CONNECTED AT THE MR PRICE PRO
Image courtesy of mrpricepro.com
BALLITO, KwaDukuza - The Mr Price Pro Ballito is a global surfing event and for those who cant make it to the beach to watch the world's best surfers action, you can catch all the action live via the webcast online at www.mrpricepro.com from July 5 - 11.
As soon as the first heat of Round 1 hits the surf for the main event, web viewers will be transported directly to the waves of Ballito where they will be able to watch every heat through live video and audio streaming, between 8am and 5pm everyday of this exhilarating event.
With two cameras on the beach, a wide-angle lens camera on the tower focusing on the surfing action, a roving camera to catch interviews and on the beach happenings as well as water camera angles to capture some great close-up footage, viewers in ‘webland' can be sure they wont miss a moment's action.
For those viewers tuning in from around the world who because of the differing time zones may miss the live broadcast, the entire day's highlights package will be played repeatedly on the site in the evenings until the next heats start in the morning.
Besides live wave by wave score updates and results of previous heats, the 2010 Mr Price Pro Ballito website boasts world-class imagery, comprehensive surfer profiles, funky wallpapers and screensavers, not to mention interesting articles and interviews.
Wavescape, South Africa's premier surfing portals brings you daily surf reports from their Ocean Watch link, while former ASP World Tour competitor Greg Emslie will give you all the scoop and inside track to surfing news weekly at home and abroad featured in his blog.
Links to social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook as well as RSS feeds are also a feature on the site, making sure that surfing fans are kept up to date.
So if you can't make it down to the beach don't worry because www.mrpricepro.com has you covered.
Red Bull Surfing: Girls Only
Like it or not, surfing is a man's world. For a woman, carving out a spot in the lineup is hardly an easy feat.
The criticism is that girls are less extreme, less powerful, less innovative. Therefore, the highest praise a girl's apt to get is that they surf like a boy. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Sofía Mulanovich (PER), Maya Gabeira (BRA) and Nadja de Col (PER) are out to prove the world otherwise.
That's the main reason the four of them congregated on the Peruvian shore from May 27-31, it was time to show the doubters that girls can throw it down just as hard as the boys. Sally, Sofia, Maya and Nadja came to Peru to brush up on their techniques and hopefully elevate their game to an even higher level.
"Training with guys is good for the girls because men are very competitive, which leads them to try harder every time. The girls see this, and learn from it," says Andy Walshe, high performance manager for Red Bull Surfing.
However, girls-only training sessions are also special, and are specifically focused on how the female body in motion operates.
The female mind is a whole different world in which the coaches must immerse themselves. "Female psychology is very different from male psychology," tells Walshe. "In a setting as intimate as this, it is much more likely that the girls come out of their shell and let us know what their goals and dreams are. We want to get to know them better, so we can help them."
The idea behind a camp as small as this one is that the coaches can concentrate on the needs of each surfer and tailor a program to help each of them individually. "Large groups don't allow much one-on-one time with the surfers. In the Lima camp, we've had plenty of it," explained Dan Ross, coach for Red Bull Surfing. And he's not lying. Individual analysis for each girl's surfing technique was the recurring theme during the camp week.
The surfer's nutrition was another important topic discussed during the camp Surfers use up a lot of energy while at sea, and it is very important for them to know exactly what to eat and drink to make up for the loss. Fish is usually one of the main sources of protein in the surfers' diet. "We usually include fish in our diet because it's so easy to get, as we are always working by the sea," says Ross. While at camp, the girls learnt a new way to cook fish: making ceviche. Renowned local chef Christian Bravo arrived at the Red Bull beach house to give the four girls a private lesson on how to make this traditional Peruvian dish.
But the Red Bull Surfing Girls Only camp was not all work.
There was some play mixed in there. During one afternoon, Sofía, Sally and Nadja learnt something about ancient Peru. The girls traded their surfboards for "caballitos de totora" (traditional boats made with canes, that are still used by fishermen), and tried to surf the waves just like the ancient Peruvians from the Moche-Chimú culture. After a few failed attempts and some wipeouts, the girls could finally dominate the boats. "It was amazing and really fun," said Sofia. "However, it was really hard to stand up and maneuver because the boats don't have keels, and they weigh a lot."
The high performance training in the camp showed the most modern surfing techniques. During the five days that the Red Bull Surfing Girls Only camp took place there were specific trainings for aerial maneuvers (using a trampoline and a skateboard to simulate the action at sea).
