Surfboard rental plan developed to battle airline charges

Industry News

SportsKnack aims to solve the airlines/surfboard bags crisis

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 26 August, 2008 : - - As traveling with a surfboard became a mission impossible, an innovative service was launched last June 3rd. SportsKnack.com was in part created to soothe the pain of fellow surfers traveling to the west coast, enabling them to surf California's Swells with a variety of more that 100 top notch surfboards.

The other part of this service offering is to let surfers ride the best surfboards out there, and rent them to test ride before they buy, these are the kind of boards you would not usually find for rent anywhere else.

Ranging from the sleek Firewires, Kaysen, Keahana, Al Merrick, Surf Prescriptions, Surftech, Aviso Carbon Fiber ($1,200.00) to Laird Paddle Boards ($1,500.00), and at least a dozen more from famous manufacturers and local shapers. Think of it as a Demo ClubTM.

With its innovative online reservation system, SurFanatics are able to view each board front and back, reserve the surfboard of their preference and pick it up at several locations. Every board you rent is prepped with leash, track pad, clear grip and sock; members don't even need to worry about wax!

“Sports Knack has eliminated the hassle of flying in my board. Not only I can find it online and reserve it, but maybe try different ones in order to get the best out of the different swells. It's like traveling with more than 30 boards...” says Daniel Sheinfeld from Kona, HI.

Red Bull Big Wave Africa & QuikSnow on Boardriders TV

Television News

Red Bull Big Wave Africa and QuikSnow Highlight Episode 15 of Boardriders TV

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 25 August, 2008 : - - The 2008 Red Bull Big Wave Africa will go down as one of the greatest big wave paddle–in events of all time, and was by far the best big wave event ever held in African waves. Twenty to twenty-five foot surf rumbled through the Dungeons Reef throughout the day for some of the best big wave surfers in the world to attempt.

Watch as 25 big wave surfboards get destroyed by the force of the ocean and competitors suffer broken ribs and burst eardrums. There is even a concussion. In amongst it all are some outrageous waves, including Greg Long’s incredible tube ride and young Hawaiian lunatic Mark Healey’s outrageous wipe-outs. South African Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker wins the event.

We go from big waves of Dungeons to the slopes of Tiffindell Ski Resort for the 2008 Quiksnow SA Champs. Watch as pro surfer Stan Badger and pro skateboarder Puddy Zwennis attempt snowboarding for the first time, both with very different results. With disciplines like Big Air, Slopestyle and Boarder X all of South Africa’s snow athletes were giving it stick for top results.

This year also saw a solid junior contingent competing, which bodes well for the future. We feature some great sessions on the Big Air kicker, with some massive tricks and heavy body slams. Highlights include Marcin Jekot pulling a Backside Rodeo (corked 540 degree rotation) to take top honours in the Big Air division.

Boardriders TV Episode 15 airs tonight (25 August) at 18:00 on SS1.

Date Time Channel
25 AUG 18:00 SS1/SS1A/CSN (PREMIER)
26 AUG 16:30 SS1/SS1A
27 AUG 02:30 SS1/SS1A
30 AUG 19:30 SS1/SS1A/CSN

Boardriders TV is produced by Invisible Cactus Entertainment. Boardriders TV is presented by Virgin Mobile in association with Resolution.

www.quiksilver.com

CATTLEWASH, Sand Bank Saturday, August 16, 2008 - It was a short day of competition for the BSA SOTY 4 event. Small random peak beach break waves, making for an extremely difficult day off competition in the open and junior categories

Bruce Mackie, back after missing SOTY 3 due to illness was in top form clinching the top spots in a clean sweep for the Junior and Open events. Finding his way out of the tricky round 1 heat advancing along with Stefan Corbin into the Semi Finals.

It was Chelsea Tuach, taking down the Open Ladies and Junior finals, leaving her fellow competitors looking to beat her score after posting a good wave score in the girls junior category.

Advancing to second position with a personal best in both divisions was rising competitor Allysa Fernandes narrowly edging out Chelsea Roett who still holds on to the points lead in the open ladies category

In a rare appearance on a Longboard, Christian Boos came out to take the top spot in the Longboard final. The messy waves and strong currents forced organisers to put the Junior Under12 and Menehunes event on hold after assessing conditions. The decision whether to hold the event at a later date is still to be decided. With only one remaining SOTY left for the year to be held at Bathsheba’s world famous Soup Bowl on October 4^th & 5^th, surfers are feeling the pressure with the hottest action in one of the world's best reef breaks still to come.

Men’s Open

1) Bruce Mackie

2) Stefan Corbin

3) Jake Corbin

4) Chris Clarke

Women’s Open
1) Chelsea Tuach
2) Allysa Fernandes
3) Chelsea Roett

4) Jade Niccolls

Open Longboard
1) Christian Boos
2) Wayne Roett

3) Jay Garrett
4) Andre Clarke

5) Kevin Jones

Junior U18

1) Bruce Mackie

2) Jordan Heaselgrave

3) Matthew Kieffer

4) Daniel Edghill

Girl’s U18
1) Chelsea Tuach
2) Allysa Fernandes
3) Chelsea Roett

4) Jade Niccolls

Junior U16
1) Bruce Mackie
2) Matthew Kieffer

3) Jordan Heaselgrave 4) Daniel Edghill