Riptide Magazine

The King Takes Soldiers

Last Updated on Thursday, 22 April 2010 10:45

Final Day Video

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Day Three Video

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Here we've included the IBA news from the final four days of the Soldiers Beach Pro.

Day Four
The final featured two-time World Champion Damian King from Australia versus the up-and-coming South African Jared Houston.

Both King and Houston have been in phenomenal form so far in 2010 with both making it through to the Pipeline Pro final in February. In King's road to the top he knocked out the following riders; Ryan Hardy, Mark Parsons, Jorge Colomer, Joe Clarke and Michael Novy.

Whilst Houston's scalps included Ben Player, Nathan Branch, Dan Worsley, Sam Bennett and Amaury Laverhne. As expected both King and Houston came out firing, both launching into waves in the opening seconds of the heat.  King took the early lead with a 6.60, however Houston came back with a quick 5.17 and 6.63. The lead changed back and forth right through out the first fifteen minutes of the final, with a barrage of Air Rolls Spins and flips from both the Aussie and South African. However, Kings experience with using the priority system as conditions slowed down in the back fifteen minutes saw him eventually taking him the final, by a mere .67 points. King put together a combined wave total of 12.77 over Jared Houston's 12.10.

"I am feeling really good, it wasn't the action packed final that I was hoping for but I am still stoked" said Damian. "I just had to play a smart heat to beat Jared today.

Damian has just returned to competitive bodyboarding in the past twelve months after taking a well deserved break, but admits it has been a tough road back to the top. "I didn't think that I was going to win the event today, Jared has been surfing really well. A few years ago I was just 'competitioned out', but with the help of some new and better sponsorship deals I have been able to get right back into it. I really want to give a massive shout out to Jared, twelve months ago I hadn't heard of him and now he's coming second in world tour events".

The second for Houston backs up his third place at Pipeline, putting him in a prime position to take a shot at the 2010 World Title."I am feeling really good.  I am so stoked to be in the third final this year and I hope to keep it up in the next South American leg of the tour" said Jared "My equipment at the moment is really good so I am feeling really confident for the next part of the tour.  Hopefully I can do well in Brazil, Chile and Peru". 

Finishing in equal third place were Amaury Laverhne of the Reunion Islands and Michael Novy of Australia. Amaury was pleased with the result as he sets up his 2010 World Title campaign. "I am actually really happy with this result, my main aim going into this competition was to make the semi finals"  said Amaury. "I was feeling really relaxed in my last heat, however I stupidly lost priority twice and Jared was surfing really well so it wasn't the time to be making mistakes".

International General Manager Terry McKenna was ecstatic with the result and welcomes international bodyboarding back to Australia. "This event has been the perfect platform for the IBA to re-launch in Australia," said McKenna "We look forward to being back in the Wyong Shire for the event next year, plus we are currently in negotiations with local governments around Australia to secure a Grand Slam event in one of Australia's many waves of consequence".


RESULTS

QUARTER FINAL 1 Amaury Laverhne (REU) 12.70 DEFEATED Chad Jackson (AUS)  12.40
QUARTER FINAL 2 Jared Houston (SAF) 14.07 DEFEATED  Sam Bennett (AUS) 13.00
QUARTER FINAL 3 Damian King (AUS) 13.10 DEFEATED Joe Clarke  (AUS)  12.30
QUARTER FINAL 4 Michael Novy (AUS) 13.44 DEFEATED Jones Russell (AUS) 11.04

SEMI FINAL 1 Jared Houston (SAF) 14.80 DEFEATED  Amaury Laverhne (AUS) 13.47
SEMI FINAL 2 Damian King (AUD) 12.20 DEFEATED Michael Novy (AUS) 11.70

FINAL PRO MENS Damian King (AUD)  12.77 DEFEATED Jared Houston (SAF) 12.10

REBEL SPORT PRO TOUR RESULTS
PRO WOMENS                 
1st Place Lily Pollard 12.80
2nd Place Nicole Fleming 9.86
3rd Kaitlin Murphy 8.37
4th Jane Keel 7.80

PRO DK      
1st Place Grant  Maloney 15.30
2nd Place Gal Larar  10.50
3rd Jon Capilli 10.50
4th Glenn Sullivan 8.23

A roll from Ash Bryant.

