Tips & Tricks - Understanding the Danger of Propeller Strikes

One of the biggest fears anyone boating has is for someone in their boat to be hit by the propeller. Recently there was a report of a man tubing and his leg was severely injured when the propeller of the boat that was pulling him hit him. As a skipper of a boat it is imperative that you are constantly aware of where your passengers/skiers/tubers are in relation to your propeller.

TO PUT THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE, DID YOU KNOW? • A typical three-blade propeller running at 3,200 rpm can inflict 160 impacts in one second. • A typical recreational propeller can travel from head to toe on an average person in less than one tenth of a second. • Most importantly! Most propeller accidents CAN be prevented! SAFETY TIPS • Before starting your engine, walk to the stern and look in the water to make certain there is no one near your propeller (people near the propeller may not be visible from the helm). • Never allow passengers to board or exit your boat from the water when engine(s) are running - even at idle and in neutral your propeller may continue to spin. • Educate passengers about the location and danger of the propeller(s).

• Be especially alert when operating in congested areas and never enter swimming zones. • Take extra precautions near boats that are towing skiers or tubers. • Never permit passengers to ride on the bow, gunwale, transom, seat backs, or other locations where they might fall overboard. • Children should be watched carefully while onboard. • Establish clear rules for swim platform use, boarding ladders, and seating (if possible, passengers should remain seated at all times). • If someone falls overboard, STOP! Then slowly turn the boat around, and keep the person in sight as you approach. Assign a passenger to continuously monitor the person in the water. Turn your engine off FIRST and then bring the person to safety. • NEVER reverse your boat to pick someone up out of the water. If necessary, go around again.

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Article courtesy of Leisure Boating - October 2012

Life Jacket, or Not

In light of the recent tragedy at the Vaal River, I feel that it is imperative as a keen boater and Insurance provider for the boating community that I outline the importance of wearing a SABS approved life jacket and not just an impact vest when on a boat or jet-ski. The impact vests really don’t have the necessary buoyancy required in the event of an accident on the water. It is especially important in water that has zero visibility below the surface, but regardless of visibility issues, all boaters and Jet-Skiers need to be cognisant of the danger you are exposing yourself and/or your passengers to by not wearing one. No matter how you look at it most boating accidents have a predictable outcome – you in the water fighting for your life, if you aren’t wearing a life jacket, your survival chances are marginal. Best-case scenario, you fall overboard without injuring yourself and a person remaining on the boat or a nearby boater can recover you. Almost every other scenario, surviving a boating accident as a result of being ejected from the boat without a life jacket depends on a quick rescue! If you still need persuading, have a look at these statistics: Capsizing and falling overboard are the most reported types of fatal accidents, comprising 59 percent of all boating fatalities.

Nine of ten drowning victims may have survived a capsizing or fall overboard if they had been wearing a life jacket. By wearing a life jacket while boating, you increase the chances of surviving exponentially. Think of it another way: without a lifejacket, how long can you tread water while waiting for rescue? What if you were injured? You cannot prevent an accident by your boating skill or experience alone. Boaters with more than 100 hours boating experience, who are 36 years or older and don’t have formal boating safety education are responsible for most of the boating accidents and fatalities. Even if you have confidence in your boating skills, consider the many boaters who are less experienced and educated who share the waterways with you. Comfort is no longer an issue. The major reason boaters don’t wearing life jackets is they value comfort over safety. Thankfully, boating supply manufacturers have responded by producing lightweight life jackets that can be worn without discomfort for an entire day of boating. There really is no reason not to wear a life jacket, and require all your passengers to wear one as well. It sounds like one of the most basic, common sense safety procedures that you can follow when you’re boating. Everyone knows that wearing a life jacket when you’re boating will help you in the event that there’s a boating accident. Just about any boating accident is going to result with you in the water, doing your best to survive. Unless you’re within a few hundred feet of shore, your chances of survival after a boating accident without a life jacket are relatively small. Part of the reason for this survivability issue is that when you fall out of a boat, you will probably sustains some injury or another. This may hamper your ability to swim or even tread water. If you’re ejected from a boat without a life jacket, you have to depend on a quick rescue just to make it back to shore alive. So please, rather be safe than sorry! There really are some cool life jackets out there, so if coolnessis a priority – problem solved!

