Pipeline Challenge Final Day - Sacha Spex retains Dk Title

Spex throwing down for Team Saffa and retaining his Pipe DK Title.

The Dropknee division featured a hotly contested final, taken out by South African Sacha Specker, defeating Hawaiian wave wizard and multiple DK World Champion, Dave Hubbard in second, Australia's multi talent Dave Winchester in third and Peruvian powerhouse and 2010 DK World Champion, Cesar Bauer in fourth to claim his second IBA Pipeline Pro DK victory.

Specker had a solid lead early in the final, but Hubbard and Winchester managed to find some excellent barrel rides to keep them in contention. Although Bauer never really found his rhythm during the final, he put on a show-stopping performance, pulling into big barrel over the shallow backdoor reef, keeping the beach spectators cheering on the edge of their seats. Hubbard made a last ditch effort in the last five minutes of the final, but it was speaker who managed to hold onto poll position.

Ben Player (AUS) has taken out the 2013 IBA GoPro Pipe Challenge in pumping 8-10 foot waves at the Banzai Pipeline today, defeating defending champion, Jeff Hubbard (HAW) in second, Pierre-Louis (FRA) in third and multi talented Dave Hubbard (HAW) in fourth in the dying minutes of the final. Player posted an excellent score of 8.75 early in the final for a deep set wave barrel on a left and finished it off with a looping roll. Hubbard answered back with a 7.75 and a 7.2 for two deep back to back barrels on draining left handers. The Frenchman and Dave Hubbard both managed to post a good score each 7.38 and 6.25 respectively, but were unable to lock in substantial second scoring rides. With only two minutes remaining, Player was searching for a 6.21 or better to take out the final. Scooping into a heaving Pipe set wave, the Australian negotiated his way through a long barrel and topped the wave off by launching an invert off the closeout to earn himself 7.38 out of a possible 10 points, rocketing him into first place as the buzzer sounded the end of the 2013 IBA GoPro Pipeline Pro. Victorious, Player was carried up the beach to the podium by good friends and past Pipe Champions, Ryan Hardy and Andrew Lester, accompanied by a cheering crowd of Australian supporters. Player has been competing in this pipe event for the past 19 years, claimed two world titles, and has several grand slam victories under his belt, but until today has never been able to claim a victory at the infamous Banzai Pipeline. 

Captain Kai's World Podcast - Ultimate X, Rolling Retro, Pipeline Challenge and Dries Millard

Greg Illingworth laying down the hammer at Ultimate X on the weekend. (Photo: Ultimate X/Pierre Marqua)

If you thought the weekend in Cape Town was mental with Ultimate X, Rolling Retro, 40 Degree weather and more hot gals than any town has a right to, then this week's Podcast will blow your mind! First up we had paraplegic surfer, Dries Millard, in to chat about participating in the Rolling Retro surf day and how he is changing the face of paraplegic action sports and inspiring others to challenge themselves.
Then we had Jarret Johnson with all the Bodyboarding news both locally and abroad. He also gave us his predictions for the ongoing Pipeline Challenge, which has no less than 7 Saffa's charging the event.
Greg Illingworth and Markus Museler gave us the lowdown on Ultimate X, as well as some hard discussions about the state of action sports, athletes and sponsors in SA and the real need for a proper park in Cape Town.
Lastly, Tarryn Chudleigh, Ilan Sheer and Zac Wrankmore joined me to chat Rolling Retro and the surf scene at Llanduno Beach.
+Tyrone Bradley gave insight as a sports photographer and of course Chris Cabby Cab was along for the ride and causing mayhem as per usual.

Download the Podcast HERE

IBA GoPro Pipeline Challenge 2013 Teaser

After the huge disappointment of hearing that the current economic downturn had caused the Pipeline Challenge to be cancelled due to no sponsorship, it was a great relief to find out that thanks to the social media campaign by the Bodyboarders, GoPro have signed on to save the event. So lock and load your internet and get ready for the most iconic event on the IBA Calendar, its gonna be huge! (Well done GoPro!) Frothing to see Jared and Spex cane the competition.

30th Edition of the Pipeline Challenge is go for 2013

There have been some crazy moments over the years at the Pipeline Challenge. Some of the biggest days ever surfed out there, South Africans charging and winning and of course some gruesome wipeouts. Next year sees the 30th edition of this iconic Bodyboard event and of course SA kingpin, Sacha Specker defending his DK title.

Captain Kai's World on www.2ov.fm - With Sacha Spex, Drop knee World champion and Vans SA's Warbot

Sacha "Spex" your DK World Champion for 2012.

It was great to finally get Sacha "Spex" Specker into studio. I have been surfing with this guy for years now and he is truly one of the most gifted waterman in the world. Something that was backed up this year when he won the IBA World tour Drop knee division. Joining us in studio was Vans SA main man, Warren "Warbot" Talbot. Super fun show with lots of laughs...

To Download or Listen to the Podcast - Go HERE

Jared Houston charging Puerto Escondido

Saying hello from deep in the Mexican pit. (Photo: IBA/Specker)

South African Bodyboarder, Jared Houston, has been making name on the IBA World Tour and in his free surfs around the planet. They guy has the whole package. Big tubes, technical tricks and of course massive punts - don't believe me, just check out his recent trip to Mexico...

