Thursday, June 13, 2013

Hills Have Eyes – Marine Wildlife Spotters, Sardine Run reports that are free and up-to-date


Anglers, divers, beachgoers, spearos and all sea lovers have now a 100% free and reliable way to follow the seasonal Sardine Run along South Africa’s east coast. Hills Have Eyes – Marine Wildlife Spotters is a social media enterprise launched in May 2013 that offers marine wildlife watching operators and tourists the latest most certain sightings of marine wildlife along the east coast of South Africa. Hills Have Eyes’ team of spotters have since provided daily updates on the iconic event that is known both locally and internationally as the “Sardine Run”.  The updates provide information on the whereabouts of the Sardine Run to visiting tourists, local tourists and operators.

Before Hills Have Eyes, information on the Sardine Run was scattered, tardy, unreliable and, to make things worse, available at a prime rate. Thanks to the information provided by the Hills Have Eyes’ spotters, clients and operators are now better and freely informed as to the whereabouts of this seasonal event. This will improve the client’s experience. In the past, guess work and misinformation prevailed and the clients received little or no benefit from their time at sea or at any of the shore-based viewing venues in the area. For marine wildlife watching operators, Hills Have Eyes offers a free and reliable Sardine Run spotting method which will reduce operating costs and improve customer satisfaction. Hills Have Eyes provides a daily update of significant value to the tourist and operator alike from their near area as well as the coast at large. Hills Have Eyes expects to focus tourism on the event and afford tourists higher success rates in accessing it.

Hills Have Eyes expects to become the first source of information on the Sardine Run. In this pilot run, Hills Have Eyes has spotters in the East London, Port St Johns and the lower South Coast of KZN that go out or down to the sea every day looking for sardine action. Once they have spotted action, by way of example Common dolphin activity and the often associated Cape Gannets moving together, they send information to our headquarters where it is reviewed and then shared via social media. As dolphins and gannets not only chase sardines, the reviewing process involves checking whether the bait fish are indeed sardines or any of the many other species of baitfish that occur along the east coast at this time of year. In so doing, Hills Have Eyes hopes end users can make informed decisions on where and when to go to see the Sardine Run.  Thanks to the free nature and reliability of this service, Hills Have Eyes have seen an amazing organic growth since its launch. In less than a month, Hills Have Eyes has over 300 followers and its updates are reaching over 5000 people a day.

Hills Have Eyes also provides free updates on additional marine wildlife such as dolphins, whales and shark sightings which will extend beyond the period of the Sardine Run. In so doing, the amazing marine wildlife fauna present on this east coast will be highlighted year round, offering focused viewing opportunities over many more favourable tourism periods than just the May – July window. So, if you feel like keeping tabs on the Sardine Run this year as well as other marine wildlife along the east coast just 

follow Hills Have Eyes on Twitter @HillsHaveEyesSA, Facebook
 www.facebook.com/hillshaveeyesspotters or website www.hillshaveeyes.co.zaRemember, the service is 100% free and reliable. With Hills Have Eyes – Marine Wildlife Spotter you will certainly be the first to know and you will definitively get to where they are!

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Exciting End to Durban Surf Carnival!

 
Brandon Ribbink, SUPSA Open Champion 2013 - photo Jon Ivins
 





Exciting End to Durban Surf Carnival!

The Durban Surf Carnival presented by Jeep Apparel at New Pier on Durban’s Golden Mile came to an exciting close this past weekend. This multi-disciplined three day surfing event, which is in its 11th year and second year in Durban, drew great crowds who enjoyed good waves throughout.

World class events that included the Longboarding, Stand Up Paddle boarding (SUP) and Retro Surfing brought in prizes worth over R200 000.

Paul Godwin, from Nerve Events, thanked major sponsors of the event - the City of Durban, Jeep Apparel and The Independent on Saturday – as well as support sponsors, contestants and the public for making the Durban Surf Carnival a major success.

Stand up Paddle events included the SUPSA sanctioned Open Men and Women’s divisions as well as the Juniors and legends division (over 45). The winners of the Open, Men and Women’s divisions will be eligible for squad selection to represent South Africa at the 2014 ISA Stand Up Paddle World Championship

The SUP final was won by Brandon Ribbink (KZN) with Justin Bing (WP) in second place. Ribbink took top honours with scores of a 10’ s and a nine. Joining them were Western Province’s junior surfers, Dylan Frick and Oswald Smith, who were placed third and fourth respectively.

 

Ribbink said that, for him, this year’s event was “amazing” but said that he knew that it would be tough. “It was brilliant and we had fantastic waves for all three days. I enjoyed each moment,” he said. This was the second time he has won this event, having taken top honours in 2011.

 

The Ladies SUP Final was won by Tammy Robarts (Boland). Up and coming talent 15 year-old Mishka Steyn (WP) took second with compatriots Tarryn Kyte (WP) and Sue Maxwell (WP) finishing third and fourth respectively.

