Tuesday 2nd March 2010
This past weekend saw another South African flying the flag high for his country. Jared Houston from Tableview in Cape Town claimed the bronze at the opening contest of the 2010 IBA world tour, namely the Turbo Pipeline Pro, that was held at the infamous break on the North Shore from the 16th to the 26th of February. By Pierre Marqua.
After a long stint in Australia, Jared has been on the rock for the last 3 months and has put in plenty of practice out at Pipe. The fact that he has managed to score numerous sessions of 10ft+ days out at Pipe this past season paid dividends and in the end the results speak for themselves.
Backed up by a strongest ever contingent of the Saffa crew, that consisted of the likes of Sasha Specker, Mark McCarthey, Mark Watts and Rat Olster, Housten managed against the odds to fly to new levels and claim a very well deserved third place against the best boogers on the planet.
En-route to the final, the dark horse of the competition, managed to beat current and past World Champions in the form of Jeff Hubbard, Damian King and Guilume Tamega and one of the unsung hero’s of the sport, Natalian Mark McCarthey with a solid combination of fluid tube riding and daredevil high flying aerial maneuvers.
"When I came in from the final I was just in a state of euphoria! I cannot describe how I felt. I just knew that it had come from hard work and determination and at the same time I felt so blessed and lucky! Seeing all my friends in such a state with me was second to none and I just couldn't wait to get on the phone back home! This has always been a major dream of mine, but funnily enough not something I thought I would achieve so early on in my career. The boys were phenomenal on the beach, I couldn't have done it without them!" said Jerry.
Final results
1st Amaury Lavernhe (17.50)
2nd Diego Cabrera (14.65)
3rd Jared Houston (14.20)
4th Damain King (10.75)
Well done, congratulations and Mission Accomplished!
This is another great achievement for South African waveriding and a solid punt for 2010, the year where South African sportsmen and woman dominate the globe.
IBA PRESS RELEASE:
The 2010 Turbo Bodyboards Pipeline Pro presented by Body Glove has been won and run, with Pipeline saving the best for last with the competition wrapping up on the final day of the 2 week waiting period.
Conditions were epic, with perfect 8 to 12 feet Pipe and light offshore winds all day, keeping the thousands that lined the shore thoroughly entertained.
Amaury Lavernhe of the Reunion Island was the one who came up trumps, blitzing through his final heats.
Lavernhe threw down the gauntlet to his combatants in the final with an outstanding combined wave total of 17.50, which included a perfect 10 for a huge pipe barrel to backflip. He then backed his perfect score up with a 7.5 for another huge barrel to roll.
Lavernhe took out Diego Cabrera of the Canary Island with 14.65, Jared Houston of South Africa with 14.20 and Damian King from Australia with 10.75.
"I am so stoked, I can't believe it" Said Lavernhe
"I have been here for 3 weeks and I have been training for this day.
"I just took this heat by heat and I didn't want to think too much about the final".
Diego Cabrera, who has come off the back of a win at the last IBA World Tour event at Confital in December has continued his stellar competitive run.
"This is my dream, I am very very happy as this is the first time that I have ever been in a pipe final and the second time in a Grand Slam final" said Cabrera.
Though Jared Houston missed out on second only by .45 points, he was thrilled with his performance in the competition after spending over 3 months on the North Shore in preparation.
Originally excluded for the event due to surfing in an unsactioned bodyboarding event, Houston was the one who spearheaded the campaign to the IBA riders board to have the ban lifted at the end of 2009.
"I am so stoked, this is everything that I have been working towards this year so I am so happy that it has paid off" said Houston
Terry McKenna, the IBA International General Manager, who was also one of the key drivers behind this event is thrilled with how the comp rolled out in 2010.
"There was not a better way to begin the 2010 IBA World Tour season" Said Terry.
"Winning this event is only second to winning the world title, I am thrilled that Amaury has won this event as he is the deserved winner".
The 2010 IBA World Tour now moved to New South Wales in Australia for the Soldier Beach Pro International from April 12 to 18.
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