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Swell Builds ahead of SA Champs.

posted by Damon Crawford on 31st July 2009

From the 27th September to 2nd October 2009 the Boland Bodyboarding Association will be hosting the 23rd annual South African Bodyboarding Championships. This year's event will take place on the stretch of coastline between Elands Bay and Lamberts Bay.

The decision to host the event on this particular part of the West Coast stemmed from the vast amount of quality breaks and excellent weather the area can produce. The area has also been part of the Boland locality since the establishment of this province and it was felt by the committee to put these fine locations of high quality waves into use to produce an epic result for the contest. 168 of the top competitors representing their 8 provinces will go head to head for victory in what promises to be a great event.

During the event a development clinic, sponsored by Kumba Iron Ore to the value of R80 000, will be taking place enabling South Africa's top riders to spot the talent amongst the eager youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds. This is in accordance with SABA's development policy and two clinics, one already having taken place during July, and another in August, will be run prior to the contest. The Boland Bodyboarding Association together with The Sonsurf organisation, have been coaching local youth as to the basics of bodyboarding as well as the importance of ocean safety. This will ensure that the youngsters are able to compete in a semi final and then onto their own final where a winner will be crowned.

As a direct result of Kumba Iron Ore's contribution each child involved in this years SA Champs Kumba development programme will be given a full kit of bodyboarding gear including an essential wetsuit for the icy Atlantic, board and fins. The kit is theirs to keep and use during the planned schools league, which is being formed for inter-school competitions in the area. This will ensure that the grass roots are laid for the sport to grow healthily amongst the communities in the Elands Bay area.

A full colour event programme will be produced for the contest and will display information about the sponsors and their product ranges. This will be distributed amongst the 8 respective provinces and their members as well as the general public that attends the event.

The event looks set go get exciting from the start with big names like Wes Fischer (CKZN), Daniel Worsley (WP), Adam Morley (SC), Jonathan "Oros" Oliff (CKZN), and Michael "Ratt" Ostler (CKZN), reportedly preparing themselves for battle in the pro division against the 3 X SABA Circuit event winner - Mark "Boychamp" Watts. The ladies division will no doubt impress with Lyndell Pells and Nikki Geriche sure to come up against each other for top honours.

In the hotly contested and highly talented junior division Adam Waites (CKZN) can bet he will find himself under pressure from the clinical Melkbos local Andrew Raath and fellow Capetonian, Aden Kleve, SKZN's Storm Prestwich and CKZN's Jared Visick. As always the masters division should produce battles of epic proportions with the likes of Mike Van Huyssteen (CKZN) to show his experience. Amid the classic waves such as will be surfed this year at Champs, the DK heats will not go unnoticed. Be sure to watch the new levels of expression these guys are bringing to the party.

This year you will be able to follow the contest action from many media sources including the usual news feeds here on sixty40.co.za and bodyboarding related websites. The event media team will also be setting up a blog and Twitter account to help bring the event to the public in "real time".

Be sure to check us out on our blog for behind the scenes extras to keep you happy and follow us on Twitter for the ultimate live action. As soon as the accounts are up and running we will advertise them here on sixty40.

The 23rd annual South African Bodyboarding Championships is proudly sponsored and brought to you by Reef Wetsuits, Science Bodyboards, Viper surf fins, Ocean & Earth, Kumba Iron Ore, Environ, Cederberg Municipality, in association with Eureka Accommodation, Westfoods Centra (Lamberts Bay), The Coca Cola Company(Coke, Powerade & Bonaqua) and Muisbos Skerm.

*more event info to follow shortly

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