 

The SUP Junior division was hotly contested with first prize going to 17 year-old Dylan Frick (WP). Frick’s scores included a 8.5 and a 7.5. Ethan Koopmans (WP), Oswald Smith (WP) and Matt Maxwell achieved second, third and fourth respectively.

The KZN Longboard Open Championships, sanctioned by the Kwa Zulu Natal Longboard Surfing Association (KZNLSA) was won by Justin Bing (WP) who scored a perfect 10 and a backup of a nine. Luke Patterson (KZN) fought hard but had to settle for second while Josch Schmeltzer (KZN) and Thomas King were third and fourth respectively.

 

After receiving his prize, Bing also praised New Pier’s good waves and said that he would not only be back to defend his title again next year but would bring others with him.

The over 50 longboard final was an all Durban affair with some great surfing from Hugh Thompson who took the win with stylish surfing and a total heat score of 17.5. Hot on his heels in second place was former SA Team captain, Barry Campbell. Third and fourth went to New Pier locals Bush Greeff and Colin Whitmore.

 

The “golden” event of this year’s carnival was the Forgotten Soul Retro Surfing Division. Held for the first time, this required the surfer to ride a single-fin surfboard which generally falls into the sub 7’0” category. Here, Justin Maisch (SC) was unstoppable, pulling off the traditional manoevres that were reminiscent of surfing in the seventies. He was followed by shortboard ace, Chad du Toit (KZN), second and Justin Bing (WP) and Gregg Mundy (KZN) third and fourth respectively.

 

Maisch described this even as fun but said that riding waves with an “old school” board was far more difficult than when using today’s high tech version. He, too, says he’ll be back to defend his title next year.

Other results were as follows in the Ladies Longboard division: 1st place - Heather Klug (KZN), 2nd place- Tarryn Kyte (WP), 3rd place- Traci-Lee Phillips(KZN), 4th place- Zanie Cawood (KZN)

In the over 45 SUP Division- 1st place- Grantley Reid (KZN), 2nd place- Gary Van Rooyen (WP), 3rd place- Dave Maxwell (WP), 4th place- Fred Le Roux (ZLD) and lastly in the men’s over 35 longboard category: 1st place- Grant Gilmour (KZN), 2nd place- Justin Maisch (SKZN), 3rd place- Craig Daniel (KZN), 4th place- Andre Steyn (KZN)


For more information contact Nerve Events on 031-2012169 or go to durbansurfcarnival.blogspot.com

Support sponsors are, Bokomo; Naish SUP, Natural Curve Surfboards, Coreban SUP, Thule, Nestle Pure Life Water, Container Conversions, Gunslinger Skateboards, Mad Dog Surf School, Maisch Fins, Nescafe, Thermo Plastic Concepts & Equipment (TCE), Pro Class/Lamont Surf Shop, Club Zero Fitness, Carling Black Label, Kahuna Creations.


The Event is created and produced by Nerve Events

Ends /

 


Saturday, June 1, 2013

Become a Fitness Hero at Club Zero - Fitness Fun & Games at the Surf Carnival


Brandon Ribbink getting taught the ropes by Club Zero's Caroline van Wyk


More entertainment of the fitness kind for the Durban Surf Carnival presented by Jeep Apparel 

When - 7 9 June , New Pier , Durban

Club Zero will be running warm up and stretching sessions as well as some fun exercise programs on the beach during the Surf Carnival. We will also be available throughout the day to chat to you about any questions you might have on fitness and what best suits you. We will also be bring along our physios for you to enjoy. Look out for the tug o war competition and start getting your 3 man teams together. Great prizes up for grabs and give away's.

Below is the program of vents provided by the Club Zero Team

ANYONE CAN PARTICIPATE 



PROGRAM





TIME
FRIDAY, 7 JUNE 2013
Whole Day
Long Jump Competition throughout the Day(Garyn/Thabani/Tam/Hayley)
11h00-12h00
Surf Strength Session (done by Zanie)
11h00-13h00
Physio for  competitors (Kerryn/Phil)



SATURDAY, 8 JUNE 2013
Whole Day
Long Jump competition & slack line open to the public(Garyn/Thabani/Junaid)(Caroline)
07h00-08h00
Stretching/Core Strengthening ( Zanie)
09h00-10h00
Hula Hoop Competition (Kerry/ Zanie)
10h00-13h00
Capoeira Demo and game performance
13h00-15h00
Physio for competitors(Kerryn / Phil)

SUNDAY, 9 JUNE 2013
Whole Day
Long Jump competition & Slack line playtime(Garyn/Junaid/Thabani)(Caroline)
07h00-08h00
Stretching/Core Strengthening (Zanie)
08h00-10h00
Physio for competitors (Kerryn/Phil)
10h00-12h00
 Slack line Demo/Playtime open to Public(Caroline)
14h00-15h00
Tug-of-war competition ( Zanie)