Riptide Magazine

Soldiers Beach Pro - Pre Event & Day One

Last Updated on Thursday, 15 April 2010 16:20

The new and the seasoned, Corey McLean aged 25 is the 2009 Australasian Pro Champion lines up with Mike Stewart aged 47, nine-times World Champion.  Who will win?
Photo // IBA Australasia

From our friends at the IBA:

WORLD TOUR BODYBOARDING RETURNS THIS WEEK TO AUSTRALIA

An international field of close to one hundred bodyboarders has assembled on the New South Wales Central Coast at Soldiers Beach in the Wyong Shire Council. The Soldiers Beach Pro presented by Beachin-Surf is stop two on the International Bodyboarding World Tour and is the first international bodyboarding event that has been held in Australia for nearly three years. With US$20, 000 in cash on offer, the amazing line up of riders includes the likes of multiple world champion bodyboarders Mike Stewart (Hawaii), Jeff Hubbard (Hawaii), Ben Player (Australia) and Damian King (Australia).

Mike Stewart is a nine times World Champion and regarded as one of the greatest pioneers of the sport of bodyboarding, he is thrilled to be in Australia for this event. "I am really excited that there is finally another international event in Australia"  said Mike "You can feel a real resurgence of support for the sport, which is occurring despite the current economic climate".

To pick a winner amongst the star studded line up would be anyones guess, however the Australian contingent of riders has a strong representation and features the likes of Ryan Hardy, Dave Winchester, Mitch Rawlins, Chad Jackson and Brad Hughes to name but a few.

Four riders have been awarded wild-cards to the third round of the event, Corey McLean (QLD), Shaun Peterson (NSW), Dave Crowley (NSW) and Hayato Enokido (Japan). McLean was awarded the position for winning the 2009 Australasian Rebel Sports Pro Tour, Peterson and Crowley as local representatives of the Wyong Shire Council and Enokido for an amazing result at the weekend QAB Pro in Queensland.

All were ecstatic to be seeded through to the third round. "I really didn't see this coming, I am so pumped for it"  said Peterson, "I am just so thankful to the Wyong Shire Council for giving me this amazing opportunity, and also to Terry McKenna and the IBA crew for bringing this event to our fantastic region, it will have such a positive impact for our community"

2009 Australasian Champion Corey McLean had this to say about his wild card position: "It's so great that I can start in the third round of the competition as apposed to the first or second, it really helps"."It looks like there are some great waves on the way, so it should be a really exciting event"

International Bodyboarding General Manager Terry McKenna is thrilled with the support from the Wyong Shire Council and local businesses to help bring competitive bodyboarding back to Australia. "After a three year hiatus off the international scene, it is brilliant to have Australia back on the IBA world tour calendar"  said Terry. "Australia has one of the strongest domestic tours in the world and it has some of the most recognised riders, so it's great that all in the Wyong Shire have got together to help us put on this amazing event".

The Soldiers Beach Pro begins Thursday the 15th of April and will run through to Sunday the 18th, so with amazing swell and conditions forecast, the stage is set for an amazing show down of bodyboarding.

The event has been made possible with thanks to the Wyong Shire Council, Beachin-Surf, Star 104.5 FM, Dunes, Chico, Rebel Sport, RAW, IBA, The Beachcomber Hotel and The Greater Toukley Vision.

Results from Day One via IBA Twitter.

H1 R1
1 Trent Cowan
2 Joey Orme

H2 R1
1 Dean Callaghan
2 Eric Medcalf

H3 R1
1 Troy Kneeves
2 Justin Vassello

H4 R1
1 Dan Worsley
2 Jay Turner

H5 R1
1 Steven Venn
2 Chris Sessions

H6 R1
1 John Cruikshank
2 Mike Honeybone

H7 R1
1 Kieren Schuck
2 Simon Cowan

H8 R1
1 Jimmy Leayr
2 Josh Pollard

H1 R2
1 Andrew Lester
2 Eric Medcalf

H2 R2
1 Joey Orme
2 Chase O'Leary