Gunslingers Face Off

Kalk Bay has many solid swells under her belt this winter. She has ruthlessly dispatched more than a few bruised egos and broken bones back to the car park, living up to her reputation as a premier reef break.

The local bodyboarders have been putting in the hard yards and reaping the rewards. With a low centre of gravity the boogs can manage both tides, getting away with late take off air-drops on the low, and clocking up serious barrel time and gut-hanging air time on the high. If this continues, the event could see a repeat of 2008's flawless conditions.

The Kalk Bay Shootout was born over a decade ago, but has only run three times since its creation. The original concept was the brain child of world-class bodyboarder and local rider Willem 'Van' Wessels. Back then, it was a locals event, by invitation only. The concept was simple. Invited riders’ entry money was thrown into the pot. Last man standing took the lot. No sponsors, no podium, and no second place: just one winner and beers at the Brass Bell afterwards.

It took until 2006 for the contest run again. By now Van had moved up the West Coast and it was up to another young local to take over the reins of Sheriff. Bodyboarder and surf Photographer Ian Thurtell took it upon himself to organise the event.

Ian introduced a new concept of extending invitations to riders outside the tight knit local circle, with the idea to pit the best of the reef against the best of the rest. Conditions weren’t the greatest, but there was enough juice on the reef to run the showdown again. 2006 was local boy Johnny Maritz's year, and he tore the contest apart to claim first place.

In 2008, Ian donned the Sheriff's badge again and the Shootout went down in pure style – cranking 4 to 5 foot lines on the horizon, fluffy offshore winds, and a car park packed with frothing spectators. For an underground contest, the advent of breaking surf news websites like wavescape.co.za and the social media phenomenon helped spread the word and as news of cranking reef for the contest spread like wildfire over the internet, all the elements were in place for cementing the KalkBay Shoot out in the annals of history.

When the dust settled, the last man standing in 2008 was Sacha Specker, the first non local to walk away with R2,000 in his pocket, a new Nomad Bodyboard, and the bragging rights of being the reigning gun slinger at the beginning of this year's event.

This year, the sheriff's badge has been passed on to Luke Jordaan, the man with a plan. This year’s format differs from yesteryear, with Pierre Marqua, perhaps the longest serving bodyboarder at Kalk Bay, the man behind the concept. He, along with a crew of gnarled veterans like Tully, Ross Painter, Crow and Peter Lambert, will attempt to show the world how it’s done, putting old bones and local knowledge to the test against the rubberized flexibility of today’s new school generation.

The New School will be represened by 28 riders, including reigning champ and world tour contender Specker, previous SA Junior Champ David Lillienfeld, Kalk Bay's Jayden Alferd-Loots and Kommetjie's raw talent Aden Kleve. To up the ante, the Kalk Bay Shootout welcomes back Sport Unlimited as well as Red Bull and the Brass Bell as event sponsors. With their help, and swell permitting, 2011 will be another Shootout to remember.

The contest begins with 4 heats of 3 old school boogers. First place in each heat will be seeded in the quarter finals. The New School begins with 4x5 man heats, winning through to 2x4 man heats. The top 2 of each heat progresses to quarters, which comprise 4x4 man heats, with an old school legend in each. The top 2 from each heat will progress. Semi's comprise 2x4 man heats. Finals: 1x4 man heat.

WAITING PERIOD – 18–31 JULY 2011

The Amber and Green lights for the contest will be announced via Facebook, so if you want to be in the loop, join the group. Media enquires please email: Luke Jordaan

Invited Riders:

Old School Legends:

1) Lee Moran
2) Peter Brand
3) Tully Allen
4) Johno Sullivan
5) Marc Quillan
6) Mark Herrmann
7) Pierre Marqua
8) Paul Willaughby
9) JP Engelbrech
10) James Mollenschot
11) James Metcalf
12) Sean Oberholzer
13) Peter Lambert
14) Julien 'Crow' Geffroy

New School Brat Pack:

1) Aden Kleve
2) Michael James
3) Marc Geffroy
4) Johnny Maritz
5) Dale Pender
6) Gareth Bonner
7) Joshua Kleve
8) Roger Pardoe
9) Jp Nortier
10) Byron Loubser
11) Ian Thurtell
12) Luke Jordaan
13) Ross Nortier
14) Brett Nortier
15) Jayden Alferd-Loots
16) Matt Webb
17) Joshua Chigomee
18) Muggy Whitelaw
19) Dane beales
20) Adam Waites
21) Robbie Ash
22) Sacha Specker
23) Tom Flux
24) Bradley 'Big Red' Glissen
25) James Mclure
26) Kyle Wilson
27) David Lillienfeld
28) Donovan Basset