Big names for July crossover in Jeffreys Bay
THE fourth edition of the celebrity Oakley X Over is heading back to Jeffreys Bay with big sporting names in tow next month.
The crossover is one of the highlights of the J-Bay Winterfest, and the high-profile sporting celebrities add excitement to the festival.
The event comprises three disciplines and the athletes are put through their paces in their hunt for the coveted title.
The golf tournament is at St Francis Links, the mountain bike race from Fountains Mall, and the surfing contest venue is Lower Point in J-Bay.
Oakley SA sports marketing and events manager Seth Hulley, the event’s founder, said: “As the anticipation builds for Oakley X Over, we have the strongest field of supreme athletes to date, which includes debuts for A B de Villiers, Jean de Villiers and Schalk Burger.
“This is the fourth year of the event, and the athletes have become a close-knit group. They are all friends, but the hunt for the title is a serious matter among such competitive people,” he said. The confirmed athletes for the event are Dale Steyn, A B de Villiers, Ryan Sandes, Raynard Tissink, Ruan de Smidt, Garreth McLellan, Greg Minnaar, Lance Isaacs, Nick de Wit, Kerim Fitzgerald, Bob Skinstad, Butch James, John Smit, Jean de Villiers, Schalk Burger, Seabelo Senatla, Tonderai Chavhanga, Jordy Smith, Tom Whitaker and radio and TV personality Ryan O’Connor.
The event starts on July 20 with the 15km mountain bike race from the Fountains Mall at noon. The next day, Friday, proceedings start off with the fiercely-contested surf event at the Lower Point in J-Bay. The first heat will hit the water at 8am, and this discipline is always one of the highlights.
With Smith and Australian wildcard Whitaker firm favourites here, one cannot discount Steyn, Skinstad and Minnaar who always push it in this discipline, along with Tissink who was second in the surf last year and as a result scooped the overall trophy.
The athletes then head over to the St Francis Links for the final leg of the event, the nine-hole tournament. Hosted by Jeff Clause, this is always a popular leg and is well attended by fans and media.
Stalwart Skinstad said: “The Oakley X Over is such an awesome event, and obviously a highlight of my year.”
Skinstad, now living in Britain, will be flying in to attend this year’s event.
The J-Bay Winterfest takes place from July 12 to 23 and comprises the Oakley X Over, the Corona Open J-Bay WSL Championship Tour surfing event, The Loggers Classic surf contest, extreme trail running, mountain biking, fishing and the open water swim. For more info, go to www.jbaywinterfest.com