| Alistair Taylor looking for ninth South African bodyboarding title |
| Friday, 03 October 2008 14:35 |
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It's Game on as we enter the final day of the 22nd Annual Science/Reef South African Bodyboarding Championships 2008. Conditions are a challenging 2-3 foot with cloudy and overcast skies and a raging onshore wind! Drama is high with early upsets yesterday including the elimination of SABA Pro Champ Sacha Specker (WP) in the Quarter finals. Specker had a slow start to his Pro heat against an on form Iain Campbell (CKZN) and local boy and IBA world tour rider Mark McCarthy (NKZN), who both owned the line up. Iain, who is primarily a Juniors division rider, managed to advance despite having broken foot and riding with only one flipper! Remarkable stuff! David Lee, who is last year's SA Pro Champ, also had his hopes of making it two in a row where dashed by incoming SABA Chairman Derek Footit (SKZN) and Mark "Boy Champ" Watts (CKZN) who's surfing made him unstoppable. Michael "Ratt" Ostler (CKZN) and Alistair Taylor (SKZN) also smashed their Pro heats, and are looking very strong, with Alistair looking to make history by claiming his 9th SA Title. Alistair's wife, Karla Costa Taylor (SKZN), is also looking very strong after dominating her ladies heat. Could Karla and Alistair be the first husband and wife to claim respective titles at the same time? If so Karla will need to beat heat winners Lizl van Vollenhoven (SKZN) and Monique Gresse (NKZN). Also still in the running in the Pro Division are Jared Houston (WP) who has been looking strong, and charger, Charles Pass (CKZN). With today's conditions being so testing, riders will need to dig deep if they want have a chance at winning. Looking very strong in the Juniors division are Iain Campbell (CKZN), Marc Webster (BOL), David Lilienfeld (WP) and Dane Klusner (SKZN). The Drop Knee division is going to be action all the way, with current SA DK Champ, Sacha Specker (WP), and Drop knee legend Sean Tickner (CKZN) still in in the running. Don't discount Aden Kleve (WP), who's young light frame is perfectly suited to the small conditions of today. Dark horses in the division include Wayne Du Preez (CKZN) and Warren Canepa (EP) who both won their heats yesterday and are looking strong.Boys also have some big names that will be going head to head with Murray van Vuuren (EP), Storm Prestwich (SKZN), Niklaus Martyn (EP), and current SA Boys Champ, Robbie Waites (CKZN), all still in the running. with these guys you can be assured of some awesome action. Have a look at the contest page of sixty40, yesterdays heat sheets are up! Looking forward to seeing what's going to happen today! A huge thank you everyone who has contributed to the success of the 22nd Annual Science/Reef South African Bodyboarding Champs, which is presented by Zululand Fever and Proudly Sponsored by Science Bodyboards and Reef Wetsuits in association with Ocean and Earth, Ocean Eyeware, B Smart Communications, Steers, Upperdeck Restaurant, Form-Scaff, Lockt_In and Alliance Graphics.
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