Durban local Mark Watts took top spot in the Pro division at the 10th Annual 4A rated Wimpy/Rossi Pro Am yesterday afternoon in an awesome display of high risk manoeuvres. A huge crowd gathered on the Beach as the sun rolled out perfectly from behind the dark clouds that drenched everyone earlier in the day, to watch the finals that got under way at 2:30pm.

First up were the ladies. Tania Dos Ramos (Bluff) came up against 2 local girls and newcomers to the sport Tiffany Higgins and Nicky Dreyer who are both from Uvongo. In the end it was Tania who seemed to have no trouble by picking the better waves to claim 1st place followed by Tiffany Higgins and Nicky Dreyer in 3rd.

The Factory 7 DK division saw defending champion Sean Tickner (Cape Town) face his old rivals Wesley Fischer (Berea), Stuart Bradford (Westville) and Aden Kleve (Kommetjie). Conditions were difficult for dropknee with the rising tide and the wave shifting to the shorebreak. This didn't seem to deter Sean Tickner from keeping his cool and retaining his title as the Factory 7 DK Champion. He was followed by Aden Kleve in 2nd, Stuart Bradford in 3rd and Wesley Fischer in 4th.

The Masters division seemed like a bit of a 'de ja vu' scenario as it is the exact same heat as last years contest. The are Mike van Huysteen (Weltevreden Park), Kevin Williams (Uvongo), Karl Liebenberg (DBN) and Martin Otto (Uvongo). Martin picked up all the better waves in the start of the heat with the then full high tide, but Kevin managed to pick up a set wave or 2 with some combo manoeuvres to secure 1st place, 2nd was Martin Otto, 3rd Karl Liebenberg and 4th was Mike van Huysteen.

The Boys division was hotly contested by the ever familiar and always amped Murray van Vuuren (Millpark)together with Sebastian Koopmans (Melkbosstrand), Stephen du Preez (Bluff) and first timer Ashley Wheeler (Margate). All eyes were on Murray with his solid riding but it was Stephen du Preez who walked away with the title followed by Murray then Sebastian and then Ashley.

Next up were the Mens finalists who consisted of 3 South Coast riders and one Durbanite namely Wayne Beekman (Uvongo), Jeffrey Davies (Durban), Steven Bahlmann (Uvongo) and Jaryd van Daalen (Winklespruit). Wayne has won this event numerous times as well as 3 Mens SA titles and was the all out favourite to take the title but in the end it was Jeff who walked away with the title and wayne in second. Jaryd got a well respected 3rd place followed by Steven.

The Junior final looked more like a Pro final the way these guys put it all on the line to take top spot. Bradley Moys (Shelly Beach), Iain Campbell (Westville), Aden Kleve (Kommetjie) and Terence Pieters (Uvongo) held nothing back to impress the judges in the hopes to rack up maximum points. In the end it was an on form Bradley Moys that took top honours with his clean air roll spins followed closely by Aden Kleve, Iain Campbell and Terence Pieters.

The Pro final is always kept for last as this is the elite division where the big prize money lies and competition is very fierce. Wesley Fischer (Berea), Mark Watts (DBN), Jaryd Houston (C Town) and Warren van der Merwe (Empangeni) all knew that they would have to do something extraordinary to walk away with this title. All 4 competitors rode as best they could in the shorebreak conditions but ultimately it was Mark Watts who claimed victory with his no holds barred attitude to become the 2009 Wimpy/Rossi Pro Champion.

The Surf M'Ocean Best Trick of the contest went to Jaryd Houston (Cape Town) for a massive backflip on the 1st day of competition that earned him a cool R500 cash.

A special inspirational prize was handed out to 6 year old local Alex Nutt who entered the Boys division and showed massive determination and courage.

Southern Kwazulu Natal Bodyboarding would like to thank Wimpy Margate, Rossi Board Co, Lizzard, Factory 7, Surf M'Ocean, Criss-Cross Security, Face Forward Studio and Johnny Rockets for their generous sponsorship. A further thank you goes out to all the judges, totalisers and spectators who made this years' event a massive success.

SOURCE: South African Bodyboarding Association