South African Bodyboarding Championships celebrates 21st Birthday

Marc Jucker
6th September 2007
5A South African Bodyboarding Championships
Hosted by Eastern Province Bodyboarding Association (EPBA) in conjunction South African Bodyboarding Association (SABA)
24th � 29th September 2007


The South African Bodyboarding Championship event has come a long way since its inception in 1987 at Supertubes in Jeffrey's Bay. This year marks the prestigious 21st annual 5A rated South African Bodyboarding Championships which will be held at the Wedge in Plettenberg Bay from September 24 to 29.

Over the years Wedge has cemented itself as a premiere bodyboarding location hosting some of the biggest contests on the South African Bodyboarding Association (SABA) calendar and now the stage has been set to crown the South African Champions for 2007. Eight provincial teams from around South Africa�s coastline will be sending 21 of their finest bodyboarders to battle it out for top honours at the penultimate SABA bodyboarding contest of the year.

For the first time ever at SA Champs the Ladies and DropKnee divisions will also be awarded cash prizes bumping the prize purse up to R23 000 - the richest event to date. The three divisions competing for cash prizes are the Pro, Ladies and DropKnee categories.

With such great prizes up for grabs many of lasts year�s champions will be returning to defend their titles and coming face to face with their rivals. Alistair Taylor, last year�s Pro Division winner will be looking to claim his ninth SA title with Wesley Fischer, who came second last year hot on his heels. Fischer will be entering the competition on an all time high after winning two of the recent SABA contests.

The four day event has six days of potential competition set aside to ensure that the best contestable waves are ridden. The annual SA champs draws 168 entries with individual and team titles up for grabs. The SA Champs caters for Boys (U15), Juniors (U18), Pro Men (Open), Women (Open), Men, Masters, and Drop Knee.

A debis Fleet Management Development Clinic will be run during the event to attract the newcomers as well as uncover and develop fresh talent from less advantaged areas to add to the fast growing sport of competitive bodyboarding.

Each province will be sending their best teams chosen from a series of provincial trials. The provinces include Western Province, Boland, Southern Cape, Eastern Province, Border, Southern KZN, Central KZN and Northern KZN.

The South African Bodyboarding Championships 2007 is hosted by the Eastern Province Bodyboarding Association together with the South African Bodyboarding Association and is brought to you by Science Bodyboards, Reef Wetsuits, Factory 7 Bodyboard Shop, debis Fleet Management, Pennypinchers, Plett Tourism / Bitou Municipality, Robberg Estates, Bobbin Craft, Arnette, Environ and Havaianas.

Prepared by:
Marc Jucker

Disseminated by:
Olivia Jones Communications
[email protected]
082 537 8840