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Vaughn Harris will defend title in the 2009 Wedge Classic in Plettenberg
Monday, 06 July 2009 09:53

Vaughn Harris 

Vaughn Harris, winner of last year's Pro Division, will be looking to hit back at this year's Wedge Classic and hopes to defend his title from the onslaught of many talented Pro and Junior hopefuls. Home advantage will doubtlessly benefit local bodyboarders, who will once again pose a serious threat in the various heats. Sampi Kamffer, Lyndell Pells and Niklas Martins are always highly competitive and regularly made the finals in their respective divisions.

Other names to watch out for are Murray van Vuuren from Port Elizabeth, who will be competing in the Boys Division, while Capetonian Sean Tickner will challenge in the DK Division and Adam Waites of KZN will be in action in the Junior Division. Experts reckon that Ryan Jucker, from Port Elizabeth, will be the rider to beat in the highly competitive Men's Division.

According to Dianna Martin, CEO of Bitou Tourism, they are delighted to support this event once again. "We are very pleased that Plettenberg Bay and surrounds remain the destination of choice for hosting sporting events of both national and world-class stature. During recent weeks, we have hosted prominent paddle ski events and the national canoeing championships as well as the only FIFA fanjol public viewing area in the Western Cape."

Besides seeing some of South Africa's best bodyboarders going head to head in the competition spectators at this year's event can look forward to a death defying display of aerial assaults performed by a select group of riders during the events Expression Session. Always a crowd pleaser, the riders will risk life and limb being towed towards oncoming waves behind a powerful jet ski in order to launch spectacular aerial manoeuvres. The biggest move wins so riders are sure to give it their all.

Along with the action in the water the event organisers will be hosting numerous activities to keep the crowd entertained, including an autograph signing by the Nomad Bodyboards team riders, music, touch rugby and possibly a splatter or two of paintball!

At night you might want to make your way to Surf Cafe for live music and the DVD premiere of Pastiche. Filmed over 2 years purely for the love of our sport by "Claws and Teeth" (Dan Nicholls & West Matteeussen), Pastiche features Ryan Hardy, Michael Novy, Thomas Robinson, Pierre Louis Costes and heaps of other rippers.

The Wedge Classic 09 is proudly brought to you in association with Nomad Bodyboards, Bitou Tourism and The Surf Shop.

*Formosa Bay is located on the N2 opposite the road that leads down to Plettenberg Bay and the beach. Across from the Shell petrol station.

By Gareth White

SOURCE: South African Bodyboarding Association


 

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