Media Release
Antoine de Rooster, 2007 Dubai Shamaal Anchorman competition winner.
ANCHORMAN ANTOINE LANDS SHAMAAL GRAND PRIZE
October 16, 2007
Teenage Paddler Wins All-Expenses-Paid Dubai Shamaal Trip
Dubai (UAE): Teenage paddle star Antoine de Rooster will swap his college books for the blue waters of the Arabian Gulf next month when he lines up in the world’s richest-ever surf ski race, courtesy of the organizers of the 2007 Dubai Shamaal.
The 19 year-old South African, a student at Curtin University in Perth, Australia, took first prize in the ‘Shamaal Anchorman’ competition aimed at encouraging the world’s leading paddlers to compete in the Dubai Shamaal on November 30. It means de Rooster will rub shoulders with the best in the world as they chase a total prize fund of US$35,000.
But no matter how he fares, the surfing Springbok is already a winner having scooped a prize worth around US$12,000 that will see him receive an all-expenses paid trip to Dubai to receive and compete in a $6,500 Epic Kayaks V10Elite.
“I still can’t believe I’ve won – it’s awesome,” said a delighted de Rooster. “I started with surf life saving at the age of eleven and since then I’ve always wanted to paddle surf skis.”
De Rooster started paddling three years ago with Rick Duncan and the Trigg Island Ski Squad during the surf life saving season. To date he has competed in three state and two national titles through surf life saving.
While he has won numerous medals at state level and made some finals at a national level, he is still hunting that elusive first national win. The signs however, are encouraging.
“I recently competed in my first Avon Descent in a team of four and we managed to take fourth place in the Open Division even though we were all under nineteen,” he added. “This year will be my first time competing in the Open Age group against people like Clint Robinson, Reece Baker and Ash Nesbit so for the time being my goal is just to persist and maybe in a couple of years I’ll be able to finish next to them.
“For me paddling is not only a fun way to stay fit and have some fun with mates, it’s a way of life and a way to just wind down and chill in the ocean, there aren’t many things better than that.”
As well as his flight from Australia, hotel accommodation, a place in the Dubai Shamaal and that Epic V10E surf ski - the 8kg ski used by Oscar Chalupsky to win the ARB Surf Ski World Cup this year – de Rooster will be treated to the full Dubai experience including golf, beach parties, dune bashing and tickets to the Dubai Rugby 7s.
“It’s simply the best competition prize ever seen in our sport,” said Wayne Randall, President of the host Dubai Surfski and Kayak Club (DSKC). “We are delighted that the prize has gone to a young, up-and-coming paddler. I’m sure Antoine will have a memorable time with us at the Dubai Shamaal.”
Staged by the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) and promoted by Driving Force, the Dubai Shamaal international surfski race will feature many of the biggest names in the sport. To find out more on the event, competitors should visit www.surfski.info.