The girls also worked on their paddling technique, their wave selection criteria and nutrition. A mock competition that simulated the heats and rounds of a WCT tour stop was the grand finale. "This week has helped all of us. Each one came with an idea of what she wanted to improve on, and achieved it", said Maya. "Now we just have to use what we have learned, and show everyone how capable women can be when they're turned loose in the sea."
All images courtesy of redbull-photofiles.com
Sarah Baum Wins The Roxy Invitational 2010 - Mozambique
Tofo, Mozambique - Durban surfer Sarah Baum has clinched the fourth annual Roxy Invitational surfing event in Mozambique. After two days of waiting for decent surf contest directors of this unique invitational event decided to run the final heat on the last day of the six day waiting period in the three foot contestable surf on offer at Tofinho Point, Tofo.
Baum got off to a slow start in the extended 40 minute final while fellow Durbanite Kirsty Delport posted two solid scores in the six point range. It wasn't until the halfway mark when Baum hooked into a great looking wave and stylishly surfed her way to a 6.5 score. Taryn Chudleigh from Cape Town struggled in the testing conditions and didn't manage to post scores to match the on-form Baum and Delport. Baum sealed the heat and win with six minutes to go when she cracked a good looking set wave from the outside ending with a massive floater on the inside to score herself a much needed eight point ride. "I am so stoked with the win! This is an event that I have been wanting to win for a while now and it feels good to finally do it. It is such a good event and really good for women's surfing. Roxy really goes all out to make it a cool event, it's definitely the event to look forward to every year" said Baum after receiving her winners check.
Baum took home R10 000 for her win while Delport and Chudleigh earned themselves R3 000 and R2 000 respectively. Faye Zoetmulder of Port Elizabeth received the "Resolution Wipe Out Award" and R1 000 for the loss of her toe nail and a heavy encounter with the Tofinho reef in her round 1 heat.
Another activity that had spectators clapping and screaming on the beach was the "Quiksilver Locals Surf-Off". Six Tofinho local boys hit the surf eager to impress but it was Pedro Da Silva who impressed the most with his stylish surfing to be deemed king of the point. All the boys received a Quiksilver backpack, wallet, cap and t-shirt for their efforts.
Roxy is committed to the conservation of the area and competitors and event officials have left nothing but their footprints behind.
The event will be aired on an upcoming episode of Boardriders TV on SuperSport within the next two months. All results, photo's and blog posts can be found at: www.roxy.co.za/invitational.
The Roxy Invitational is presented by Saltwater Girl, in association with Resolution and is supported by SuperSport and Liqui-Fruit.
Roxy Invitational presented by Saltwater GIRL Magazine
Philippa Anderson (Australia) (Pic: Luke Patterson)
The semi-finals of the Roxy Invitational presented by Saltwater Girl Magazine took place on Thursday the 27th of May.
Clean three foot waves running down Tofinho Point were more than contestable and it was no surprise when the head judges gave the nod for the next round.
Philippa Anderson from Australia and Tarryn Chudleigh from the cold waters of the Cape were pitted against ea
ch other in heat one. Anderson is one of Australia's top up and coming surfers, meaning that this heat was highly pressured for Chudleigh. Anderson's forehand attack is fast and lethal and she scored early in the heat. Chudleigh, surfing on her backhand waited patiently and fought hard to lay down strong lines eventually taking the heat from Anderson by a very narrow margin.
Heat two was comprised of Sarah Baum from Durban and Johanne Defay from Reunion. Baum seemed to find her form quicker than Defay, surfing more waves on her backhand with vertical snaps and fluid surfing. Defay waited patiently for the better waves, but unfortunately with the tide shifting she was unable to match Baum's earlier scores. Baum won the heat and is through to the finals.
Kirsty Delport and Heidi Palmboom both from Durban were fighting for the final spot in the finals of the Roxy Invitational. Heat three saw the waves picking up again with wider sets that had the duo paddling to try and capitalise on the more powerful waves. Despite strong surfing from Palmboom, Delport won the heat and secured her spot in the final three.
The judges felt the waves had deteriorated by the end of the semi-finals and have decided to wait for a window of opportunity in the next three days to surf the finals. With swell predicted for Sunday it may be a long wait for the top three, all of whom are eager to take top honours.
Head Judge Johno Hutchison was very pleased with both the conditions and the surfing, "All the heats were exceptionally close; I don't think I've seen Sarah Baum surf so well before, one wave she absolutely smashed. On that particular wave she scored a 9.8, 9.5 and a 10 from the judging panel. The swell faded with the tide, so although we'd utilised the conditions perfectly in the morning we decided to wait until it was really good again to run the finals".