Summer is here, here’s to happy and safe boating! 

Article courtesy of Leisure Boating - November 2012

Look Before You Leap

This is the time of year when we come out of hibernation, the sun warms up the earth and the water beckons! Whether you are a seasoned boater or a newcomer to this lifestyle, buying a boat is a big decision. Cynics and people who don’t have the right knowledge on hand can be heard to say axioms such as boats are "holes in the water, into which you throw money" and "the happiest day of a boat owner's life is the day they buy the boat and the day they sell it." This doesn’t 'have to be the case if you approach boat ownership with an understanding of what is involved. Do your homework! Ask yourself the following: • Is the boat just for your family or do you need a bigger boat to accommodate friends too? • What will you use the boat for? Fishing, water skiing and wakeboarding or just to cruise. • How often will you use the boat, seasonally or all year round? • Will you operate the boat on dams and rivers or on the ocean? • How much can you afford to spend? The costs go beyond just the boat, you need to take into account where you are going to house the boat (do you need to hire a boat locker), insurance, maintenance, instruction and safety course fees and petrol • Don't forget that newcomers to boating have to do the required skippers license. It's based in categories of how far from land you want to go, as well as weight. This is a once off test for the skipper, but your boat will have to pass a test annually to be fit for the water. This is all in an effort to keep yourself and other boaters safe. Once you have that nailed down, you need to decide whether you want to buy a new or used boat. We all want a brand spanking new boat but often you can get more for less when you buy a second hand boat. However there are benefits to buying new in that you know it has no history, with a used boat you need to look out for tell tale signs of trouble because it is no use buying a boat when it spends 90% of good boating time being repaired because you bought a BAD used boat. On top of that you end up spending what you could have bought a new one for. If the deal sounds too good to be true – it probably is. Here’s what to look out for! • Mismatched paint. This could indicate that the boat has been in an accident and had repairs made. Although this in itself may not disqualify the boat, if you were not told of the repairs what else might you not have been told about?

• Does the keel run true in a straight line fore and aft? Is straight horizontally? • Do you see any apparent water lines inside the boat or on the engine? Look for a line that separates a rust free area on the engine and a lower area with a lot of rust. This could indicate that the boat took on water. • On an inboard, does the shaft turn true or does it wobble? What about the prop - any nicks or cracks? • Take hold of the prop and try to move it up and down and sideways. You should not be able to move it much. If you can, you have a worn cutlass bearing. • Take a small rubber hammer and lightly tap the hull moving around the boat. If you hear voids in the fiberglass, that could be a problem of repairs, blisters, or delamination. • Walk around the decks and on the bow - you shouldn't find soft spots. • Is the steering free and easy to move? • Is the upholstery in good shape? • Check around hatches and windows - do you see water stains inside? • Is there any musty/moldy smell inside? This could indicate leakage, prior water damage or simply neglect. • Make sure it is legal with all required equipment. • Are the handrails bolted through and not just screwed to the surface? Are they secure? • When you start the engine do you have good water flow? • Check belts and hoses for cracks or wear. Even with low hours on an engine(s), rubber deteriorates just sitting. • Check the oil and instead of wiping the stick with a cloth use your fingers, do you feel any grit? What is the color? How does it smell? Does it smell burned. • Check the transmission fluid with the same process as the oil. • Check the impeller and while you are looking at it throw it away and replace it with a new one. • Does the transmission shift easily or does it "clunk?" • See if you can get the maintenance records and review how the boat has been maintained in the past. Also look for recurring problems. • See if you can find the previous owner(s) and ask about the boat. • If you are looking at an inboard/outboard make sure the tilt motor works properly. • If you are looking at an outboard look under the cover for excessive corrosion. If you do the due diligence and buy the right boat for you and your family, there is no better lifestyle and no better investment that will guarantee you hours and hours of wonderful times and memories! Happy Boating!

