For the second year in a row, the IBC Bodyboarding World Tour comes to Onrus from 15 to 25 September.
The Walker Bay Pro will once again be showcasing the best bodyboarding talent from South Africa versus the best of the rest of the world has to offer via a live-streamed event.
The possibility of crowning a new Women’s World Champion yet again is on the cards. After the contest in the Maldives, the stage is set for the ladies title showdown in South Africa.
But due to challenging financial constraints felt by all, the Walker Bay Pro 2023 will not play host to a Men’s Professional division this year. The event’s world-tour status is focused solely on the women’s division. However, that does not mean the contest is not open to the gentlemen. The Walker Bay pro will once again host a Men’s Division and a Juniors Division.
Current IBC world champion Tristan Roberts, along with IBC World Tour contender Robby Berman, will take part in helping to push the level of competition required among the men if they wish to claim the converted first prize of an airline ticket to compete in the Chilean leg of the IBC World Tour in 2024.
A talented local dark horse, Luke Staniforth, is more than willing to accept the challenge and has his eye firmly set on first place. He recently turned heads with a strong semi-final place showing at the Tand Invitational 2023 that was live streamed via the IBC World Tour channels.
Defending Juniors Champion Hugo Naude, who hails from George, will have his work cut out for him if he wishes to claim the airline ticket to compete in the Fronton King in the Canary Islands later this year. If the Tand Invitational 2023 showed us anything, Jaco Calitz is a force to be reckoned with in any conditions.
Ladies’ sport is currently on a global high, and this year Pam Bowden will represent South Africa at the Walker Bay Pro, where she aims to add to the experience she gained in Brazil and hopefully claim victory in her backyard over the likes of last year’s winner, Isabela Sousa.
Events of this size would not be possible without the local community support from Onrus and the greater bodyboarding network of the Boland and Western Province communities.
“We would like to thank all local businesses and the Onrus community for helping to make this event possible,” said Bianca le Roux, who is organising the event with Deon Meyer. “We especially thank Petri Hendriicksz, owner of Milk on The Beach, who is sponsoring local rider Luke Staniforth, assisting him in chasing the dream of becoming a professional bodyboarder.”