The list of finalists is as follows:
1. Tarryn Chudleigh (Cape Town)
2. Sarah Baum (Durban)
3. Kirsty Delport (Durban)
The finals will only be run when conditions are highly contestable, and with only 40 minutes of good waves needed for the last round of the Roxy Invitational 2010 this is sure to happen in the next three days.
List of 2010 Roxy Invitational Invitees:
Faye Zoetmulder (Port Elizabeth)
Johanne Defay (Reunion)
Kirsty Delport (Durban)
Sarah Baum (Durban)
Tarryn Chudleigh (Cape Town)
Holly Armstrong (Scarborough)
Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbos)
Heidi Palmboom (Durban)
Paige Haggerston (Australia)
Philippa Anderson (Australia)
The Roxy Invitational is presented by Saltwater GIRL Magazine, in association with Super Sport, Resolution and Liquifruit. For Saltwater GIRL Magazines' daily pictures and blogs on the event, visit www.swg.co.za
* Please note that this is an invitational event and participation is by invite only. Contestants are selected by Roxy in its entire discretion and Roxy's decision shall be final. All of Roxy's rights are reserved.
Global Skate Companies search for S.A. Team riders
International skateboarding companies, Almost, Blind, Cliché, Darkstar and Enjoi, have launched a major "Team Search" looking for South African skateboarders to join their International Flow Teams. This is incredible news for skateboarding in South Africa as being chosen to represent one of these teams will open the doorway to an international future in skateboarding for 5 local riders.
The chosen SA team riders will receive over R10 000 worth of product per year and tour with the International team when they visit South Africa in September/October 2010. This list of touring pro's (as chosen by the SA public) will be announced in June. Skateboarders can submit photos, video links and other info about themselves and why they should be sponsored on www.revolution.co.za and on the Revolution Facebook page.
Attending and competing in various skate events linked to the "Team Search" will also help your submissions. The first of these events is the Mini Ramp Meltdown Series on 15 May at Sport Unlimited in Bellville. Members of the public are also able to win themselves a stash of skate gear by commenting on submissions online. For more information and to email submissions, please contact: marketing@revolution.co.za and see www.revolution.co.za for more.
2010 MTV Movie Awards
Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Zac Efron, Jonah Hill, Jessic Biel, Bradley Cooper, Stever Carell, Vanessa Hudgens and Russell Brand are a few of the celebs hosting the 2010 MTV Movie Awards on MTV. Hosted by Aziz Ansari, the 2010 MTV MOVIE AWARDS premieres live on MTV (DStv Channel 321) on Monday 7 June at 03:00 CAT.
Continuing its tradition for being one of the most shocking and atypical awards shows on television, this year's show will feature three new and outrageous awards categories that include "BIGGEST BAD-ASS STAR", "BEST SCARED-AS S**T PERFORMANCE" and "GLOBAL SUPERSTAR". For the first time ever in "Movie Awards" history, voting will go international as fans worldwide will be able to vote for their favorite global stars in the "GLOBAL SUPERSTAR" category by visiting their local MTV websites.
The final nominees for the "2010 MTV Movie Awards" will be decided on by the fans. From 29 March - 9 April, viewers can visit www.mtvbase.com and follow the link to vote their favorite films, movie moments and actors into the final list of nominees. Then, the winner voting period commences from 12 May - 5 June.
The 2010 "MTV Movie Awards" will be available to a potential viewing audience of more than 1.2 billion people via MTV's global network of 64 channels, reaching 641 million households around the world. In addition, its convergent programming and content will reach the entire interactive community, via MTV's 200+ digital media properties around the world.
SA Grommet Games
Presented by Billabong, supported by Sport and Recreation South Africa and Lotto.
The Pipe, Pollock Beach, Port Elizabeth
March 31 - April 1, 2010
A SURFING SOUTH AFRICA PROJECT
Pollock Beach in Port Elizabeth gets ready for the 18th edition of the SA Grommet Games
Close on 200 surfers and officials representing all eight provinces affiliated to Surfing South Africa will gather in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday March 30 for the Opening Function of the 2010 SA Grommet Games.
The 18th edition of the SA Grommet Games is presented by Billabong and supported by Sport and Recreation SA and the Lotto. Extra assistance in the form of prizes has come from Skullcandy and Powerbalance.
The opening function will take place in the Amphitheatre at the Boardwalk at 6.30pm on Wednesday March 31 followed by a march past by all eight teams at 7.30am on April 1.
