Saffa Pushes through to the last day at Arica!

'Your Boetie' Mark McCarthy powering through the barrel during the Arica Challenge 2011 photo IBA/Spex

Photos by Spex/IBA - Words courtesy of IBA WORLD TOUR (Check it out!)
Arica, Chile (Friday 27 May 2011): In solid 6 foot (2.5 meter) waves at El Gringo, round 3 of the leader board stage has been completed, establishing the top 16 and eliminating the last 16 seeds from competition.
Two time World Champion, Ben Player (AUS, NSW, Avalon) is looking unstoppable with a 100% success rate throughout the 3 rounds. "I have had bloody hard heats... I'm feeling pretty confident now" Player elated. 
For South American power house Magno Oliviera (BRA, Guarapari), todays round 3 win secured him the 12th slot in the top 16 of the leader board. " I like the new 3 round leader board format," Oliviera added, "I am comfortable and feeling safer now."
Local rider Alan Munoz (CHI) is the lone chilean remaining in the event. His fearless approach and local knowledge at the infamous El Gringo, have attained him two 2nd and a 1st place finish throughout the 3 rounds, earning him a comfortable 4th seed within the top 16. Having already beaten 6 of the top 24 riders in the world, Munoz has proven his worth in the top half of the draw. " I am motivated and so happy, I feel light." Munoz added," I just want to keep this momentum and thank everybody for their support." 
Mark McCarthy (RSA, Richards Bay) scored an impressive 16.50 out of a possible 20 points, securing a much needed win, placing him in the top half of the leader board. McCarthy executed one of his massive signature backflips and backed it up with a roll, earning him a 9.25, one of the highest scores of the day. McCarthy commented: "I have had no rhythm the past few days and am just happy to have a heat where I could find 2 good waves and get the points I needed today."
2010 World Champion, Amaury Lavernhe (REU, St Gilles) pulled out a spectacular win in the dying seconds of his round 3 heat today, catapulting him into the 2nd spot of the top 16. Lavernhe describes his last wave: "I thought it was a pretty bad wave and paddled really hard for it, but It was actually a really nice with a pit and small ARS out of the barrel". Lavernhe scored an excellent 8.83 for his efforts. "Tomorrow is going to be really consistent...pretty massive, making for a good comp." Lavernhe added.
The final day will unfold tomorrow from 7:30am Arica time. Starting with four 4 man heats in round 4 and then moving into man on man quarter and semi finals, finishing with a 30 minute 2 man final.
All the action will be on the live broadcast at www.redbull.com and www.redbull.tv
The call will be made at 7:00am local time, (1:00am Hawaii, 8:00am Rio de Janeiro, 1:00pm Cape Town, 7:00pm Perth, 9:00pm Sydney). For specific time zones, use the IBA World Clock.

Alan Munoz photo IBA/Spex

After round 3, the updated leader board displays the seeds of the remaining 16 riders left in the event and the bottom half of the field who were eliminated today.

We'll be bringing you the updates of the Final day asap, it was today and news is that Mark McCarthy preformed really well. He unfortunately couldn't out shine Tamega in the man on man Semi Final. 

But well done Mark on an awesome result!

Amaury Lavernhe photo IBA/Spex

photo IBA/Spex

Magno Oliviera photo IBA/Spex

KUMBA WEST COAST CLASSSIC - Day 1

SABA 5A rated event (Words and Photos by Ian Thurtell)

Hosted by Boland Bodyboarding and Reef South Africa

Product Sponsors: Reef South Africa, Science bodyboards, Ocean & Earth, Viper Fins, Gyroll leashes, Matunas eco-wax and Stomp wax, Coca Cola, Powerade, BONAQUA, Glider Sunglasses and Namaqua Wines.

Other Sponsors: Eureka Holiday Accommodation, OK Sentra, Cederburg Municipality

For those that again didn’t want to make the “schlep” to the west coast, can look at the photos and wonder why they didn’t enter this contest. For the 2^nd year in a row the Kumba West Coast Classic produced epic waves and perfect conditions making this event one of, if not the best SABA tour stop on the calendar.

Arriving the day before the contest the waves were small and the wind was hard cross shore and expectations were not exactly on a high for the first day of the Kumba West Coast Classic. The plan for day 1 was to run as many heats as possible as the forecast told of a dropping swell.

Once again the west coast did its thing and surprised everyone. On arrival at Famers we were greeted with a perfectly groomed lined up 2-4ft swell.

The juniors were the first to hit the ledgy reef break .Gustav Lillienfeld, Matthew Fowle, Ian Viljoen, Kyle Cabano, Aiden Wilson and Corban Warrington were all winners of their respective heats.

As the tide drained and the reef became almost knee deep on every wave the call was made for the Pro’s to battle out their round 1 heat. The first heat of the pros was an extremely trying one with the ocean deciding to play games and hand out only a few good high scoring waves.  Simon Heale obviously had a chat to Neptune and knew what to do. He grabbed every good wave and won his heat comfortably.

Wesley Fisher, Keith Millward, David Lillienfeld , Johnny Maritz and Charles Pass were the other standouts in their heats. Mathew Lombard from the juniors division also surprised a few of the usual pro riders and advanced through to the Semi finals.

A special mention must be made to Tristan Roberts who is a boys  rider and entered the Pro division. His age was the only difference in the heat and he dealt a few of the pro riders a good beating. He placed 2^ndin his heat and will progress to the quarter finals.

Simon Heale kept up his good relationship with the waves and won his DK round one heat. Peet Verreyne, Sean Tickner, Keith Milward, Vaughn Harris and Matthew Webster advanced into the semi –finals.

The forecast for tomorrow looks like a smaller swell. The contest is planned to be completed over the mornings dropping tide and land offshore breeze.

So who will walk away with the divisions titles? Stay tuned for the final days report!

WP Brings you the 2011 Cape Classic

Entry Form for the 2011 Cape Classic


SABA Registration Forms


The Cape Classic 2011 Teaser from Joshua Kleve

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