News 2011
Twiggy Baker wins the Oakley One Wave Wonder, R50 000 cash, and gets the girl
From left to right: Winning videographer Kate Lovemore, Lorrin Jarvis from All Aboard Surf Travel, Twiggy Baker, and Greg Emslie (with Seth Hulley about to pounce from the shadows).
After five months of competition and over 150 entries from South Africa’s top pros, grommies and underground chargers, Twiggy Baker has won R50 000 (approx US$8 000) for the Ride of the Season in the Oakley One Wonder, powered by Zigzag and in association with All Aboard Surf Travel.
Twiggy beat some high-octane surfing from the likes of Jordy Smith and Shaun Joubert with a mega-thick tube at a recently unveiled slab ‘somewhere in South Africa’, where he got stuffed ultra deep then shot out clean behind the spit.
The five month long competition was a world-first, offering the biggest single-wave prize purse ever exclusively for South African surfers, with a unique twist: Tubes, airs, carves, massive waves, or a combo of any of these were eligible and would go up against each other on a monthly basis. Video clips or photo sequences were loaded as entries up onto the One Wave Wonder website, where the public and a panel of judges voted for the most outstanding ride every month from February to June 2011. The five monthly winners then became automatic finalists for the ultimate Ride of the Season.
“When this competition was first launched, I knew it was going to take something pretty special to beat the top guys like Jordy who can do amazing things on virtually any average wave” said Twiggy, holding up his big cheque for 50G’s. “So we went looking for the biggest, best barrels we could find.”
And find them he did. The big wave icon scoured the Southern African coast from the top of Mozambique to Namibia in his quest to find the winning wave. His tube beat out some tough fellow finalists, especially Shaun Joubert’s winning ride from May at Supertubes that included a long barrel and several committed turns.
The highlight of the five-month event, however, was Twiggy’s ride going up against a rodeo flip to varial combo entry from Jordy Smith in a bid to be the last finalist.
As one Oakley official commented: “They were both absolutely incredible rides. Twig’s wave at a new location, which he actually discovered, is the type that would give you goosebumps for life, while Jordy’s wave is a brilliant competitive scoring wave, with top-end technical moves. Twig’s wave is literally life threatening, while Jordy is having a jol going crazy. The toughest and closest call of the event for sure.”
Twiggys winning tube also earns videographer Kate Lovemore an all expenses paid trip for two to G-Land worth over R30 000 for documenting the ride. The fact that Kate is Twiggy’s better half means it all works out rather nicely for the couple, who’ll be enjoying their romantic surfing getaway thanks to the travel fundis at All Aboard.
Stand by for the one-on-one with Twiggy, and watch the full clip of highlights below.
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May winner announced
AND THE WINNER IS:
With 24 cracking rides in contention for this month’s R10 000 prize and thousands of votes cast during the week-long voting period, the challenge was on to award a single winner for the May leg of the Oakley One Wave Wonder.
Once the votes had been tallied it was Shaun Joubert’s impressive display of tubes, carves and massive hacks at Supers which was the standout ride of the month, according to the judges and surfing public. That’s a serious combination of full rail turns and incredible tube riding. This is the One Wave Wonder, after all, not just the One Move Wonder.
Shaun’s wave was captured by his old man, Anton, as well as film student Teegan Smith. All things being equal, the winning videographer was determined by which clip of the two got the most public votes, with Teegan coming out on top.
Shaun and Teegan now become the fourth pair of finalists in line for the Ride of the Season which carries a mega R50 000 cash prize for the surfer and a trip to G-Land for two worth over R30 000 for the person who documented it, sponsored by surf travel experts All Aboard.
When the results came through, Shaun was in Brazil competing in the 6 Star Prime SuperSurf Internacional, where he’d just lost his heat and was understandably bummed. Nothing like being told you just split R10k and that you’ve now got a 1-in-5 chance of the pot of gold. Those are good odds.
