Posts Tagged "Cape Town"

Flood of Enquiries To Help Break Earthwave Surfing Record

Posted by surfer on Sep 21, 2009 in Surfing Events | 0 comments

The founders of the Earthwave surfing and sustainable lifestyle festival have been inundated with enquiries from Capetonian surfers who wish to be part of a potentially record-breaking event.

The surfers want to help South Africa break the Guinness World Record for ‘most surfers riding the same wave’ at Muizenberg beach near Cape Town on 4 October. The attempt will form part of the two-day Earthwave global environmental festival held there on the weekend of 3 and 4 October.

South Africa wants to reclaim its 2006 Guinness World title when 73 surfers managed to ride the same wave at Muizenberg. Brazil snatched the title with 84 surfers breaking the record in 2007. In 2008, they broke their own record with 100 surfers.

Picture: Jim McLagan/Argus

And the 2009 ASP Africa Men’s Title Goes To..?

Posted by surfer on Jul 24, 2009 in Industry News, Surfing Events | 0 comments

Royden Bryson!

Following the conclusion of the mid-year international surfing contest season in South Africa, 26-year old Bryson – formerly of East London and now residing and surfing in Cape Town – clinched the title after being in dominant form in the four ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) events staged in South Africa this year.

By winning the 1-Star-rated Lizzard Nandos Pro in Durban, finishing as runner-up in the 5-Star O’Neill Cold Water Classic in Cape Town and placing equal 17th in both the 6-Star Prime-rated Quiksilver Pro Durban and the 6-Star Mr Price Pro Ballito, Bryson managed to accumulate 4263 points. That’s nearly 700 more than ASP Africa runner-up Travis Logie, from Durban. Bryson also set a prize-money record by pocketing R102 350, more than double that earned by any of the other 96 ASP Africa members.

After losing their places among the top 45 ranked surfers on the ASP world Tour at the end of last year, Bryson and Logie are hoping to requalify for the 2010 Dream Tour.

Since there was only one event – the Mr. Price Pro Ballito – no ASP Africa women’s champion will be crowned this year. The 2009 ASP Africa Pro Junior men’s and women’s U20 titles will be up at the Billabong Pro Junior events at Victoria Bay at the end of September.

Aussie Wins CWC in Stormy Cape

Posted by surfer on Jun 25, 2009 in Surfing Events | 0 comments

The O’Neill Cold Water Classic which wrapped up near Cape Town yesterday was even colder and wilder thanks to a massive, raging storm.

But amid the massive solid six foot swells and big waves pounding the shore, the skilled surfers bravely continued to battle it out. In the end, it was 24-year old Aussie Blake Thornton who earned the South African CWC trophy – a replica of a shark’s jaw – which he proudly held aloft.

With his victory, Blake beat local fave Royden Bryson. Blake told Global Surf News how Royden had fallen on his final wave. “I think maybe the cold was getting to us. I am sorry for him, but so glad I won.”

About surfing in the wild, shark-infested waters of South Africa, Royden said: “Thankfully this is a fake jaw. Hopefully I won’t see any real ones. There was actually a seal swimming around out there with us in the final. Everyone knows that sharks love seals, but actually in a heat you’re only worried about what’s going on in the heat.”

His focus paid off. His victory earned him 1500 points and $12 000.

Final results are:

O’Neill Cold Water Classic South Africa

Final
1. Blake Thornton (AUS)    1 500 points  $12 000
2. Royden Bryson (ZAF)     1 313 Points    $6 000

Semifinals (Winner to final, 2nd = 3rd place, 1 125 pts + $3 500)
SF1:  Royden Bryson (ZAF) def. Glenn Hall (AUS)
SF2:  Blake Thornton (AUS) def. Jarrad Howse (AUS)

Quarterfinals (Winner to semis, 2nd = 5th place, 975 pts, $2 000)
QF1:  Royden Bryson (ZAF) def. Kyle Lane (ZAF)
QF2:  Glen Hall (AUS) def. Damien Fahrenfort (ZAF)
QF3:  Jarrad Howse def. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
QF4:  Blake Thornton (AUS) def. Jean de Silva (BRA)

The next CWC will take place in Canada’s Vancouver Island in October.

(Source)

South African Surfer Wins at Surfing’s “Academy Awards”

Posted by surfer on Apr 20, 2009 in Industry News | 0 comments

The awards-ceremony considered to be the Academy Awards of Surfing, the the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards, was held at a glittering event in California last week and a South African won two categories.

Durbanite Grant “Twiggy” Baker received the Billabong XXL Biggest Wave award for a riding a wave that was measured at 20 metres (61 foot) at Tafelberg Reef, near Hout Bay in Cape Town, in August last year. He also collected the Surfline Best Overall Performance award for his dedication in pursuing huge surf and competing in big wave events all over the world during the past 12 months.

He was also nominated for the Monster Paddle award and his tow partner, Greg Long from California, who had towed Baker into the wave at Tafelberg, won the premier Billabong XXL Ride of the Year award and a cash prize of US$50 000 (approximately R450 000) for his incredible tube ride on a 10 metre wave at nearby Dungeons during the Red Bull Big Wave Africa event in July 2008.

Baker received $15 000 (approximately R140 000), a Honda Aquatrax personal watercraft and an HSA sled for his XXL Biggest Wave. He also earned a further $5 000 for the Overall Performance award.

Cape Town-based photographers Alan van Gysen and Brenton Geach, and video company Fixerfilm/Hutchmotion, shared $4 000 for providing the images which determined the XXL Biggest Wave winner. Fixerfilm/Red Bull BWA scooped up the $5 000 for their video footage of Long’s Ride of the Year.

It’s Happenin’: Sports Unlimited/Spur Cape Classic 2009

Posted by surfer on Apr 3, 2009 in Bodyboarding | 0 comments

The Sports Unlimited/Spur Cape Classic 2009 is taking place in South Africa’s Mother City, Cape Town, until Sunday 5 April 2009.

The 4A rated event, which is the first stop on the South African Bodyboarding Association (SABA) tour, is being organised by the Western Province Bodyboarding Association (WPBA), in association with Ocean Minded. It is playing host to South Africa’s finest bodyboarders as they compete for top honours and prizes to the value of R60 000.

One of the competitors is current South African Pro champion, Mark McCarthy. The 25-year old has travelled all the way from Australia to compete. He currently holds 5th place on the International Bodyboarding Association (IBA) World Tour, and said that coming home would be a welcome relief from the strain of constant travel associated with the tour.

Öne of the biggest attractions to competing in the event was the quality of waves surfed last year as a result of the contest being held with a roaming venue,” said McCarthy.

By using the “roaming venue” method of holding a contest, the organisers are able to take advantage of the diverse scope of the Cape Peninsula, which usually offers favourable swell and winds at one or more beaches along the coast.

According to WPBA Chairman, Deon Meyer, bodyboarding is best done on steep, hollow waves that offer riders a ramp-like end to their ride so that they can perform the spectacular aerial manoeuvres that professional bodyboarding has become renowned for.

“The level of competition at SABA events is world class and we will do our best to ensure that only the best waves are ridden in order to showcase bodyboarding as the spectacular sport it is,” Meyer said.

“The level of competition at SABA events is World Class and we will do our best to ensure that only best waves are ridden in order to showcase bodyboarding as the spectacular sport it is”, said Meyer.

For further information please call WPBA Media Liaison, Gareth White, on 072 740 4225 or SABA Contest Director, Pat Harris, on 082 863 6665.