Second Time Lucky for Jucker at Wedge
posted by Olivia Jones on 12th July 2005
2004 event runner up Marc Jucker (PE) was thrilled to lay claim to the 2005 SABA Wedge Classic title in front of a capacity crowd watching the 5A rated bodyboarding contest held at Plettenberg Bay.
Jucker defeated a strong field of the nation’s best bodyboarders as well as a host of international entrants to win the coveted King of the Wedge Pro title.
The eleventh annual SABA Wedge Classic carried cash and prizes to the value of R25 000 which was sponsored by First National Bank, Robberg Seafoods, WCD, Penny Pinchers, Ocean Life and Evals.
Event organisers were thrilled with the unprecedented amount of 203 competitors that entered.
“This year’s SABA Wedge Classic has been the highlight of my whole bodyboarding career it was absolutely awesome and we have received such positive feedback and now my dream is to build this into an internationally rated event,” said Wayne Craig, event organiser from Wave Crest Distributors (WCD), who has been bodyboarding for 14 years.
The Pro final was breathtaking with ultimate champion Jucker matching Jonathon Maritz (CT) wave for wave and barrel for barrel. The pair was on a mission to outdo one another which spurred them on to greater heights with some huge Air Roll Spins (ARS) manoeuvres. Former SA Bodyboarding Champion Craig Maree (Dbn) took third ahead of Neil Smith (Margate).
The Pro Women’s division final did not disappoint with the ladies competing for a cash purse of R3 000. Deep tubes and clean rolls were on the cards. Experience showed when former world bodyboarding champion Karla Costa Taylor (Brz) outshone Pamela Bowren (CT), Lyndall Pells (Plettenberg Bay) and SABA Champion Robyn Sorenson (Dbn).
The top three places in the junior final were fought for neck and neck with the lead changing hands several times. When the siren signalled the end of the heat Mark Watts (Dbn) was lying first ahead of Josh Kleve (CT); Jared Houston (CT) and Jaryd Enslin (Margate) finished third and fourth respectively.
Terence Pieters (Margate) carved out a name for himself by trouncing the opposition in the boy’s final when he scored the only perfect ‘10’ of the whole event. Pieter’s wave which consisted of a Reverse Air Belly Spin (RABS) off the main peak also earned him the “Best Wave of the Contest” award. Dane Beales (Dbn) clinched second place ahead of Aden Kleve (CT) with early round standout Ian Campbell (Dbn) in fourth.
The Master’s battle was won by WCD’s Steve Polinski (CT) from perennial favourite Mike van Huyssteen (Gauteng). An injured Wayne Craig (CT) took third ahead of Steven Whiteman (Plettenberg Bay).
Wayne Beekman’s (Margate) dominance in the Men’s division was toppled by an on form Sasha Taljaard (Dbn); Hal Snyman (PE) finished third ahead of Martin Otto (Margate).
The Drop Knee final went to Stuart Bradford (Dbn) who outclassed Daniel Worsley (CT), Vaughn Harris (Tsitsikamma) and Craig Maree (Dbn).
Kina Meyer (Mossel Bay) won the U16 Girl’s division with Plettenberg Bay bodyboarder Geline Darbyshire (Plettenberg Bay) and Taryn Mattheus (Plettenberg Bay) taking second and third.
Adam Waites (Dbn) was the star in the U12 Boy’s clash defeating Cheyne Maasdorp (CT), Andrew Raaph (CT) and Bas Koopmans (CT).
A refreshing amount of new faces showed up to compete in the Development final which was won by Robbie Waites (Dbn) ahead of David Swart (Plettenberg Bay) and Evan Schute (Plettenberg Bay). Mike van Huyssteen’s son Matthew (Gauteng) put on a strong performance indicating that he is keen to follow in his father’s footsteps in years to come.
Ian Metcalf (CT) was the undisputed winner of the Evals Expression Session for an outstanding drop knee ride which ousted local favourite Sampi Kamffer out of contention.
The SABA Wedge Classic was the fourth event on the national circuit which counts towards the crowning of the year end champions in the Pro, Boys, Juniors, Men, Women, Masters, Drop knee, Under 12 boys, Under 16 girls and Development divisions.
The SABA Wedge Classic also catered for aspiring bodyboarders; popular development clinics were held over two days. Top SA and international bodyboarders in conjunction with WCD staged the clinics to promote the sport at a grass roots level with food and refreshments provided by Cool Bananas. 20 youngsters from a local township benefited from the free WCD Development Coaching Clinic where they were taught vital skills about ocean awareness and learning to ride waves.
WCD (Wayne Craig and Steve Polinski) would like to thank the following sponsors who have contributed to the success of the event - Arnette Sunglasses, Reef Wetsuits, Reef Brazil, Red Bull and Cool Bananas.
For the latest news and views on SA bodyboarding please visit: http://www.sixty40.co.za
2005 SABA Wedge Classic Results:
Pro:
1. Marc Jucker (PE)
2. Jonathon Maritz (CT)
3. Craig Maree (Dbn)
4. Neil Smith (Margate)
Pro Women:
1. Karla Costa Taylor (Brz)
2. Pamela Bowren (CT)
3. Lyndall Pells (Plettenberg Bay)
4. Robyn Sorenson (Dbn)
Junior Final:
1. Mark Watts (Dbn)
2. Josh Kleve (CT)
3. Jared Houston (CT)
4. Jaryd Enslin (Margate)
Boys Final:
1. Terence Pieters (Margate)
2. Dane Beales (Dbn)
3. Aden Kleve (CT)
4. Ian Campbell (Dbn)
Drop Knee Final:
1. Stuart Bradford (Dbn)
2. Daniel Worsley (CT)
3. Vaughn Harris (Tsitsikamma)
4. Craig Maree (Dbn)
Masters Final:
1. Steve Polinski (CT)
2. Mike van Huysteen (Gauteng)
3. Wayne Craig (CT)
4. Steven Whiteman (Plettenberg Bay)
Men’s Final:
1. Sasha Taljaard (Dbn)
2. Wayne Beekman (Margate)
3. Hal Snyman (PE)
3. Martin Otto (Margate)
U16 Girls Final:
1. Kina Meyer (Mossel Bay)
2. Geline Darbyshire (Plettenberg Bay)
3. Taryn Mattheus (Plettenberg Bay)
U12 Boys Final:
1. Adam Waites (Dbn)
2. Cheyne Maasdorp (CT)
3. Andrew Raaph (CT)
4. Bas Koopmans (CT)
Development Final:
1. Robbie Waites (Dbn)
2. David Swart (Plettenberg Bay)
3. Evan Schute (Plettenberg Bay)
4. Matthew van Huyssteen (Gauteng)
Top Judge: Vaughn Harris (Tstitsikamma)
Expression Session:
1. Ian Metcalf (CT)
2. Sampi Kamffer (Plettenberg Bay)
3. Ian Kruger (CT)
4. Marc Jucker (PE)
Issued on behalf of:
South African Bodyboarding Association (SABA) and WCD
For more information please contact:
Wayne Craig
083 463 7102
Email: [email protected]
Or Steve Polinski
082 573 3173
Email: [email protected]
Issued by:
Olivia Jones Communications
082 537 8840
Email: [email protected]
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