Bodyboarding World frothing for 2012 Itacoatiara Pro Brazil

Can you say big and Rampy?

Much talk has gone down this week in anticipation of the giant swell headed to Fiji for the surfers, but the bodyboarding world are also getting their Frothbeards on. Why? Because the early warm up surfs in Brazil prior to the 2012 Itacoatiara Pro, have been off the charts and they are looking at some solid swell for the start of the competition. Just check out this warm up video, starring our very own Saffer, Jared Houston. Those are some mind blowing launches...

The Friday Mix - XGames, Brian Deegan, Bodyboard and Surf

Welcome to the Friday Mix and this week has a slightly XGames heavy theme, as I am confirmed to attend the event for the first time. Talk about stoked! First up there is the official XGames 2012 teaser, followed by the first "Road to Xgames" with rally and bike hell man, Brian Deegan. After that you get to see the final days action from the IBA World Tour in Arica, Chile. I cannot believe Mike Stewart is still giving it horns in competition. Finally, check out some good vibes from the West Coast Boardriders in Cape Town, as they sponsor a new surfboard for one of their own...

 

 

 

The Friday Mix - IBA Arica Challenge, Red Bull Enduro, Bikini Surfers & 10 Biggest Jumps...

Welcome to this week's Friday Mix with me, Captain Kai. This week we start with the teasers for 2 live events in the IBA Bodyboard World Tour's Arica Challenge, from Chile, which starts today and you can watch the live webcasts on the IBA Website. Then you should definitely check out the world's toughest Enduro event, the Red Bull Hare Scramble, which you can watch live via the web on Red Bull's Website. Before we get there though, enjoy a tropical surf trip with the Rip Curl ladies, as they put their new bikinis to the test, with Alana Blanchard, Bethany Hamilton, Tyler Wright and Pauline Ado. We finish off with the "Top 10" jumps of all time - could be some debate over these - but a pretty inspiring video all the same! Enjoy your weekend and make sure you get out there and ride...

 

 

 

Spex takes Pipeline DK Title for the Saffers

Sacha "Spex" Specker pretty stoked with his first win on the IBA tour. (Photo: IBA/Trouville)

If anyone was ever bothered to ask me about Spex, I would have told you he is one of the greatest waterman I know. Whether dominating on his bodyboard, surfing equally well, diving or swimming for shots, the guy is dam good! (He also dates one of the world's best female surfers.) He is a patriotic Saffer and the nicest guy you will ever meet. So I am very stoked that he took the DK podium at the Pipeline Challenge. The contest had insane waves with huge performances by the world's best. Check the other day's highlights as well!

As the only non-Hawaiian in today’s dropknee final, South African, Sacha Specker, was a clear underdog. He had been in a final twice before but never tasted victory, until today. He sat slightly wide of the Hawaiians and went about picking off waves that were running along the inside reef at Pipe. “It’s an incredible feeling winning this event. It’s a bit of a dream still. I think it’ll kick in tomorrow, when we play the Aussies in cricket”, said Specker. The Hawaiians, Miles Kauhaahaa, Bud Miyamoto and Kainoa Mcgee, put on great performances in the rounds leading up to the final, weaving their ways through the tricky barrels at Backdoor and Pipe. Kauhaahaa rode the highest scoring wave of the event- a long barrel at Backdoor. Miyamoto had the highest scoring wave of the final-a long deep barrel at Pipe- punctuated with a cutback that threw buckets of spray over the back of the wave. He was unable to find a back up wave and came second to Specker by 3.91 points.

 
 

The Box Pro - Saffa BodyBoarders into the Quarters

Ok, besides the contest name sounding like a dodgy lesbian porn contest, the footage is bloody insane. These guys have balls made from Adamantium! I know, the eternal struggle of Surfers vs Bodyboarders, but to be honest I am over it. Some of my best mates charge the Ledges harder than we can on surfboards. So check out this insane footage from the IBA World Tour, with not one but two South Africans making the Quarters by going mental! Will post the final day as soon as it happens.

Just eight riders remain in contention for event number two on the International BodyBoard World Tour, The Box Pro, with quarter-final placings being decided today in heaving four-to-six feet (two-metre) waves.
South African, Jared Houston (ZAF), found himself in a unique situation; the 21 year-old had his board split apart after an aerial attempt gone awry. Houston punched a huge air-forward off a wedging Box end-section and came down hard over the front of his board. It caved in beneath him, buckling under the pressure, and folded straight down the middle.
“I saw that section and just went for it,” he explained. “I came down so hard my arms hit under water, I was still holding onto my board so I knew straight away it had snapped. I tried to ride out of it, but there was no way that was happening.”
Houston borrowed another board from someone waiting in the channel, but the relief was short lived. It was two inches shorter than what he normally rides.
“I was kinda going nowhere with it, then the guys on the ski went and picked up my back-up board and brought that to me, but I’d never ridden that either, it had no wax on it, it was so slippery. So the whole heat I was just trying to make the most of a pretty bad situation,” said Houston.
Houston regrouped to advance into the quarter-finals, where he has now drawn fellow countryman, Mark McCarthy (ZAF), in an all South African match-up. The only time the pair have faced off at the elite level occurred at Pipeline two years ago with Houston getting the nod.


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