2009 Raw Nationals & Rebel Sport Pro
16th November 2009
After a big week at Duranbah Beach on the NSW/QLD border for the 2009 Raw Nationals & Rebel Sport Pro, Team Reeflex came home victorious in more ways than one.
Our big wave boy Chad Jackson won the final event of the tour, The Rebel Sport Pro in one to two foot conditions. Chad’s preperation and determination for this event left no stone unturned as he arrived a solid week before the event started to get into a training routine and familiarise himself with the conditions and focus on a final placing from the get go. Well, it paid off with his first ever Pro Tour win over the most highly contested field of the year.
Chad clawed his way back towards the end of the heat ahead of fellow Team Rider Dave “Winny” Winchester making it a ONE – TWO finish for Team Reeflex showing the strength of our Team. This reinforces Chad’s latest tag of Mr Versatile as no matter what the conditions are he can surf them better than most, cementing his place as one of the best all round bodyboarders right now.
Chad’s win takes him to 8th overall on the final rankings of the Rebel Sport Pro Tour for 2009 with Winny taking out 3rd spot behind eventual winner Corey McLean and Jake Stone.
Winny took out the Drop Knee Pro Division and backed it up with a second in the Opens showing his consistency and why he is in contention for a World Title as he and Chad now head off to the Canary Islands for the final event of the IBA World Tour.
Congratulations Mr V & Winny!!!
Our youngest team rider Davis “Wingers – Wingnut – Wedge Rat” Blackwell took out the Under 14 Grommets division in convincing fashion. After placing second last year, Davis was determined to go one better this year after spending the week prior at Surfing Australia’s High Performance Bodyboard Camp honing his competetion skills mentally and physically.
Congratulations Wingers!!!!
Lewy Finnegan – Most Promising
10th November 2009
The week prior to the Nationals a heap of junior bodyboarders from around Australia attended Surfing Australia’s SEP camp which consisted of a series of lectures, surf’s and presentations to help improve our junior athletes for future professionalisim in the sport.
Some of the boys get invited and some pay there own way there. The Reeflex Gromm team of Lewy, George and Davis all attended on their own account and at the conclusion of the camp they presented the most promising award for excellence to Lewy Finnegan. This is a big wrap considering the calibre of junior riders attending and the people presenting the award.
Lewy then backed this up by making his third straight Nationals Final and taking out 2nd place in the Cadet Division. With Lewy showing his consistency in state and national competitions of the last few years it shows he is on track to become one of Austrlia’s best junior competitors.
Congratulations Lewy!!!
Chad & Champy The Seal
1st October 2009
Wanna watch Chad Jackson and his mates score some fun waves in WA’s South West over a weekend a little while back when we had offshore winds and sunshine? Then go ahead and click play!
Champy The Seal from Darren McCagh on Vimeo.
Wingnut is Bali Bound
27th September 2009
Can you remember when it was your first surf trip over seas and how frothing you were? counting your sleeps down, preparing all your equipment over and over, watching vids of the place…packing your suitcase three days before you depart!!
Well thats how it was for my little tall skinny mate Davis “Wingnut” Blackwell who is off to Bali over his school holidays and this kid simply could not wait to get there. Be sure to check back here in a few weeks once Wingnut returns to see if he scored some warm water bowls and barrels on that little island so may Aussies head every winter to escape the cold.
DK DP: Dropknee - Dane Pope
24th September 2009
For those of you who are keen on Dropping a Knee from time to time will already know Dane Pope, for those of you who don’t DK may not but now you do! Dane is a Queenslander who has been hitting his straps free surfing and competing in the past 12 months, throwing tail, schralping lips and faces all along the east coast of Australia whilst in between working as a Geotechnical Engineer.
Yes, thats right peeps, an Engineer! It just goes to show that if you choose to you can go and get a qualification and then worry about chasing waves, women and boogie fame once you have set your self up.
Dane has teamed up with Trevor Ross from www.surfphotos.com.au to show us all a piece of “The Pope” in action. Cick on an image to see “the big picture”.
THE DAVE WINCHESTER MINI-SERIES
21st September 2009
Winny, Reeflex and his other sponsors have teamed up with Boom! Podcasts to present to you the Dave Winchester Mini-Series. A six episode series that will show case one of the world’s most stylish and natural bodyboarders of all time.
Be sure to keep your eyes on this spot as we will have first news of the exact date the first episode drops around mid October. In the meantime you can be teased by the teaser!
The Dave Winchester Mini-Series – Teaser HD from Waldron Bros Production on Vimeo.
Two Close
16th September 2009
After continuing his consistent form, Winny now sits in second place on the 2009 IBA World Tour ratings behind Hawaiian Jeff Hubbard and a whisker in front of fellow Aussie Ryan Hardy.
Consistency could be the key to winning this year’s IBA World Title, that and or securing high places in the double pointed Grand Slams on offer will go a long way to claiming top spot in 2009. It will be an interesting final event Grand Slam at Confital in the Canary Islands later in the year with a possible six men in contention.
Dave Winchester’s best results to date on the 2009 IBA World Tour.
1st – Ferrol
2nd – Penichie
3rd – Chile – Grand Slam
4th – Pipeline – Grand Slam
5th – Peru
Pain in Spain
11th September 2009
Chad Jackson loves his Aussie Rules Footy (AFL – also see the first issue of le Boogie for the proof) so when he had the oppurtunity to have a kick with the fellas he was frothing. That was until he damaged his ankle just before heading to Spain & Portugal for a month to compete on the IBA World Tour.
Despite his injury Chad has held his own competing but admits that “I gotta strap it before every heat and it hurts like f@#k” . Chad advanced thru his round 3 heat in the Peniche Pro in Portugal yesterday and now faces Mike Stewart in the opening heat of round 4 which pits the top 16 against the 16 qualifiers. You can check out the heat draw here and watch it live here.
He still has mananged to see the delights on offer at the beach of a Spanish summer though!
Team Reeflex Gromms Killing it
10th September 2009
With the final event of the EBB state titles done and dusted for another year, the Reeflex Gromms took out every division. Alex Halsey is the state champion for 2009 in the Open and Junior divisions, Lewy Finnegan is the Cadets champion with George Humphreys runner up and Davis Blackwell is again the Grommet champion winning all 3 rounds.
All the boys now head to the Rebel Sport Australasian Titles at D’bah in November to mix it with Australias best amateurs. Well done fellas and good luck in Queensland!
Winny Wins IBA World Tour Event!!
6th September 2009
Dave “ Mr Consistent” Winchester has won the fourth leg of the European 5 leg 2009 IBA World Tour event, the Surfusiom Pro at Doninos Ferrol, Spain.
In true Winny fashion he backed up his win with a second place in the Dropkee division, again showing his versatility and popularity amongst both styles of riding.
Winny had these comments to say after his win. “This will replace one of my other results and get me a bit closer to where I want to be”
“It’s still all going to come down to the last event at Confital in December.
“I just want to thank my wife for sitting on the beach for 4 days with my little girl Coco” said the proud father.
Keep an eye on Winny’s World Tiltle race at the final event of the European leg which begins on Thursday at www.ibaworldtour.com