Article courtesy of Leisure Boating - October 2012

Getting The Right Skipper's License

Don’t ruin your big deep sea fishing trip before it has begun! Anyone operating a sea going vessel needs to have completed a Skippers Course relevant to the category of boat used when heading out to sea. The categories of small sea going vessels was amended and introduced in the Merchant Shipping (Small Vessel Safety) Regulations, 2002. Originally the categories described the type of vessels, but it was amended to reflect rather the distance the vessel operates offshore. This categorisation is irrespective of the size; “Category” in relation to a vessel is determined by the following: • Category A – Vessels operating more  than 40 nautical miles from shore • Category B – Vessels operating more than 15 but not more than 40 nautical miles from shore • Category C – Vessels operating more than 5 but not more than 15 nautical miles from shore • Category D – Vessels operating more than 1 but not more than 5 nautical miles from shore

• Category E – Vessels operating not more than 1 nautical mile from shore • Category R – There is a missing category of vessels, which are ‘restricted’ in some way, usually due to their construction and/or design and operate solely within the confines of a port or lagoon/estuary. This category has been designated as Category R. Honda Marine in conjunction with McCrystal Insurance Brokers are holding a Category C Deep Sea Skippers Course and Boat Surveys C.O.F on the 20th and 21st October. Go to www.marineskippers.co.za for more information and details on other skippers courses. On the day of the course, please ensure you have the necessary documentations and meet the following requirements: • 2 X Colour Copy of ID Document • 4 X Colour ID Photo • Medical Examination (Original and 1 copy) • Eyesight Test (Original and 1 copy) • Over 16 Years Old • Certified Proof of Sea Service (Minimum 25 sea hours recorded on a certified Category C, D or higher vessel, in a logbook. If no logbook is available a sworn affidavit to this effect will suffice)

Article courtesy of Leisure Boating - October 2012

Roof of Africa 2012

This years Roof of Africa had a record number of entries with over 400 riders, controls had been put in place to ensure that everything ran smoothly and efficiently.

The winner of the Roof of Africa made history by being the youngest rider to ever win, Wade Young is only 16 years old, he was followed by Altus De Wet and reigning champion Graham Jarvis, Darryl Curtis finished in 4th place followed by Yamaha riders Marc Torlage and Kenny Gilbert.

Bronks Rail Smash Up

A Wakeboard Rail event “with a difference” took place on 13 October 2012 in Bronkhorstspruit.

Running for the second year in a row and is the biggest Rail Contest with the top 10 – 15 most stylish Rail Contest Riders our Country has to offer such as Dylan Mitchel(SA no.1), Devon Nassif, Kyle Hecht-Wendt and many more…

Nick Bensch

Nick Bensch

Nick Bensch competed in the Rail Smash up







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2012 Rally Maroc - Darryl & Riaan

Respectable finish for Darryl & Riaan

20/10/2012

BROADLINK KTM RALLY Team Riders Darryl Curtis and Riaan van Niekerk finish The MOROCCO RALLY in a respectable 14th and 15th overall.

Riaan,the less experienced of the two managed to come in ahead off Darryl to claim 14 position in his first International Rally.

The 2 riders used this event as a training ride leading up to the 2013 DAKAR RALLY along with many other big names. They were part of the KTM Factory Team and had the same treatment as Rally Champions Marc Coma and Cyril Despres. Darryl said that it was a real privilege to "pit" with these guys and they learnt a lot. Sadly Coma crashed out early in the event with a dislocated shoulder and fellow team mate Despres went on to win overall.   

Well Done to the 2 BROADLINK KTM Rally Team riders.

Darryl and Riaan would like to thank their sponsors BROADLINK, GRINDROD LOGISTICS, LEADERTREAD, EMPERORS PALACE, MTN and KTM as well as all their supporters.

http://www.broadlinkktmrally.co.za/broadlink-ktm-rally-home/Respectable-finish-for-Darryl-Riaan/index.html
Follow Darryl on Facebook or Twitter

2012 Rally Maroc - Darryl Curtis

Darryl Curtis is a multiple South African Offroad and Enduro champion, Dakar and Extreme enduro campaigner and is currently competing in the 2012 Oilibya Rally in Morocco. Darryl can be followed on twitter https://twitter.com/DarrylCurtisSA as he competes on his Broadlink KTM, get daily updates on http://www.broadlinkktmrally.co.za/ or  you can watch the stages live on http://rallyemaroc.npo.fr/

THE OILIBYA RALLY OF MOROCCO 2012

The OiLibya Rally of Morocco is honored by the patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

 A Rally open to everybody !