Zigzag: Howzit Shaun, good news bru you’ve just won the May leg of the Oakley One Wave Wonder. Tell us that didn’t just make your day?
Shaun: Thanks so much! That definitely made my day! I just had a tough trip to Brazil and some good news is much appreciated. I’m really happy.
We spoke with your mom, Minette, on the phone just now and she said you were Skyping her from Brazil last night trying to find out who had won the May leg for the One Wave Wonder. Did you have any doubts about your clip taking it?
A few, sure, there were some nuts entries from airs to barrels to complete waves, so I thought it was going to be a toss-up. Stoked it went my way.
We’ve received a bunch of good clips of you at Supers lately. Are you trying to send out a message to the organisers that you have to have one of those Wildcards?
Haha, well, I did get into the (Von Zipper Superheat) trials, so if I win that I’ve got my wildcard! But it’s more about just loving the wave. I go there as much as possible. It’s my favourite wave in the world. Luckily we had two back-to-back swells while I was home. And I had clips so I just decided to try do something cool with it all.
You’ve grown yourself quite a mane of hair lately. In your one clip shot by Troy Wells you do a head-flick as you exit the tube and water sprays everywhere. It looks like you’re practicing for one of those shampoo adverts. Is your hair the secret to you ripping J-Bay? Kinda like Samson, or Sean Holmes?
Ahaha, I dunno. Head flicks are pretty cool though. Maybe I should get a shampoo sponsor? Might get a haircut soon, can’t handle getting searched at every airport I go through.
Yep, nothing like getting felt up by airport security to make you go clean cut… Moving on, your wave has earned you a spot as one of the five finalists in line for the Ride of the Season and R50 000 grand prize in the One Wave Wonder. Have you seen the other finalist clips? Reckon yours has what it takes to beat them? (see the four finalists to date here)
Ja, I think my clip is good. But everyone’s clips are good. I do know I have a one in five chance, which is pretty sick. But I think any clip can win, they’re all insane.
Reckon you going to try and enter next month again to claim another finalist spot?
Ja definitely. If I can get a good wave on film I’ll enter. It’s a cool concept and I like checking everyone’s clips out and entering my own.
Nice one Shaun. Good luck.
Thanks guys.
5 MINUTES WITH TEEGAN SMITH, VIDEO GUY:
Shaun wasn’t the only one smiling with the win. Videographer Teegan Smith initially thought he was out the running when Shaun’s ballie uploaded his clip up first of the same wave, and was gutted. Lucky for Teegan, the rule is that multiple angles of the same ride may be uploaded, and the clip that gets the most public votes then determines the winning videographer.
Zigzag: So Teegan, you almost got caught with your pants down?
Teegan: Ja bru, I was caught dossing with the whole upload. It took me just under three weeks to put it up from the day I shot it cos I was hacking with my online! And then the day I put it up I sussed Shaun’s ballie had just uploaded the same wave. Jeez bru, I was left skeeming if I miss out on a potential trip to Indo for me and a bra because of a delayed upload, I am gonna need to vaai for some counselling, cos I new the wave was a banger. When Shaun got that wave I claimed it like I was part of his coaching staff. But ja, I am just stoked I eventually got it up there and that the ous smaaked the wave.
We hear you’re a student. Is it true most students spend their time drinking out their shoes, or are you actually learning something at AFDA film school?
Haha, ja a bit of both I guess. The ous definitely like to cut loose and hit the jol every now and then. But AFDA is a lukka setup, they dial you into what you need to know. But I guess like everything in life it all always comes down to “what you put in is what you get out” So I am just keen to keep doing what I love and filming as much as I can.
You told us you’ve got a ” piece of kak camera”. Are you going to put some of your winnings towards an upgrade?
First I am definitely gonna suck some wetties with my ous and then slot the remaining R100 in my piggybank… haha. No, but seriously, I am in the process of saving up for a 7D. Those puppies aren’t cheap, so the cash is going towards that for sure and one or a few tequilas on the side.