Japanese giant-slayer Hayato Enokido continued his form from the QAB Pro to claim a few more big name scalps at Soldiers.

Another rider in fine competive form - Jared Houston.

Hubb applies his air game to a Soldiers Beach ramp.

The South Africans; Jared Houston, Mark Watts and Daniel Worsley.

Michael Novy throws up a reverse.

Day Three
Day three of the Soldiers Beach Pro saw an epic show down between the top 16 and back 16 riders.

Conditions were punchy in the 3 to 4 feet range (1.0 metre), however onshore winds made conditions tough and wave selection proved to be crucial with many competition favorites eliminated from the event. Making an early exit today in round four were nine-times World Champion Mike Stewart, two-times World Champion Ben Player and crowd favourites Ryan Hardy, Mitch Rawlins, Brad Hughes and Pierre Loius Costes.

Despite the upsets, it was the day of the underdogs with some stella performances from some young Australian and international riders. Heat eight of round five saw a showdown between Michael Novy of Queensland taking on 2 times world champion Jeff Hubbard of Hawaii.  Hubbard led for all of the heat and the current world champion looked certain to progress with a solid combined wave total of 14.64, leaving Novy requiring a 9.27 to progress through. With ten seconds to go it seemed that Hubbard would certainly progress, when from no where a wave came through with Novy in priority. The Queenslander realised the score that he needed, and launched into a huge section of the wave projecting six feet above the lip with an air reverse, leaving the judging panel in ore throwing down perfect 10's and winning Michael the heat. "I didn't think that I was going to make it through and even when I saw that wave come along I was still worried as it was a really hard landing and I thought I would come off"  Said Novy.

Michael was unlucky earlier in the heat as a wave that would have scored between an 8.50 and 9.50 was given a zero by the judges as he took off on a wave for which Hubbard had priority. "It's really good, I was put off after that wave wasn't scored because Jeff took off on the right. I have had a few heats with Jeff before and he always gets me, so it's pretty good to beat him".

Port Macquaries 2 time World Champion Damian King has continued his solid run of competitions off the back of a forth place result at the Turbo Pipeline Pro. Today Damian took down perianal performer Ryan Hardy, Mark Parsons and Puerto Rico's number one bodyboader Jorge Colomer. "I am pretty tired after my last heat with Jorge as I got stuck in a rip with four minutes to go and I spent the rest of the heat kicking and paddling".  Said King


Jared Houston of South Africa and Amaury Laverhne of the Reunion Islands were the most solid international performers. Amaury the number one seed in the competition is coming off a win at Pipeline but is trying to put the good result in the past and take the event heat by heat. "I am pretty stoked with the result today, the conditions were tough and it was hard to get the good waves".  Said Amaury. "Since the win at Pipeline I have been hanging out and surfing in Western Australia, I love it over there so I am feeling pretty good coming into this event".

Day Two
The Soldiers Beach Pro Presented by Beachin-Surf has moved into the second day of proceedings.  Despite the deteriorating conditions, the worlds best bodyboarders didn't disappoint with a radical repertoire of progressive bodyboarding. Round three was completed, with heats being extended to thirty minutes each, to ensure that all riders had a chance in the tricky conditions.

It was Japans Hayato Enokido who stole the show, with a barrage of Air Roll Spin's and roll combinations. Enokido, is out from Japan with friends on holidays and has gained a lot of attention in the past week, taking out the opening round of the Rebel Sport Pro Tour on the Gold Coast last week. For his amazing effort in that competition, event organisers saw it only fitting to extend him a wild card to the Soldiers Beach Pro. "I am so happy, the waves were really hard today and all of the bodyboarders are really good"  said Hayato "I read about the Australian bodyboarders in Japan, so it's exciting to surf with them".

The South African contingent of riders also were impressive in the rugged conditions, with both Daniel Worsley and Mark Watts progressing to round four where they join fellow country man Jared Houston. The humble trio are all wrapped to be into the forth round. "The level of bodyboarding in South Africa is pretty high, however in Australia it's something else and there are just so many people doing it"  said Daniel.

A determined Queenslander Ash Bryant was amongst the impressive Australian performances today.   In a close tussle for first place Ash took out Jake Stone (QLD), Corey McLean (QLD) and Jimmy Leayr.

Video of Day One

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All Photos // IBA