McCarthy bags a big one

RICHARDS Bay professional body boarder Mark McCarthy took top honours and the winner’s cheque of R20 000 at the Kumba Iron and Reef South Africa West Coast Classic held over the Easter weekend.

The event was the first and the biggest in the national body boarding series.

McCarthy took the title after a well-fought battle with long-time friend and experienced water man Sacha ‘Spex’ Specker at Farmer Burgers near Lamberts Bay.

Competitors were treated to perfect three-foot waves running on the Farmer Burgers reef as the sun started to rise on the final day.

Light offshore winds and a perfect tide greeted the pro semi-finalists as they paddled out.

First up was Tristan Roberts vs Specker and right from the buzzer it was a back-flip game.

Spex managed to get a few spectacular barrels to move combinations, which helped him edge out over Roberts.

Michael Ostler and McCarthy were next and it was combination rides and big rolls that were exchanged by both. It was a very close heat, but McCarthy was able to take first place and advance to the finals.

The pro finalist hit the water and the waves turned on again. Wave for wave Spex and McCarthy went at each other. Big back-flips and combination rides by both riders had everyone on the beach shouting as well as guessing.

An elated McCarthy said he was super thrilled to take his third West Coast title.

‘I was really pushing in the final riding against Sacha who has been in great form throughout the whole event.’