Introduced after unification back in 1991, the Grommet Games is a transformation and development project that gives young surfers from around the country an opportunity to compete for their various provinces in a major tournament for the first time.
 Many South African surfers who began their competitive surfing careers in the Grommet Games have gone on to surf in high level National Championships and Elite tournaments and a number have represented South Africa in International competitions.
Port Elizabeth will be hosting its 16th Grommet Games. The reason why Port Elizabeth has remained the venue for this important and significant championship for so long is due to the fact that it is situated midway between Durban and Cape Town which means that most teams have to travel the same distance to participate.
In addition, the Pipe at Pollock Beach produces consistent, contestable conditions for surfers representing their provincial teams in their first ever national contest.
The SA Grommet Games is regarded by Surfing South Africa as a premier Surfing South Africa Championship and has taken its place alongside other major National events as one of the defining tournaments on the Surfing South Africa calendar.
The youngest surfers in the contest will compete in the Under 8 Division with the oldest participants taking part in the competitive Under 16 boys and girls group. Girls and boys from a variety of different cultures and communities are represented across the eight divisions and come from the rural villages of Port Shepstone, Umzumbe, Port St Johns, Jeffreys Bay, Port Alfred, Macassar, Strandfontein and the Cape Flats and of course Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London and Cape Town.
The Grommet Games highlights the transformation process within Surfing South Africa and provinces are set strict criteria when it comes to selecting their teams.
While much of the focus is on surfing itself, events such as a paddle battle, beach flags and tag team surfing competition will make up the weekend's activities and the most participative and successful team will win the Mandela Bay Best Team Trophy.
Every province has held selection trials and the result of this process is a wonderful five days of social and competitive interaction. The added advantage is that Surfing South Africa is able to identify potential national and perhaps even future world champions and these talented surfers will be included in the National Development Academy for three years.
As members of this Academy they will be mentored within their provincial structures and might even get their chance to compete as a Future Stars team against Provincial sides later in the year.
Eastern Province Surfing Council is the host province and defending champions. They will come up against teams from Western Province, KZN, Border, Boland, Southern Cape, Zululand and Southern KZN.
CHUDLEIGH KICKS OFF W.Q.S CAMPAIGN
In only her second year on tour, Billabong Team rider, Tarryn Chudleigh (20) has finished a credible 4th place at the Newcastle Womens Open, on Australia's central coast in New South Wales. Tarryn surfed througout the competition to earn a spot in her first ever World Qualifying Series event final. "It feels so good to start my 2010 with my first international final" exclaimed the proud goofy footer.
Along with US$500 in prize money, her finals finish in her first event of the year has earned Tarryn a valuable 168 points towards her W.Q.S rankings in her quest to earn a spot on the prestigious World Championship Tour.
Although Tarryn posted some high scores in her earlier rounds, she just wasn't able to find the right waves in the final. "I was in rhythm the whole event until the finals, I think the nerves got to me and I blew it," said the Kommetjie local.
Conditions in Newcastle were extremely difficult for the female competitors, rendering it that much more crucial in selecting the best rides. "Conditions were super tricky," commented Tarryn. "I surfed my final on low tide onshore closeouts, but there certainly were a couple fun ones every now and then."
Roxy Invitational
Entries are now open on the Roxy Invitational website, so if you want a chance to go on the surf trip of a lifetime and also be in the running for the R10k first prize, best you get entering. Log onto the website, look for the ‘Enter Now' link and click through to enter.
The Roxy Invitational event is one of the most popular female surfing events in the country, and an entry is one of the most coveted. Only ten of the best female surfers in the country get the nod and are invited to surf in an event at a remote location for a first prize of R10,000. It's a very different contest, with the girls hanging out at a secluded yet epic wave, waiting for one day of firing surf to battle it out.
The girls who will make it into the event are the best of the best, and they will only be the core, dedicated surfers who are determined to succeed in the world of competitive surfing. This event is not about small waves and loads of spectators on crowded town beaches, it is about perfect waves and no one watching apart from the other competitors and the seagulls. It's just going to be pure surfing and fierce competition amongst the girls.
The entries are open for the month of March, surfers will be selected mid-April and the event will take place from 23 May - 01 June 2010. This will be the fourth year of this popular event, and this year the event is presented by Saltwater GIRL Magazine. For all surfers who are invited to the Roxy Invitational, Roxy guarantees the road trip of a lifetime and a surfing event which is one of a kind.
This year the event is going to take place at Tofinho, a classic right-hand sand bottom point break. The water is warm, the waves are fun and get epic when the conditions are all aligned. The contest waiting period is during the prime swell window for the year, so there is an excellent chance that the girls will ride some perfect waves in this secluded paradise.
