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Reef SA Champs Day 2: Bombs, Barrels and Big Boosts in the Boland

posted by Ian Thurtell on 28th September 2009

It was a completely different story when the teams woke on day 2 of the Reef SA Champs.

The wind had dropped off completely, there was not a cloud in the sky and the swell had dropped slightly making the conditions a lot more contestable for all the competitors.

Elands Bay was again chosen as the venue for day 2. A very clean lined up 3-4ft swell was running down the point.

The Pro division was first up with morning glare to contend with. Stand-out riders were Jonothan Oliff (CKZN), Warren Canepa (EP), Duarte McClean (EP), Terence Pieters (CKZN), who is excelled in both the Pro and Junior divisions, and Vaughn Harris (BOL) who pulled a big backflip and duely received a big score.

In the Junior round 2 heats, Andrew Raath (WP), Iain Campbell (CKZN) and Bradley Moys (SKZN) where the riders to all score the highest scores in their respective heats.

Tristan Roberts (BOL) who is 12 years old, again rode the long lefts to perfection in his Boys heat, using the pocket of the wave to execute tight manoeuvres earning him another 300 score to go with his first one he scored in his round 1 heat. Other riders in Boys who received high scores were Steven Du Preez (CKZN), Dylan Bosch (EP), Niklas Martin (EP) and Michael Mynhardt (SKZN).

The contest day ended at 1pm and all the teams went off to Lamberts Bay main beach where the Kumba Iron Ore development clinic was to be held.
The huge Coca-Cola event truck had parked facing the beach which made a perfect stage for the hand out ceremony. Pure ecstasy is the only word to describe the way the kids looked and felt when they received their gear! Each of the 40 kids received a board, wetsuit, fins and leash so that they are totally equipped for their future surfs.

Each provincial team took 6 of the kids out into the waves for their first surf in their new gear. The pictures speak for themselves....pure enjoyment!

The forecast for day 3 looks very promising. The swell should decrease enough for some of the other more "bodyboarder friendly" type waves to be to surfed. This means that a right-hander could be surfed which could open up doors for some competitors to excel and close some for others who preferred left handed breaks. Could make things very interesting.

The Reef South African Championships are co-sponsored by: Kumba Iron Ore, Science body boards, Ocean & Earth, Viper fins, Matunas wax, Coca Cola, Powerade, Sonsurf, Bonaqua, Environ, Muisbosskerm, Eureka accomodation, Cederberg Municipality and OK Sentra.

Follow the Reef SA Champs 2009 on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SAChamps2009 or on your mobile at m.twitter.com/SAChamps2009

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