For this new edition, the OiLibya Rally of Morocco 2012 is from 14th to 20th October 2012.

This off-road rally is open to everyone, from beginners to professionals via fans and enthusiasts. Any type of vehicle is accepted as Cars, Trucks, Bikes, Quads, SSV. Composed of six steps, it’s a true reference in terms of initiation.

Come to prepare marathon rally by crossing the dunes and mountains of southern Morocco. Test your vehicle, your crew and your endurance !

The Rally will welcome competitors from everywhere, profesionnals and amateurs on 2 or 4 wheels.

This is an ideal test to prepare your marathon !

BIKES/QUADS : Ride on Rally category with prepared bike or participate to the Enduro cup with your own production bike. Same rules for quads (Bike or Quad possible)

CARS/TRUCKS/SSV : Come drive without any constraints with your own Off Road vehicle. Minimal Security equipment : 4 points body harness, individuals seats, roll bars, ratified fire extinguisher, helmet

SIMPLIFIED LOGISTICS : 1 unique central bivouacs, short links on tarred roads to reduce coasts and facilitate the assistance teams work.

UNSEEN ROUTE : 6 loops (150 à 350 klm) with a neutralised assistance.

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

Bok van Blerk

October Events
25/10/2012 - Amanzimtoti
26/10/2012 - Port Natal

November
02/11/2012 - Pierre van Reyneveld
03/11/2012 - Chamberlains Centurion
24/11/2012 - Alldays
30/11/2012 - Despatch

December
01/12/2012 - Montana Traders
06/12/2012 - Firkin Centurion
20/12/2012 - Jolly Dolphin Jeffreysbaai
22/12/2012 - Hermanus
26/12/2012 - Hartenbos
28/12/2012 - Strand Stadsaal
29/12/2012 - Gansbaai

for more info go to www.bokvanblerk.co.za

Umhlali Night Race

A Jet Ski Race at night on 3 November 2012. It will be the 1st time in South Africa that a night jet ski race will be held in a small little town called Umhlali, Salt Rock.

Christmas Classic Bay Fishing Competition

The Christmas Classic Fishing competition will be held on the 1st December in Durban Harbor. This year there is space for 650 anglers to take part. For more information contact Brett Hibbert - 073 104 2395

Johannesburg Boat Show

1 Ticket, 3 Shows, 1 Venue




This Spring, from 24 - 26 August, come and enjoy the first days of summer when the newly launched Johannesburg Boat Show will be in full float at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec.

Take a look or come and join us at the show
http://youtu.be/x-I-xZ-UJXs

B.E.T.T. Calendar

GP Dates and Venues

Where possible the events will be held on the first Saturday of each of the following months listed below but these are subject to change if the date clashes with any other event or unseen circumstance arising. We will obviously try to keep any changed to the bare minimum.

DATES:	VENUES:
4th August	Witbank
8th September	Nandoni
6th & 7th October	Albert Falls

PLEASE NOTE – The September event will be on the second weekend of the month to Albert Falls Classic scheduled over the first weekend

1.             Venues will be confirmed at each Bett event for the following month. BETT reserves the right to change any venue seven days prior to the event.

KZN Dates and Venues

Where possible the events will be held on the last Saturday of each of the following months listed below but these are subject to change if the date clashes with any other event or unseen circumstance arising. We will obviously try to keep any changed to the bare minimum.

DATES:	VENUES:
25th August	Alberts
29th September	Woodstock	Backup: Midmar
6th & 7th October	Albert Falls

               

PLEASE NOTE – The March event will be a two day event to compensate for the fact that there will be no event held at the end of April. This two day event will be at Sterkfontein on the last weekend of March i.e. 31^st March & 1^st April. These will be run as separate events and televised separately. This is being done to fulfil our commitments of 9 events excluding the final for Supersport.

1.           Venues will be confirmed at each Bett event for the following month.

2.           Fishing Times will be 06h00 to 16h00 with these times being adjusted according to season & weather. Please take careful note of the monthly invitation to see any changes of fishing times.

B.E.T.T KZN - June 2012 Albert Falls Dam

June saw the KZN B.E.T.T. tournament hosted at Albert Falls Dam. The cold anglers got off to a late start due to a thick blanket of mist covering the dam delaying them launching their boats, due almost no visibility.

