sport, local-sport,
Port Stephens District Bodyboarders will trial a new competition format, the first in Australia to do so, when it hosts Port Stephens Toyota Box-Fest next weekend. Box-Fest will be the first 3000-point event on the 2020 ranked bodyboarding calendar, which will go towards crowning national champions at the end of year based on a competitors’ top five results throughout the year. “This event has been running for many years. It was the original King of the Box competition before it became a surfing event,” club president Chad Pisani said. “Box-Fest is our first major event of the year and how we attract new members to our club. “This year we’ll be trialling a new, national format. We’ll be the guinea pigs. But we’re looking forward to it. “There are over 100 competitors who will compete in Box-Fest 2020, many of whom travel to Port Stephens with their families from all over Australia.” Box-Fest will return to Box Beach in Shoal Bay on March 14 and 15. With more than 80 people registered so far, the event is tracking along to hit its 117-person capacity. Close to half of the registered competitors are Port Stephens District Bodyboarders. NSW and Queensland bodyboarders have also registered to take part in the event which is open to grommets (under-14), cadets (under-16), juniors (under-18), opens (men and women), open women, masters (over-35) and grand masters (over-45). Pisani has entered into masters while his children and fellow club members Hayden, 16, Kaylah, 18, and Cody, 11, are entered into juniors and opens, open women’s and grommets divisions respectively. At the last Box-Fest, Hayden placed fifth in juniors. He said he was hoping to finish on the podium this year. “It’s a fun event. It brings the bodyboarding community together. I would like to finish in the top three for juniors this year. I like going in the opens because it’s challenging,” he said. Kaylah, a 2019 state champion, will go head-to-head with 2018 national champion and friend Millie Chalker. Open women’s has also attracted the likes of four-time Australian champion Lilly Pollard. The Cronulla-based Pollard, who has won three world tour events, will also bring members of her bodyboarding academy to Shoal Bay for Box-Fest. Prominent Newcastle bodyboarder John Crookshank, who owns D5 Bodyboard Shop in Merewether, has entered the opens and masters Box-Fest events. His sons Brandon and Hayden are also entered into the competition. “It’s really great having Lilly and John be part of our event,” Pisani said. “They really support the bodyboarding community with their businesses.” The competition is expected to run 7am to 4pm both days. The end of event presentation will be held at Shoal Bay Country Club on Sunday afternoon. For more information or to register for Box-Fest head to the Port Stephens District Bodyboarders Facebook page. Entries close March 6.
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Port Stephens District Bodyboarders will trial a new competition format, the first in Australia to do so, when it hosts Port Stephens Toyota Box-Fest next weekend.
Box-Fest will be the first 3000-point event on the 2020 ranked bodyboarding calendar, which will go towards crowning national champions at the end of year based on a competitors’ top five results throughout the year.
“This event has been running for many years. It was the original King of the Box competition before it became a surfing event,” club president Chad Pisani said.
“Box-Fest is our first major event of the year and how we attract new members to our club.
“This year we’ll be trialling a new, national format. We’ll be the guinea pigs. But we’re looking forward to it.
“There are over 100 competitors who will compete in Box-Fest 2020, many of whom travel to Port Stephens with their families from all over Australia.”
Box-Fest will return to Box Beach in Shoal Bay on March 14 and 15.
With more than 80 people registered so far, the event is tracking along to hit its 117-person capacity. Close to half of the registered competitors are Port Stephens District Bodyboarders.
NSW and Queensland bodyboarders have also registered to take part in the event which is open to grommets (under-14), cadets (under-16), juniors (under-18), opens (men and women), open women, masters (over-35) and grand masters (over-45).
Pisani has entered into masters while his children and fellow club members Hayden, 16, Kaylah, 18, and Cody, 11, are entered into juniors and opens, open women’s and grommets divisions respectively.
At the last Box-Fest, Hayden placed fifth in juniors. He said he was hoping to finish on the podium this year.
“It’s a fun event. It brings the bodyboarding community together. I would like to finish in the top three for juniors this year. I like going in the opens because it’s challenging,” he said.
Kaylah, a 2019 state champion, will go head-to-head with 2018 national champion and friend Millie Chalker. Open women’s has also attracted the likes of four-time Australian champion Lilly Pollard.
The Cronulla-based Pollard, who has won three world tour events, will also bring members of her bodyboarding academy to Shoal Bay for Box-Fest.
Prominent Newcastle bodyboarder John Crookshank, who owns D5 Bodyboard Shop in Merewether, has entered the opens and masters Box-Fest events. His sons Brandon and Hayden are also entered into the competition.
“It’s really great having Lilly and John be part of our event,” Pisani said. “They really support the bodyboarding community with their businesses.”
The competition is expected to run 7am to 4pm both days. The end of event presentation will be held at Shoal Bay Country Club on Sunday afternoon.
For more information or to register for Box-Fest head to the Port Stephens District Bodyboarders Facebook page. Entries close March 6.
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