We’re stoked to announce that the Cell© Goodwave Surf Contest has been confirmed for New Pier, Durban 2017. With its one year waiting period for a one-day contest, the Cell© Goodwave contest is one of the most unconventional and exciting surf comps on the calendar. 32 surfers and 32 alternate surfers will be invited to compete, and have 48 hours to get to Durbs when the waves are confirmed ‘cooking!’ Anyone can enter in order to up their chances of cracking the nod. The damage is a humble R1 entry fee per surfer and the prize for first place is R100,000. Not bad né? Check out the full details below and get on that training schedule…
Press Release
New Pier, Durban – In exciting news, the South African Surfing Legends is proud to present the Cell© Goodwave, set to take place at New Pier in Durban in 2017. The Cell© Goodwave will once again present an alternate take on the way traditional surfing events are held, and will once again become the most popular and talked-about contest on the South African surfing calendar. The Cell© Goodwave tournament has many unique aspects and components that make it a thrilling yet unconventional surfing competition.
Invite only
– It is an invite-only event. There is no other way to surf the event than by an invitation. The best 32 surfers in the country will be invited to compete, and 32 alternates will be invited as well.
One year waiting period – One day event
– The event is a one-day event, with 4 man heats and a sudden death format. The event thus comprises fifteen heats of insane high performance surfing. It has a 1-year waiting period, with the call being made on the advice of surf forecasting guru Spike from www.wavescape.co.za
48 hour heads-up call
– There is a 48-hour heads-up call, and a 24-hour green light call. When the contest is called on, invited surfers from all over the country have to start flying in or driving in to get to the New Pier in Durban by 6am on the day. It’s a fairly short window, and should they not get there in time they will forfeit their spot to one of the alternates.
New Pier
– The contest has jetski assist for all and guaranteed excellent surf conditions – usually the day of the year at new Pier, Durban, arguably one of the best beachbreaks in the world.
– The competition will be hosted at California Dreaming overlooking New Pier on the Durban beachfront, with perfect viewing access for judges, commentators, attending media upstairs, and a safe place for the surfers downstairs.
R100, ooo for the winner
– The entry into the Cell© Goodwave is one Rand per surfer, and the prize for first place is R100,000. This is the biggest first prize on the domestic surfing circuit.
Surfing legends
– The South African Surfing Legends will present the event, and Jason Ribbink will be the contest director.
– Barry Wolins from South African Surfing Legends has been hard at work at getting this event back on it’s feet, and is confident that it will be a resounding success. “I’m really proud of the fact that we managed to resurrect this contest,” said Wolins. “It’s the most exciting event on the domestic surfing calendar. With the South African Surfing Legends behind it we have a good team to run a world-class tournament. Big thanks to Cell© for coming on board and sponsoring the competition.”
“We’re very pleased to be involved with such an event,” said Wayne Merris from Cell©. “It is very unique in the world of surfing, and we’re confident that Cell©’s involvement with the contest will be long and fruitful.”
Entries
– If you feel you should be considered as a competitor for the Cell© Goodwave, send your entry request along with an image, a video clip or some words as to why you should be considered to info@craigjarvis.co.za. All entries will be posted on the Goodwave Facebook page, so please ensure that you have the necessary permissions for accompanying imagery and video. The selection criteria and process is at the discretion of the event organisers, and no correspondence will be entered into.
Cell© is the Goodwave 2017 headline sponsor. The Cell© Goodwave is presented by the South African Surfing Legends. The Cell© Goodwave is powered by California Dreaming. The event is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa. The Cell© Goodwave – in loving memory of Lee Wolins.
*Photo: Jason Ribbink enjoying what New Pier has to offer © Kelly Cestari