KZN champs in Scottburgh

Scottburgh Back Beach will play host to the KwaZulu-Natal Bodyboarding Championships next month.

This is a much anticipated event that serves to showcase the best talent in the province. The competition will act as one of the main attractions of the Africa Marine and Leisure Expo, which will be taking over the beaches of the Scottburgh area on 3 and 4 August 2013. Conceived by South Coast Tourism, the goal of the Expo is to highlight the ocean as one of South Africa’s most valuable resources and to encourage marine conservation by celebrating all recreational water user groups. As one of the south coast’s most popular sports, bodyboarding is an ideal illustration of the talent and excitement that can come from a close relationship with the sea.

The KwaZulu-Natal Bodyboarding Championships event was started as a memorial for Ivan Friedman, the well-respected and highly talented South African bodyboarder from Cape Town who lost his life to cancer in 2007 at the young age of 26. This year will be a rebirth of sorts for the event which has not been held in recent years and the Chairman for the Central Kwa-Zulu Natal Bodyboarding Association, Stuart Bradford, is excited for the opportunity that the Marine Expo provides for re-establishing the KZN Championships. Stuart is the current SA champion in the men's division.

Several top names have already confirmed their attendance, including junior star Georgie McKeone and South African pro rider Iain Campbell. Georgie, who took second place in the ladies division of this year’s South Coast Classic at just fourteen years of age, perfectly exemplifies the passion for the ocean that the Expo is looking to foster. She loves her sport, claiming that she can’t think of a single thing she would rather do with her time - showing a dedication that explains why she represented South Africa at the World Bodyboard Games last year.

Since starting his bodyboarding career ten years ago, Durban-born Iain Campbell has earned quite a name for himself within the sport. The 22-year-old is the current leader on the South African Bodyboaring Association (SABA) circuit for dropknee and holds seventh place in the Qualifying Circuit for the IBA World Tour. Already this year, Iain has achieved first place in South Africa’s Pro Wedge Classic and the Dropknee Wedge Classic. Both Georgie and Iain are sponsored by Thiel Board Co., with Iain also representing Red Bull ZA. With athletes of such high calibre attending the event, the KZN Bodyboarding Championships looks set to wow the crowds at the Africa Marine and Leisure Expo and inspire a whole new generation of boarding fanatics.

Riders in the Pro event will be competing for a prize purse of R5 500, while the rest of the divisions offer fantastic product prizes to their winners. These product prizes will be provided by Maniac Bodyboarding, the main sponsors for the event. Turnout for the Championships is expected to be excellent, with between 60-80 riders anticipated to compete. The divisions are open to all those eligible and those interested in entering should contact Stuart Bradford at [email protected].

Highlights of the Expo will include:

SEA FESTIVAL

PowerPlay Surf Pro – Scottburgh Main Beach

KZN National Bodyboarding Championships – Scottburgh Back Beach

JET FORCE Jet Ski Demo’s – Scottburgh Mid Beach

Deep Sea Catch & Release Fishing Competition – Launching from all sites in KZN

Juniors Rock Catch & Release Fishing Competition – Scottburgh Main Beach

Deep Sea Pleasure Viewing Trips

Sea The Sea Excursions

Learn To Surf Campaign

Learn To Dive Campaign

Learn To Swim Campaign

Aqua® Zumba Demos

EXPO TENTS

Mini Outdoor Market                                                                

Educational/ Environmental Outdoor Exhibition Stand         

Outdoor Exhibition Stands                                                       

Outdoor Dive  Exhibition Stand                                               

Outdoor Exhibition Stand                                                        

Outdoor Exhibition Stand     

BEACH FESTIVAL

Miss Bikini

Beach Volleyball

Beach Touch Rugby

Kite Festival

Giant Sand Sculpting Festival

Coca Cola Children’s Festival

PLAYZONE

Giant Inflatable climbing wall

Giant Foosball Arena

Water Ball Park

Bounce Town

Bungy Jump

(Photo: Supplied)

- Olivia Jones Communications

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