Kade Burnett WINS the 2nd FLUID SURF KAYAK COMPO

Fluid Surf Kayak Compo #2

We arrived at our usual meeting spot at Snake Park Beach just before 7 to make a call on where the 2nd Fluid Surf kayak contest 2008 would be held. It wasn’t to difficult to agree that the middle bank at Snake park would be perfect. The wave was slow breaking with a really nice face, if you stayed in the pocket. Left and rights, you name it, and with a swell size of 2-2.5ft, conditions were perfect.

Unfortunately, the time Neptune pulls through for us, the entry numbers were really down, with only 5 competitors. Never the less, the contest went forward, and we had to come up with a suitable contest structure. We went straight into a knockout format. In the first 2 heats, the winner of heach heat would progress straight to the final. 2nd and 3rd places from the first round, would compete for 3rd place. Inbetween this we also held our first “Best trick Contest”.

This is how it all unfolded:

Round1:
(heat placings are as a result of last contest)

Heat1:
Kade Burnett vs Dean Bottcher vs Steve Buttler
This heat had some awesome waves, conditions were perfect, with competitors really giving everything, and some great moves all round, one of them being an air popped by Kade. A HUGE scoring heat.
Kade winning with 118pts to Deans 90 and Steves78.

Heat2:
Jon Ivins vs Phil Claasens
Some more great moves here and these contestants really showing the sport is progressing, Jon’s practice sessions paying off in the end.
Jon winning with 101 pts to phils 84.

After these two heats, Kade and Jon were in the final, and Steve, Dean and Phil were Surfing for 3rd place.

BEST TRICK CONTEST
This was our first running of the best trick contest. All the Kayakers hit the surf..waves don’t count…just your best trick does. It can be anything, so all the freestyle moves you can throw will count big!.

Philip Claasens taking this one convincingly, with a perfectly clean blunt.



3rd Place Final:
Steve Butler vs Phil Claasens vs Dean Bottcher
This was a really closely contested contest with a variation of boats, Steve having you use his creek boat, phil in a play boat and Dean in the Fluid Element.
Dean wining the heat with 93pts to Steves 92 and Phils 70.

FLUID Surf Kayak Contest #2 Final

Kade Burnett vs Jon Ivins.
Conditions:
2-2.5ft South Swell.
Wind South Westerly, Moderate.
Tide: Rising.

This was going to be a tough final, Jon has really been putting in the hours and it shows, with him making his first final. It was basically one for one out there, and each contestant pushing the other, but Kade lifiting the bar and surfing radically in the pocket with some awesome slashes and cutbacks to take the win.
Kade winning with 103 points to Jons 92.




The Competition results are as follows:
1- Kade Burnett (20 pts), 2- Jon Ivins (17 points), 3- Dean Bottcher (14 points), 4- Steve Butler (11 points), 5- Philip Claasens (9 Points).

Getting points is extremely important as your top 3 scores count to see who will win the coveted KZN Surf Kayaker of the year trophy, and an awesome Fluid Element Surf Kayak. If you haven’t tried one..do it, youll be hooked!

A HUGE thanks must go out to Denzil Smith for single handedly sorting this contest out, as well as Jon Ivins. Thanks must also go to our back bone, the judges, Ryan, Gareth and to Farrell for doing all the admin.



Big thanks must also go to Fluid Kayaks for keeping this Series rolling, with an awesome prize. http://www.fluidkayaks.com/

So far the FLUID SURF KAYAK SERIES 2008 is really wide open, its anyones game, with the ladder looking like this:


1- Kade Burnett 37 pts
2- Jon Ivins 31 pts
3- Dean Bottcher 25 pts
4- Denzil Smith 20 pts
5- Steve Buttler 18 pts
6- Jordan Wallace 9 pts
6- Phillip Claasens 9 pts
8- Simon D’Aubry 5 pts
9- Jonny D’Aubry 3 pts

Keep up the sessions, SA Champs is the next even ton the calendar!