Angela Crookes waiting for the mist to lift

Angela and Tim, McCrystal Insurance KZN Team, are currently leading the B.E.T.T. KZN tournament with 43.595 points, in second place the Goya / IFH consulting team - Giulio and Preston with 42.925 points and in third the Yamaha SHO / Rapala team - Julian and Martin with 42.615 points. The Loomis & Franklin Honda team (McCrystal team 2) - Schalk and Mzi are currently is 26th place with 27.65 points. The rest of the season looks to be very exciting with the anglers so close in points.

B.E.T.T Gauteng - June 2012 - Renosterkop Dam

Six months into the year and 6 tournaments down, the Gauteng June event played out at Renosterkop Dam, a familiar dam for this year's field after having already visited the venue in February. But the teams now face new challenges as this is now winter fishing with new strategies and techniques required. The water temperature and dam level have dropped while leading up to tournament day.

Launching in their predetermined placings, skippers held onto the wheel as they flew through the chilly morning conditions to claim victory over their first spot of the morning. With the field spread across the dam it was down to business as the teams put their practiced strategies into play. One such team was father and son, Craig and Kewan of Team Bru Force. Having had an amazing start to the day they had their limit well before midday and were searching for bigger kicker fish to complement their already more than average bag.

There is only one thing more important than winning the day and that is qualifying in the overall top ten and gain entry to fish the B.E.T.T 2012 Classic at the end of the year. With three tournaments left on the calendar, the pressure is on - not only for the current top ten to stay consistent and remain within the top ten, but also for the rest of the field as they strive to their place in the final.

 

With weigh-in time drawing closer, most teams had their limit of 5 fish, but nothing big enough for them to brag about. With a better than expected early winter bite, teams were landing sufficient fish, but big bass were a rare luxury. As the winter sun began to fade and the 9 hours of dedicated fishing time came to an end, the teams ran back to the scales to see if they had done enough to claim the trophy for this June event.

The top three teams were as follows:

3rd - Allan and Adrian of Team Mc Crystal Insurance Bass 2 with 7.22kg.

2nd - The father and son team - Craig and Kewan Ninaber of Team Bru Force with 7.41 kg.

1st - Back in top spot for the third time this year with just 150 grams more, the Renosterkop Dam, Dixon Batteries champions for the month of June, Sloepie and Varkanelli of Team Triton Mercury 2 with a 5-fish bag totalling 7.56kgs.

For more detailed results, click the Gauteng latest results tab, visit the photo gallery and like us on Face Book. Be sure to catch the show premier on July 10 at 18:00 on SuperSport 6.

Until then, keep the lines tight.

B.E.T.T GP - May 2012 Rooderkoptjies Dam

Gauteng competitors fished a venue never before featured on the BETT trail. This after the scheduled venue of  Rust de Winter Dam was changed in support of the conversational drive to allow it to rest and recharge its fish  reserves. The new venue was as a result of a vote between The Vaal river, Rooderkoptjies Dam and Hartebeestport Dam. After the week long poll, the majority vote was for Rooderkoptjies Dam.

Despite this, many teams were in two minds to fish this venue after very poor practice results.

But as with every event to date, while many competitors may be battling, there is always a team that boasts big fish and this event is no different! One such team was Allan Baker and Adrian van Vuuren of Team McCrystal Insurance Bass 2. This is what Allan had to say about their day:

"Rooderkopjties dam was a new venue for us. We firstly put in a lot of effort, familiarising ourselves with the dam’s detail by researching and recording all available information regarding depth, temperature and potential fishing areas.
We then pre-fished a week prior to competition day and found that the fish were relating to river inlets, moving between 25ft and 12ft breaks with rock and trees. The areas with only submerged rock or timber did hold fish, but not the size we were looking for. The bait also needed to have some red in it, so we can only presume that the bass were feeding on red breasted Kurper, or something similar.
On competition day, we targeted them with a Texas rig, in an effort to get the bait down deep and in the strike zone as quickly as possible. We caught all our fish before 08:30 and couldn’t upgrade after that. With the bite having died, we planned to leave early - to watch rugby, but ……..not when there’s another 2.85Kg to be taken!!" - Allan Baker, Team McCrystal Insurance Bass 2.