Where to from here with regards to your passion of filming, surfing and travelling?
Eish baba, who knows what the future holds. I will be happy if what I do allows me to suss out some new interesting spots, meet some cool people and get some seeeeekkkk footage along the away.
Thanks Teegan, we’ve asked our J-Bay translator to help us with some of your technical terms. Enjoy the money, well done and keep it tidy.
Shot ous, I’ll try!
MORE WINNERS:
Teegan and Shaun weren’t the only winners.
Every month we’ve got a custom board up for grabs for the best produced video clip from legendary shaper, Spider Murphy, valued at R3000. Deon Lategan takes it for May with his classic “Double points for claims” clip, also shot at Supers.
The best grom clip also scores a stick from Spinny, as well as a pair of of Oakley Batwolf sunnies valued at R2000. Upcoming PE ripper Matthew MacGillivray makes it a Supers triumvirate with his ride at the right-hander.
Last but not least, there’s also a random draw for a pair of Oakley Batwolf sunnies open to anyone from the surfing public who voted. All you have to do is e-mail calvin@zigzag.co.za with the name of the person you voted for, and your name goes into a random draw. Claiming that prize for May is Ben Roberts.
Entries for the last, leg of the Oakley One Wave Wonder are now open. Check out all the action so far on www.1wavewonder.co.za.
If you want to stand a chance of winning R10 000 for one wave and becoming a fifth finalist in line for the grand prize, submit your entries now at www.1wavewonder.co.za
Check out Shaun and Teegan’s winning clip below. (No Comments)
THIRD OAKLEY ONE WAVE WONDER FINALIST DECIDED – April winner announced
The local municipal elections take place on the 18th of this month, but an even more important poll has just taken place. Voting for the April winner of the Oakley One Wave Wonder has closed, the ballots counted and a winner decided.
With some incredible barrels being ridden and some hi-octane ripping thrown in, the decision as to who to vote for was never going to be an easy one, but after all votes were counted, recounted and scrutinised it was Brandon Gibbens’ crazy backside varial punt which saw him take out the R10 000 monthly first place prize and become our third finalist in contention for Ride of the Year, which will win a further mega R50 000 for the surfer and an all expenses paid trip for two to G-Land worth over 30 grand for the videographer and made possible by All Aboard Surf Travel.
We tried to contact BG to congratulate him on his win, but discovered that he was away on a mission to a secret island location in the deepest, darkest part of the Indian Ocean with a crew of surfers and photographer AVG in search of epic waves and more possible entries into the One Wave Wonder. But we’ve made up a quote on his behalf, and BG said “I’m stoked, I’d like thank my sponsors, my parents, my dog and Oakley for putting on such a cool comp.”
The winning doesn’t end there however, Oakley and Safari surfboards have teamed up to give away prizes for the best grom clip entered as well as the best produced clip. Andrew Harris scores himself a sick new custom surfboard from Safari valued at R3000 as well as a kiff pair of Oakley Batwolf sunglasses valued at R2000 for his slick clip of Beyrick de Vries’ epic New Pier ride, and recent U16 King of the Groms winner Diran Zakarian claims another custom Safari stick for best grom clip with his backhand air reverse punt on the west coast.
Last but not least Damian Tsouris wins a pair of Oakley Batwolf sunnies for mailing Zag with the details of which clip he reckoned was the winning clip.
The May leg of the Oakley One Wave Wonder is now open, so click here to check out the May entries or to upload your own clip and get in on the winning action.
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ONE WAVE WONDER RAISES THE STAKES – Prize money upped to R50 000 for Ride of the Season!
Luck into one of these for 15 seconds at Skeleton Bay, and you could be in for 50 000 bucks.
The stakes have been raised in the Oakley One Wave Wonder, powered by Zigzag. With two and a half months left in the event, Oakley has announced they will be putting an extra R20 000 into the main prize for Ride of the Season.
