weekend because they have heard that numerous scholars are finding it difficult to get Thursday and Friday off school in order to compete.

If you have been experiencing this problem then please make your way to the briefing, let us know that you can only ride if it is over the weekend and sign up.

The more entries we get for those divisions, as a result of the possibility of only running them over the weekend, the greater the chances are of the postponement taking place.

Another pressing area of concern is whether or not there will be a bus services running similar to the one last year.

Unfortunately there will be no bus service, but if lefts are required please contact either Deon Meyer (082 575 8565) or Gareth White (072 740 4225) and they will assist you to the best of their ability.

The Sport Unlimited/Spur Cape Classic 09 is brought to you by Sport Unlimited and Spur Steak Ranches in association with Ocean Minded and supported by The Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Reef Wetsuits, Science Bodyboards, Arnette sunglasses, Bondi Blu and Aloe Up.

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