After 8 hours of slow fishing, the top spot went to Team Triton Mercury 2 with 6.78kgs, 1.07kgs more than Team Mc Crystal Insurance Bass 2 in second.

Third position went to Team Silver Lake Marine who presented only four fish weighing in at 5.02kgs.

For more detailed results, click the Gauteng latest results tab, visit the photo gallery and like us on Face Book. Be sure to catch the show premier on June 4 at 18:00 on SuperSport 6.
Until then, keep the lines tight.

McCrystal Newsletter – Are Driverless Vehicles the way forward

Are Driverless Vehicles the way forward

Google has embarked on a driverless car project that involves developing technology for driverless cars. 

The system combines information gathered from Google Street View with artificial intelligence software.  Google expects that the increased accuracy of its automated driving system could help reduce the number of traffic-related injuries and deaths, while suing energy and space on roadways more efficiently.

The project team has equipped a test fleet of at least eight vehicles, consisting of six Toyota Prius, an Audi TT and a Lexus RX450h, each accompanied in the driver’s seat by one of a dozen drivers with unblemished driving records and in the passenger seat by one of Google’s engineers.  To date, the car has traversed San Francisco’s Lombard Street, famed for its steep hairpin turns and through city traffic.  The vehicles have driven over the Golden Gate Bridge and on the Pacific Coast Highway.  The system drives at the speed limit is has stored on its maps and maintains its distance from other vehicles using its system of sensors.  The system provides an override that allows a human driver to take control of the car by stepping on the brake or turning the wheel, similar to that of currently used cruise control systems.

This could be good news as far as your insurance premiums are concerned, if the risks do prove to be less than traditional vehicles the insurance premium should also reduce and driving under the influence will become a thing of the past!

However, this is all in the future for emerging markets such as South Africa – as I am sure we are not earmarked to be in the first or second rollout worldwide.

So until the dawn of the driverless car in SA, sign up with GoodFella’s if you are drinking and ensure you get home safely! 

Moegatle 4x4 10 Year Birthday Celebrations

Moegatle 4x4 Trails celebrated its 10th birthday this past weekend and despite the festivities, there was no letting up for the 17 vehicles that were put through their paces on the 16 intense obstacles. With only one casualty on the day everyone had loads of fun and promised to return again. So if 4x4 is your passion, dream or something you do, then we recommend trying out this venue - you won't be disappointed!


Author -Do It Now http://www.doitnow.co.za

McCrystal Insurance Broker's obstable

 

Bok van Blerks Bus

Bok van Blerks bus needed a new look so we helped out and re branded the whole bus

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BETT - Bass fishing at its Best

McCrystal Insurance Brokers are one of the proud sponsors for The Bass Equaliser Tournament Trail (B.E.T.T.)

What is B.E.T.T? B.E.T.T is a monthly bass fishing tournament, managed by anglers with both national and international experience, which would be governed by a set of rules. This event takes place at venues in Gauteng and KZN.

The Bass Equaliser Tournament Trail (B.E.T.T) began in 2005. The idea behind the competition, was to introduce a professionally organised and executed tournament circuit. It was to be managed by anglers with both national and international experience, which would be governed by a set of rules. There was at the time, not only a need, but a request by the anglers for such a circuit to be introduced. The idea was to start a monthly competition, at various venues initially in Gauteng, but has subsequently grown at phenomenal rate above all expectations and has expanded to include KZN. This would not only test the ability of the anglers but promote the sport and in doing so encourage development whilst encouraging corporate involvement and competitiveness amongst seasoned and novice anglers. In 2006 the average participation was 30 boats (60 anglers) as it is a team event. However, the overall registered teams totalled no less than 55. In 2007 there was an average participation of 80 boats (160 anglers) and registered teams totalled in excess of 130.

Tim Steyn & Angela Crookes

At the first KZN 2012 B.E.T.T tournament the McCrystal Insurance Broker Team came a close second by 98grams.

