PRESS RELEASE – JEFFREYS BAY – 26 June 2014
Last week’s surprise announcement of Garreth ‘Soldier Boy’ McLellan’s inclusion into the Oakley X-Over Challenge – #OakleyXOVER – has served to motivate the rest of the competitors, all rearing for a win in this inaugural event. Garreth comes in with a solid surfing background, extensive mountain biking experience and the ability to shoot a solid round of golf, and he must come in as one of the favourites for the event. With Garreth the current EFC (Extreme Fight Champonships) Middle Weight Champion, no one is going to drop in on him at the surfing event either.
Not to be outdone, John Smit has been hard at work, training for the event and getting in time on the golf course and in the saddle. John’s short-coming might be in the surf, but he doesnt seem to fazed about that. “I’m ready for the Challenge,” said Smit. “I’m going to be fit and prepared, and ready for this event.” John also comes in as a firm favourite for the crown.
Bob Skinstad on the other hand, holds an ace up his sleeve with his surfing experience. Having spent many hours out amongst the waves at Seal Point and Cape St Francis, Bob is going to feel right at home at the Lower Point in Jeffreys Bay and combined with his other skills on the golf course and on the mountain bike track, could be a real threat. Ryan Sandes is obviously one of the fittest athletes in the event, and is also accomplished at mountainbike riding and golfing. His surfing is an unknown, but either way he’s not going to run out of breath in a hurry. A real dark horse in this multi-dsicipline cross-over event, Ryan might be the surprise of the Challenge.
Jordy is going to be hard to beat in the surf.
Jordy Smith will rule the waves, and has also spent quality time at some of the finest golf courses in the world. While he will be focusing on the JBay Open World Tour surfing event, he might also surprise some with his skill at chasing the little white ball around, but his weakness might come at the Mountain Bike track. The track, purpose-built for the JBay Mountain Bike Open – #JBayMTB – is an exciting run with fast sections, natural tunnels, man-made berms as well as a floating wooden berm to add to the excitement.
The Oakley X-Over Challenge is set to take place during the JBay Winterfest on the 15 – 16 July, with the prize giving and closing function at the Jolly Dolphin in JBay on the night of the 16th. The events will run at the Links Golf Course in St Francis, on the JBay Open Mountain Bike Track and amongst the waves of the Lower Point in JBay.
Event organiser and Oakley Sports Marketing Manager Seth Hulley is excited to get this new event going. “It has been a good experience getting these top athletes and celebrities lined up for this event,” said Seth. “To have a cross-over event is something different and it’s going to be great to see who excells in the different disciplines.”
The line-up of athletes and celebrities competing include Ryan Sandes, Jordy Smith, Greg Minnaar, Ryan O’Connor, Butch James, Garreth McLellan, Ruan De Smidt, Raynard Tissink, David Miller, Kevin Evans, John Smit and Bob Skinstad.
The JBay Winterfest is set to take place from 10 – 21 July, and will comprise the Oakley X-Over, the JBay Open ASP World Tour surfing event, skate events, trail running, mountain biking, fishing, music, a VW rally, funduro, kite festival, open water swim events, the Wavescape swell courses and much more.
For more info go to www.jbaywinterfest.com
The JBay Winterfest FaceBook Page – www.facebook.com/jbaywinterfest
The Oakley hashtag is #OakleyXOVER
The festival hashtag is #jbaywinterfest