 The Roxy Invitational is an adventure as much as it is a surf contest. The drive to the Turtle Cove Resort in Tofinho is as long as it is fun, and there are all sorts of activities at the resort apart from surfing. Yoga, skin diving, horse riding and swimming with whale sharks are just some of the activities awaiting the girls.
Past winners include Stacey Guy, Heather Clark and Canelle Bulard from Reunion Island. This year Roxy promises that the standard of girls surfing will be as high as ever. So fill in the entry form, tell Roxy South Africa why you should be invited, add in some cool photos of yourself ripping and posing, and hold thumbs that you're one of the lucky ones.
Splashy Fen's line-up
Supported by Tourism KwaZulu-Natal, Splashy Fen will mark its coming of age this Easter from 1-5 April with its most exciting line-up yet, rumours of which have been causing a stir around the country for the last couple of months. Many of the faces who have helped to make Splashy a world-class festival will be there, joined by the cream of South Africa's rising new talent as over 80 artists play on two stages.
Splashy's line-up this year is set to raise the bar in its breadth and variety, with the likes of all-girl vamp-rock band Cortina Whiplash, the show-stealing Celtic fusion outfit Haggis and Bong (bagpipes and all), and Joburg rockers The Shadowclub performing on the Grant Erskine Marquee stage.
Also on the bill are Prime Circle, melodic rockers Plush, the wildly popular Cape Town dance trio Goodluck, and a rare solo set by acclaimed singer/songwriter Ard Matthews. Add to that Straatligkinders - the multi-award winning rock powerhouse from Potchefstroom, as well as Indie pop sensations New Holland, ska-punk veterans Hog Hoggidy Hog and fellow Capetonian skankers, Captain Stu.
A must-see is one of Splashy's favourite sons, world-renowned folk guitarist Syd Kitchen, who was honoured last year for performing at every Splashy since the fest's inception in 1990. In contrast, Afrikaans comedic rapper Jack Parow, the moustached godfather of zef from Bellville in the Cape whose hit single ‘Cooler as Ekke' has taken YouTube by storm, will be making his much-anticipated Splashy debut.
Also hailing from Bellville and pushing the boundaries of Afrikaans music to new limits are the notorious Fokofpolisiekar and electro-rock outfit Die Heuwels Fantasties, both of which are sure to make their mark on this year's festival.
For fans of African-influenced roots music, there is plenty on offer as revered Jozi reggae-rock stalwarts Tidal Waves stir it up, and Capetonians Hot Water bring their funky, bluesy Afro-rock and a dynamic stage show. Zululand's David Jenkins plays a fusion of maskandi and bluegrass, while
Durban's Tree Houses On The Sea (T.H.O.T.S.) will be making an appearance with their engaging experimental hip hop, as will Spitmunky with their fresh electronic rap.
For those who love a bit of blues in their rock, get ready: PE's Jack Rabbit Slims, Redhand Blues Band, the Albert Frost Trio and Dan Patlansky will be on hand with some smoking blues to get you grooving. There won't be any rest for the wicked though, because Southern Gypsey Queen, one of the hardest-working bands in the country, will also be treating the audience to their signature style of rock.
An exciting development at this year's festival is the expansion of the second stage, dubbed the Splashy Fen Stage, which will now also be covered with a marquee and offer more space for bands and fans. In addition to hosting a selection of musicians' clubs from around the country during the day, the evenings will offer a blistering line-up that includes funk ‘n soul monsters Voodoo Child, Catlike Thieves and California-based rock outfit, Horse the Band, performing on Sunday, 4 April as part of their upcoming ‘Reigns in Africa' tour.
Other bands to watch out for are No One's Arc, with their distinctive brass-infused sound, as well as Holly and The Woods, True To Adopted, The Meditators, Zoe, Sheep Down, The Sick Leaves and Newtown, a seven-piece performing their own unique brand of ‘Jozi Soul'.
Held on a farm near Underberg in KZN, Splashy Fen is geared up to present one of its strongest and most diverse line-ups to date. In addition to awesome music, a wide variety of food and drink outlets, arts and crafts, and a range of outdoor activities for the whole family, it will also feature an Eco Village powered by the elements - all in the midst of the breathtaking natural beauty which makes Splashy Fen so unique.
Tickets cost R425 at Computicket and selected Game stores or R550 at the gate. The price includes camping for the entire festival. For more information, visit www.splashyfen.co.za or contact 031 563 0824
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