John Whittle : phto Barry Tuck

Late News Flash:

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 27 July, 2006 : - - In conditions that varied betweeb 12-foot and 15-foot during the day, with some even bigger outside sets, John Whittle put his head down and won the eighth edition of the Red Bull Big Wave Africa. In a final that saw a south-easter come up and blow into some giant right-hand barrels, John picked up set waves and rode them with aplomb to secure the vote from the assembled judges.

"I'm just the favoured son today," said an emotional John at the prize giving, held at the harbour-side immediately after the contest had finished. "I've worked really hard on this for a long time," said John after his victory, referring to the work and dedication he has put into to his big wave surfing, "and now i just feel like I've finished the race."

Second place was Kommetjie resident Andrew Marr, and third place went to former Capetonian surfer, now resident in the UK, Chris Bertish.

The Sensi Threads Biggest Wave Award went to Andrew Marr, the Von Zipper Biggest Tube Award went to Jason Ribbink from Durban, and the Billabong Deep Throat Award for the most committed surfer over the event, went to Hawaiian charger Jamie Sterling.

The waves at Dungeons were pulsing thoughout the day, with massive wide sets swinging though and catching some surfers by suprise, but with other surfers making full use of local knowledge and dropping down some of the bombs for high scores.

For blow-by-blow results of the days competiiton, and some insane images from the water, log onto www.redbullbwa.com.

Results:

1, John Whittle
2, Andy Marr
3, Chris Bertish

Full report to follow shortly

 
Final action  : photo courtesy Redbullbwa.com 

Red Bull Big Wave Africa goes GREEN - Contest is ON

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 27 July, 2006 : - - The 2006 Red Bull Big Wave Africa received the Green light to hold the contest this morning at 8:30am Thursday 27 July 2006. The First heat took to the water at 9:30am. The waves at Dungeons are in the solid 12 to 15-foot region with some bigger sets swinging through; the competitors are suiting up and preparing to paddle down some monsters. It’s all systems go.  

The contest will start on the morning low tide, and will run for about 4 and a half hours on a pushing tide and a growing swell, setting up for a dramatic final in what could be very wild and woolly surf this afternoon. 

International surfers who have made the pilgrimage across land and sea to join the local surfers are Carlos Burle from Brazil, Evan Slater and Grant Washburn from California, Paul Patterson and Ross Clarke-Jones from Australia, and former Capetonian Chris Bertish now residing in the UK.  Greg Long, former event winner in 2003 from California and Jamie Sterling are also here.  

Local surfers who are present and ready are former 2000 winner Sean Holmes from Wilderness, Jason Ribbink, Grant Baker and John Whittle from Durban, and Mickey Duffus, Thomas King-Kleinhans, Dave Smith and Andrew Marr, all from the Cape. 

With Northern Californian surfers Darryl ‘Flea’ Virostko and Anthony Tashnick unfortunately not able to make therefore local alternate surfers Richie Sills from Durban and Ian Armstrong from Kommetjie have been allocated the last two remaining spaces in the event. 

So, some of the biggest names in the world of big wave surfing are set to take on some of the biggest ride-able waves in the Southern Hemisphere in this, the eighth edition of Red Bull Big Wave Africa. To find out more details about the event and how to watch, check out www.redbullbwa.com 

Heat 1
Sean Holmes (SA)
Carlos Burle (Brazil)
Evan Slater (USA)
Ian Armstrong (SA)
Jason Ribbink (SA)
Andrew Marr (SA) 

Heat 2
Greg Long (USA)
Chris Bertish (SA)
Ross Clarke-Jones (Australia)
Dave Smith (SA)
Grant Washburn (USA)
Richie Sills  

Heat 3
Grant Baker (SA)
Paul Patterson (Australia)
John Whittle (SA)
Jamie Sterling (Hawaii)
Mickey Duffus (SA)
Thomas King-Kleynhans (SA)

Contest commentary: 

Log onto www.redbullbwa.com for live updates and all the action.

Heat 3 action : photo courtesy Redbullbwa.com

Log onto www.redbullbwa.com for live updates and all the action.

Previous reports:
# 1 : Red Bull Big Wave Africa waiting period starts Monday
# 2 : Red Bull Big Wave Africa announces Specialty Awards
# 3 : Red Bull Big Wave Africa officially goes on Amber Alert
# 4 : Coming soon  

www.redbullbwa.com

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For further details contact -
Taryn Cheadle
Red Bull Communications
Email: tcheadle@jmc.co.za

Big Wave - Surfersvillage