Roger Donaldson & David Fryer

Allan Baker & Adrian van Vuuren

B.E.T.T tournament at Mokolo Dam










The latest tournament round can be seen on Super Sport or you can view the teaser footage on www.bett.co.za

2012 Cable Tour Hyperlite Stop 1

Author : ridecable - www.ridecable.co.za

March 2012 Saturday 10 March saw a crew of the country’s most dedicated cable wake-boarders & skaters, gathering at Base 3, Leisure Lakes in Midrand to kick off the 2012 season.

Pitting themselves against each other and the assortment of rails and kickers the riders pulled out all the stops for a cracker start to the season! Base 3, Leisure Lakes provided a fantastic venue for the event, with riders, spectators and families making full use of the first-class facilities, and enjoying a lovely day out. Everyone was well looked after, and a special mention must go to Justin Lemm and his crew who put in much appreciated effort to ensure that the hosting of the event was of international standards.

The Saturday evening party hosted in honour of all the riders will be remembered for many years to come! The morning’s proceedings were greeted with near perfect conditions.

First up were the novice riders. The Novice division was by far the largest category, illustrating just how quickly the sport is growing. With over 30 riders competing, the spectators were treated to some of the best cable riding, with all riders giving it their all. A special mention must go to the youngest competitor, Keanu Selby who at only 8 was brave enough to go out for his 1st ride ever at a competition. Jacques Labuschagne from Cape Town gave all the riders in the category a run for their money.

The Ladies division saw current champ Melissa Colborne from Cape Town against UK rider Chloe Mitchell and Base3 local, Bryanna Motepe. Melissa’s solid run and execution wowed the crowd, showing that this young lady has a promising future in the sport.

Next up wer the wake-skaters, they started out strong and ended even stronger! The crowd saw them sticking a combination of flat water and rail tricks. Special mention to the 2 ladies who entered this male dominated category, Chloe Micthell and Bryanna Motepe. The level of riding in this division was very high, and with reigning champ Matty Buys being out due to injuries, the field was left open for a new winner to emerge.

The Pro Men division was run using the new head-to-head format, which saw the top 8 riders emerging from the 1st heats being pitted against each other based on their scores in their 1st run. The level of riding in this division was awe-inspiring to say the least, and the guys really pulled out all the stops, the crowds were glued to their seats and the judges had their work cut out for them.

Current reigning champ Gregor Reichmuth from Cape Town was pitted against Base3 local Justin Mitri, Old Favourite Justin Selby and Kyle Hecht-Wendt went head to head, Craig Eggburger another Capetonian against another Base3 local who has made a return to riding, Sinjon Phillips, and Capetonian Francois du Toit against Base 3 local, Ryan Durham who usually competes in Junior Men.

Many thanks to all spectators, riders and the sponsors, Hyperlite, Base 3 Leisure Lakes, Red Bull, Do it Now Magazine, McCrystal Insurance and Nando’s, without whom an event of this magnitude would not have been possible.

We look forward to the CASA 2012 Cable Tour Nationals at Forever Resorts Warmbaths, 21/22 April 2012

Overall results: from 1st to 3rd

Novice: Jacques Labuschagne, Andrew Kofahl, Dean van Greunen

Ladies: Melissa Colborne, Chloe Mitchell, Bryanna Motepe (Hyperlite sponsored rider)

Wake skate: Darren Turner, Kyle Holtzhauzen, Bryan Loggenberg

Pro Men Division: Justin Mitri, Francois du Toit, Justin Selby (Liquid Force sponsored rider)

Wet ‘n Wild – A Jam packed event

The finest of South African sports men and women were all in one place at Emerald Casinos Wet ‘n Wild event, the first Jet fighters Event, champion wakeboarders and wakeskaters, Vaal rivers hottest party and freestyle motocross.

Nick Bensch

Nick Bensch competed in the Wet 'n Wild wakeboarding event with the best from all over South Africa and the World. Spectators got to view the biggest and best tricks to the hardest crashes as all the wakeboarders battled it out for top honours. 

Nick Thompson

Nick Thompson took part in the first ever Jet Fighters event. Jet Fighters is a all new race format, designed only for stand up and sport jet skis. Anyone can enter from first time racers to the pros, this made the event even more festive as riders shared bikes and all helped and encouraged each other. With the assistance of Safety Officer Peter Britz the event was a fun and enjoyed by spectators and riders.

A big thank you to all the sponsors who made these events happen