That makes it a massive 60 000 bucks in total for just one wave, pushing the overall prize purse to R100 000 for the event along with an all expenses paid trip for two to G-Land worth over R30 000.
“With the event having such a good response and feel good aspect to it from all South African surfers, pros and local chargers alike, we’ve decided to increase the money and add more fuel to the fire so to speak,” says Seth Hulley, Actions Sports Manager for Oakley. “This whole project is so fun and good for pushing SA surfing. We are stoked to be backing it to the max. Everybody wins.”
The R10 000 monthly prize along with the R50 000 grand prize that the Ride of the Season will receive officially makes it the biggest single-wave prize purse ever in the history of South African surfing.
Jordy took out the win for March with a smooth rodeo he pulled on the Goldy, effectively raising the bar for entries and becoming the second finalist alongside Cape Town underground charger, Deen Hill. And there’s been no lack of contenders to rise to the challenge since. Log onto www.1wavewonder.co.za to witness the crazy varials, aerials and deep, dark barrels the surfers have been pulling out the bag for April’s entries.
So what does it take to win? The judges are looking for anything from huge drops to deep tubes, airs, and definitely crazy combos…it’s anything that pushes surfing performance and simply blows people away. It doesn’t matter either if the ride is documented in SA or Indo – any wave, anywhere in the world counts. The only criteria is the entry must be uploaded within three weeks of the ride going down, and you have to be a South African. Mooi, ne?
If you’re still not sure how it works, listen up: at the end of every month, the public and a panel of five judges vote for the best entry amongst that month’s contenders which are all loaded up onto the One Wave Wonder website. The public vote counts 50%, with the judge’s vote counting the other 50% to determine the monthly winner. Like all good democracies, we work on the rule of one ride, one vote. Voting has also been simplified – no more sign up or registration, just click on the button next to the entry you like best. That monthly winner and person who documented their ride win R10 000, and that ride becomes one of the five finalists for the overall Ride of the Season, which will be voted on once the event ends on 30 June.
The surfer who wins Ride of the Season will then receive a further R50 000 cash. The person who documented the ride hardly goes away empty handed either. They score an all expenses paid trip to G-Land for themselves and a partner of their choice, valued at over R30 000 and made possible by the good people at All Aboard Surf Travel.
Surfers and videographers / photographers are also allowed to team up and split the loot however they agree. Oakley and Zag just want to see the best, craziest rides going down.
So who’s going to take it in the end? Is it going to be an air-freak like Brendon Gibbens? An underground hero who threads together a 20 second tube at Skeleton Bay? A big wave charger, or a bona-fide pro smashing epic Supers? The door is wide open and no matter who wins, it’s going to be a radical few months for SA surfing. Stay glued to www.1wavewonder.co.za
First R10 000 winner decided in the Oakley One Wave Wonder
That’s 10 Grand in twenties, gangsta. Zag hands over the goods to surfer Deen Hill (right) and videographer Alan Robb (left).
The judges have voted, the public have spoken, and we have our fist official winner for the Oakley One Wave Wonder, powered by Zigzag in association with All Aboard Surf Travel.
Amongst the top contenders were some solid tubes and huge airs. But like they say in the Highlander, there can be only one. After an extremely tight call amongst the top spots, underground barrel master Deen Hill and videographer Alan Robb take the first 10 Grand for a deep, deep pit captured at a wailing Cape beachbreak.
As one judge commented “There were some crazy entries, making it so difficult to make a final call but if you look at that tube Deen got, that wave could have scored a 9 or 10 in a World Tour event. Nobody can watch that and not get totally amped.” (No Comments)
sending...
Upload stage now ON for the May leg of the Oakley One Wave Wonder.
May 16, 2012: Chad Marais talks us through his crazy Rifles pit
May 2, 2012: The Public Have Spoken – APRIL OAKLEY 1WW WINNER
April 24, 2012: Twiggy Drops a Bomb Late Entry into April Leg of the Oakley 1WW
April 12, 2012: April Entries Start Rolling In