Blue Rock Ice Breaker goes Big

Words: Nokhuthula Majoni ǀ Photos: Claire Butler

This year's Blue Rock Ice Breaker event, held from 14 to 16 June 2013, was bigger, better, and way more adventurous with the addition a new novice category for wakeboarding and three new competitions: paintball, volleyball, and stand up paddling (SUP) boarding.

The goal of the event was to promote wakeboarding, waterskiing, and SUP, and the accessibility of these sports to those who live in or around Cape Town, as well promote a healthy lifestyle through sport. It is Blue Rock’s intention, through events such as the Ice Breaker, to encourage more people to lead healthier lives and encourage positive and healthy habits, thus leading to a healthier society.

 

The event kicked off on a wet and cold Friday, 14 June 2013, with the registration of participants and a wakeboard clinic held by South Africa’s number one wakeboarder, Gregor Reichmuth. The purpose of the clinic was to teach aspiring wakeboarders more about the 'how-to' of the sport, as well promote the sport to the general public.

 

Sunny skies on the Saturday saw spectators streaming through the gates in anticipation of an action-packed day. They were not disappointed as the riders, from novices to professional, put on a brilliant display of their different styles of riding on the cable. The highlight of the day was a Blind Judge Hat trick from contestant Mardi Geldenhuys, who is the first woman in South Africa to successfully pull off this trick. The youngest contestant was 11-year-old Nikolai Coetzee, who entered as a novice. The overall experience was good for the novices to see the level of riding from the more experienced riders and learn from them too.

 

An air acrobatic show towards the end of the day was highly entertaining and impressed all who were present. Then it was time for the After Party and the evening was not short of entertainment. Dj Das Kapital lived up to his reputation and had the crowd rocking once he started to play. Although he looks young, he certainly lit up the evening with his selection of music that made it difficult for anyone to move away from the dance floor. There were also fire dancers from Fire Tribe, who gave a tremendous fire dance exhibition to the sounds pumped out by Das Kapital. When it came to cuisine, Chef Robert Sibitz was busy throughout the day in the restaurant preparing a culinary feast.

 

All in all, the event was a great success and thanks go to the sponsors for helping to make this season's Ice Breaker as big as it was. The Blue Rock team has already set in motion preparations for the next big event at Blue Rock, so watch this space.

 

Topic: 
Wakeboarding
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