Amaury wins Sintra and IBA World Title

Frenchman Amaury Laverhne was today crowned the IBA World Men's Champion when he secured an unbeatable lead by winning the Sintra Portugal Pro in clean 3-4 footers at Praia Grande.

"I can not believe it" said Amaury.

"My first European event was Sintra 6 years ago and I slept on the beach in a tent. Now I am standing on the podium as the champion, it unbelievable" said the frenchman.

Laverhne has been the man to beat all year with wins strong perfomances in all the events he entered including a win at Pipe in February.

He defeated the 2009 Rookie of the Year Guilermo Cobo fron Canary Islands with third place going to Manuel Centeno and Jeff Hubbard.

In the women's division Isabella Sousa (Brazil) had to pull out all stops to defeat Miyo Inoui (Japan) who had blazed her way all the way through the field form the trials.

Dave Winchester combo'ed  the field to win the DK ahead of Jeff Hubbard, Ardiel Jinenez and "Porkito" from Portugal.

Overall it was a great week of non stop action and the crew now pack up and head North towards Ferrol (Men & DK) and the Miss Sumol (Women)

See the full draw here

Iain Campbell

What you been up this year work?
I have been working at a very popular restaurant on the busy Florida Road called Spiga D'Oro. Been working there for the past 3 months now. It is some of the hardest work I have ever done and definatly the most tiring! This has left little time to ride but the money is worth it.

Studying?
I am currently at UKZN Howard Campus doing a B S Sc in housing. It is an awesome course but the drawing take a lot of time so it gets to u in the end but it is worth it. I am only in my first year but loving the student life.

Competing?
I have done the Cape Classic and the Margate event and unfortunately missed out on going to Plett as I was working over that period and needed the money for my trip. I have also been doing the Keiki events that have been great.

Keiki?
I have been helping out with the past few Keiki events and it has shown a great response from the riders and the public with people recognising the up and coming brand that will show the public all about our awesome sport that is sure to take off.

Free riding?
I have been free riding all over the place with North Beach being the main attraction for me! I have been riding Cave Rock with some photographers and got a couple awesome shots there. Also have been riding up the North Coast and trying to get some shots but the lack of photographers has caused us to end with no shots.

Photo shoots?
Van has been a big help with him sitting at Cave Rock and getting some really good shots. He is one of the  best shots I have even seen, even thou the waves have not been amazingly big! David Campbell is another great photographer with an amazing eye. Have been getting a lot of shots with him that have been posted onto facebook over the last year or so. He is really good at what he does and deserves the credit!

Plans after SA Champs?
I have the plan of going over to Aus at the end of the year. I will be going from Durban to Aus and then moving on from there to Hawaii for the season and the contest in late February where I hope to ride! I will be traveling by myself all the way to Aus and meet up with friends  there and then proceed to go onto Hawaii by myself again meeting up with the Saffa crew and ripping it along the way Keiki style! Haha!
Aloha MATE!!!