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SA Champs moves to Sun Coast beach

posted by Jonathan Oliff on 20th September 2010

The 24th South African Bodyboarding Championships 2010 has officially been moved to Sun Coast Casino Beach in Durban. This marks the first time a major Bodyboarding event will be held at Sun Coast beach.

This prestigious event will bring competitors from coastlines around the country to challenge each other in the 'Final Battle' of the year. National titles as well as the coveted "Fishman" Trophy will be up for grabs.

This year marks the 24th annual South African Bodyboarding Championships which will be held at Sun Coast Beach in Durban from the 26th of September to the 1st of October. The event has been endorsed by the EThekwini Municipality, Sun Coast Casino, Nando's, Gotcha, Turbo Bodyboards and Power Balance.

Competitors and spectators alike can expect to enjoy some great bodyboarding action on the shallow banks off the Durban. The organisers are hopeful that the combination of the consistent Durban sand banks and some of the best Bodyboarders in the world will produce jaw dropping waves that spectators can enjoy from the comfort of the Sun Coast beach.

The South African Championships has always been the event of the year that every rider wants to win. Teams from around the country are hungrier than ever to win that team trophy known as the 'Fishman'. The Central Kwa-Zulu Natal team has won the national trophy 21 out of 23 times; this means that to secure the 'Fishman' this year the travelling provinces are going to have to beat them at their home grounds.
The event has already been stated by many as the 'one to win'.

"To win SA Champs in Durban 'the birthplace' of South African Bodyboarding ... now that's what I wanna do!" Mark McCarthy (Professional Bodyboarder, IBA Tour Contender and Richards Bay South African Champs 2008 winner).

Other International competitors such as Jared Houston (currently ranked 6th in the world), Sacha Specker, Charles Pass and Michael Ostler will be trying to take home this year's title and the purse.

Contestants will be sent out into the water on the 26th of September to surf 18 to 20 minute heats against one another with two of their wave rides counting. Each division will compete in a minimum of two heats, with the top sixteen qualifying for the final rounds in the competition. Points earned from riders finishing placements in their division will be added together and accredited to their teams to determine the provincial team standings. On Friday the 1st of October the 2010 South African Champions will be announced as well as the winning Province. The question is "Will the Fishman Stay in its home of 21 years or will there be an upset?"

The South African Bodyboarding Championship event has come a long way since its inception in 1987 at 'Super tubes' in Jeffrey's Bay.
Back in those days contestants performed very similar moves to those of Surfing, cutbacks, floaters and possibly even a '360° belly-spin'. Nowadays, competing in a Bodyboarding event means swift aerial manoeuvres with powerful landings. This sport has lead the way in terms of board-sport manoeuvres and as Bodyboarders begin to include jet-ski tow-outs into their bag of tricks the sky is quite literally 'the limit'.

As this event has been set during the midterm school holidays we would like to urge you to come and join us on the beach at Sun Coast from Sunday the 26th of September to Friday the 1st of October, anytime from 08:00 to 16:00.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Saturday 25th September

(18:30-20:30) Competition Briefing: This will be used for a competition briefing where the rules will be discussed. Contestants will be given their schedules for the week and a branded competition shirt.

Sunday 26th

(08:00 Start) This day will be reserved to begin the first rounds of the event.
(10:00) Breakfast for Officials
(13:00) Lunch for Officials
(16:15-18:15) A separate fun event for contestants and parents will be run at the Wave House in the Gateway Shopping Center.

Monday 27th

(08:00 Start) Will continue with heats from the previous day
(10:00) Breakfast for Officials
(13:00) Lunch for Officials
(14:00-16:00) Contestants and supporters will form teams for day one of a friendly beach soccer competition

Tuesday 28th

(08:00 Start) This day will be reserved to continue with the next rounds of the event.
(10:00) Breakfast for Officials
(13:00) Lunch for Officials
(14:00-16:00) The beach soccer will continue, culminating in a team winning the Sun Coast Beach Bodyboarding Soccer Championship 2010

Wednesday 29th

(08:00 Start) This day will be reserved to finish the qualifying rounds of the event.
(10:00) Breakfast for Officials
(13:00) Lunch for Officials
(TBC event) - An event linked with the Sun Coast Casino or one of their participatory vendors (e.g. Wimpy ice-cream eating competition)

Thursday 30th

(08:00 Start) This day will be reserved to begin the first rounds of the Quarterfinals for the event.
(10:00) Breakfast for Officials
(13:00) Lunch for Officials
(14:00) Development clinic to be held (dependant on weather)
(16:00-16:30) Teams will stage a clean up on the beach to promote a green competition

Friday 1st

(08:00 Start) Will be reserved to finish the Semi Finals and Finals of the event (10:00) Breakfast for Officials
(13:00) Lunch for Officials
(17:30 - 19:30) Prize giving to be held
(19:30-20:30) Final Dinner
(20:30-TBC) Bands to play

-- ends --

Notes for Editors

SABA is the governing body of bodyboarding in South Africa. We are a non-profit organisation operating for the aim of developing and nurturing new bodyboarding talent, as well as providing rules and structure to contests from club level to national level.

The 2010 SA Championships is sponsored by the EThekwini Municipality, Sun Coast Casino, Nando's, Gotcha, Turbo Bodyboards and Power Balance.

Contact Information

Jonathan Oliff (SABA Media Liaison) - [email protected]
Stuart Bradford (CKZN Chairman) - [email protected]
Derek Footit - (SABA Chairman) - [email protected]

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