DVT makes waves at World Bodyboarding champs
posted by Jonathan de Lauwere on 7th December 2011
The World Bodyboarding Champs have come & gone and our DK rider Dylan "DVT" van Tonder left the world's best remembering who he is and what he can do.
From his first heat at the infamous El Fronton, DVT had his fellow competitors asking who is this chap from SA. DVT totally annihilated his fellow competitors from the word go! He was the only one to make ridiculous barrels at El Fronton on the knee getting scores like 8's for his efforts.
When the event organizers told us the contest would be moving to La Guancha down the way, I could see the disappointment on the kid's face as all he wanted to do was show the rest that he could change the rules and DK the heavy rights at El Fronton when most couldn't even make the drop. I told him to not worry as he is going to win this event no matter where they have it.
He went on to destroy his opponents heat by heat! He won every heat, never going into the repechage and by the time he came to his semi final heat, he was up amongst the world's best - Ardiel Jimenez, Amaury Lavernhe and Luis Pereira.
He made mince meat of them and even had DK machine, Spex giving advice that he mustn't look so casual when performing his moves. DVT's style is in my opinion one of the best in the world, when his on each wave, performing each move he makes it look to simple when carving and throwing buckets of spray than most surfers wish they could throw.
When the final came, he was up against the same trio he had faced off in the semi's as Ardiel and Amaury went to repechage and had luckily made their way back to the Grand final.
DVT was leading the final for 25mins of the 30min heat and was definitely looking like he was going to be crowned the new World Bodyboarding Champ for 2011 and bring back the gold. To our disbelief Ardiel, the Canarian local caught a wave in the 26th minute and did one sick turn and got a 8.83 for his efforts and went into first. Dyl couldn't find the score he needed, which was only 0.04 on top of his second scoring ride to get into first again and when the siren went Ardiel was the new champ and Dyl in second.
The 8.83 Ardiel got was and is still questioned by many but what has happened has happened and no one can change that.
In our eyes and a lot of people's across the world, DVT is the champ and he has made a name for himself across the globe as one of the best, most stylish DKers out there. Fellow world champ Cesar Bauer even came to DVT after the comp saying he should be on the tour.
In time to come, I believe he will and will be making our country proud yet again in both DK and Pro.
Our team finished 13th overall, a result we could have done better at but it was a first time for all and an experience we will never forget and one to learn from. In years to come we can only get better and better the result.
A big thanks must go out to the SA team 2011, what an amazing bunch of talented riders. Also to Mike van Huyssteen for all his hard work and planning, Spex and Jerry for their support on the beach and then a HUGE thanks to Reef for the awesome kit they provided and Glider sunglasses for epic shades. A big thanks must go out to all you riders, family and friends that supported the team and that sent words of encouragement, you don't understand how awesome it is being in a foreign country and knowing people back home are rooting for you.
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