Friday, 01 April 2005
Wimpy Rossi Pro-Am

5A Rated South African Bodyboarding Association (SABA) event
Margate Main Beach, Kwa-Zulu Natal south coast – Durban, South Africa
April 1 – 3, 2005
Upsets Galore in Round One of
Wimpy Rossi Pro-Am
Big upsets and huge 6ft (2-metre) storm surf was the order of the
day with former US Champion Alistair Taylor and event favourite
Derek Footit (Margate) eliminated in round one of the 5A rated
Wimpy Rossi Pro-Am at Margate Main Beach.

“I had a shocking heat that was one of my top five worst ever
performances. The waves weren’t bad I was just out of rhythm and in
the wrong place at the wrong time every time. I hope that Karla does
well tomorrow and that all of the other girls give of their best to give her
competition and push the local level higher,” commented Taylor.

The highest scoring heat proved to be the most exciting with Cape
Town’s Daniel Worsley who has recently moved up from the Junior
division beating his older rivals with a near perfect 17 out of a possible
20 points total heat tally. It was Worsley’s big air reverses which caught
the judge’s attention and now he has been dubbed the man to beat.
Fellow Capetonian Ian Kruger placed second knocking out last year’s
finalist Derek Footit (Margate) with JP Fourie (Zululand) in fourth.

Seven times SA Champion Taylor who has recently moved back to
South Africa was disappointed to suffer an early round elimination at
the hands of Stuart Bradford (Dbn) and Wayne Smith (Uvongo);
Jonathan Oliff (Dbn) was ousted out in fourth place.

Lesser known pro rider Rheinhard du Toit (Zululand) made his
intentions clear by beating former SA Champ and defending event
champion Craig Maree (Dbn); the pair disposed of Nick Philips
(Zululand) and Steven Keuning who placed second at SA Champs in
the Pro division last year.
SA Bodyboarding Champion
Craig Maree - favourite for the
Pro title at the
Wimpy Rossi Pro-Am
Sihle Xaba - North Beach star
who is always looking to
cause upsets in the pro
division
Late entrant Doug Lindsay (Dbn North) was penalised by losing his seeding but this did not stop him from
winning his five-man heat ahead of runner up David Lee (Margate) and Lloyd Pereira (CT). Sihle Xaba (Dbn)
was disappointed to finish fourth with Robert Gray (Dbn) fifth.

Nearly 20 bodyboarders entered the popular Development division; local knowledge proved crucial with
outstanding performances coming from the heat winners Michael Ansermino, Dean Collicott, Stephen
Brandsma and Dane Klusner (all Margate).

A cold front predicted to come through tomorrow is expected to bring a favourable offshore (south westerly)
wind with even bigger waves.

All of the big guns in the pro division will take to the water including Vaughn Harris (Southern Cape), Wesley
Fischer (Dbn) Sacha Specker (CT) and Craig Jenkins (Dbn).

In addition to the generous prizes there will be valuable South African Bodyboarding Association (SABA)
rating points up for grabs which accumulate over the year to determine the ultimate SABA champion as well
as national team selection.

Organisers have opted to utilise a three day contest window period in order to stage the two day event in the
best surf that the venue has to offer.

This popular tournament is sponsored by the Wimpy Margate and Rossi Bodyboards with Island Style and
Ocean Sport providing product prizes.

To read more about the latest news and views in SA bodyboarding circles visit South Africa’s most
informative bodyboarding website www.sixty40.co.za

Issued on behalf of:
South African Bodyboarding Association (SABA)
Southern Kwa-Zulu Natal Bodyboarding Contact:
Wayne Beekman (Chairman)
082 822 1825
Email: wayne@venturenet.co.za

Issued by:
Olivia Jones Communications
082 537 8840
Email: olivia@atomgate.com
Bodyboarding
Water Sport