Dan Redman of Umdloti, KZN will be hoping for selection into the 2012 Quiksilver Goodwave. Daniel has finished runner-up in the event on two occasions and will be looking to better that result in 2012. Photo Greg Ewing.
The Quiksilver Goodwave invitational is back by popular demand and will be one of the highlights on the Surfing South Africa event calendar for 2012. The Goodwave was one of the most anticipated events of the year but was postponed in 2011 leaving a gap for a solid, core surfing event in good waves. Quiksilver decided to bring the event back due to the popularity of the Goodwave.
“We are pumped to have the Goodwave back on this year, it’s an insane event to watch, it makes such a difference watching quality surfing in good waves as opposed to small, sub-standard conditions. There are minimal events on the calendar this year for non-travelling surfers so it gives South African surfers something to look forward to, let’s hope that the ocean produces the goods and we get to run it,” said Quiksilver’s Marketing Manager Dane Patterson.
Thirty-two of South Africa’s best surfers will be selected to compete for R25 000 in prize money on the single best day of surf between 1 March and 31 August. The aim of this unique event is to see South Africa’s finest surfers going all out in good, clean surf.
Durban’s New Pier, North Beach and the Bay of Plenty have been selected as the three possible venues, the venue will be determined by the swell size and quality of the sand banks on the day, the event has historically run close to cyclone season meaning it could go down in the first month of the waiting period this year. 4-man thirty-minute heats will give surfers ample time to impress the panel of judges who will be looking for skilful tube riding and big, powerful manoeuvres. Jet-ski assistance will be on hand to get surfers swiftly back to the take off zone to enable the surfers to ride as many waves as possible.
The 32 surfers and 10 alternates will be selected by a panel of judges including Zigzag editor Will Bendix, surf journalist Craig Jarvis, World Tour surfer Travis Logie, ex-pro and ripper Simon Nicholson, Patrick Duff from DC Shoes as well as Dane Patterson from Quiksilver. The event is presented by Zigzag magazine who will also be involved in selecting the best day of surf using the swell.co.za “futurecam” forecasting system. Former winners of the event include: Llewellyn Whittaker, Simon Nicholson, Antonio Bortoletto, Warwick Wright and Shane Thorne.
“I am super stoked that Quiksilver have decided to put this world class event back on. I looked forward to every year when it was running and I think it is awesome for the sport, people drop everything to come down to watch and the competitors are equally fired up to surf pumping New Pier with only three other guys in the water,” said former winner Simon Nicholson about the re-introduction of the event.
The 32 selected surfers and 10 alternates will be announced on 1 March when the event waiting period begins. The Quiksilver Goodwave is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa and Red Bull will be providing the surfers with much needed energy. The event website, goodwave.co.za, goes live on 1 March where you will be able to sign up for alerts as to when the event runs. Content can also be found at facebook.com/quiksilver and Quiksilver_SA.
