Coopers to Sponsor SA Entry
 in Ocean Thunder

 

Surf Life Saving SA has been working with Peter Hickey for some months now to try and get a South Australian crew in the OCEAN THUNDER series.

Part of the deal required a major sponsor to come on board for a substantial amount of money. Hence a triumvirate approach of Peter Hickey (representing Ocean Thunder), Don Alexander (representing ASRL-SA) and Elaine Farmer (SLSSA) spoke to COOPERS who have agreed to come on board. This means there will be an SA representative crew called TEAM COOPERS in each Ocean Thunder event this coming summer.

The Ocean Thunder Pro Surf Boat series is successfully going into its fifth year and sees athletes battling for a share of over $100,000 in prize money.

Broadcasting rights will see the Ocean Thunder:

1.     on national television with four x one hour shows on Dee Why Beach – only 20 select crews can enter.

2.     There will be a one hour television “Sports Special” program (Nine network) March 2010.

3.     Four x one hour TV shows on Fox Sports, December 2009 to February 2010.

4.     16 x one hour television replayed programs (minimum) on FOX Sports November 2009 – March 2010.

Feedback from expatriates overseas has told of Ocean Thunder activity on screens, in Dubai, India (during prime time cricket coverage) China, USA, (New York Times Square big screen), Singapore, Malaysia, and almost every country throughout Europe. The program has even been viewed on “In Flight TV” British Airways international flights.

As part of the arrangement with COOPERS SLSSA is required to run an “Ultimate COOPERS State Challenge” preceding each Ocean Thunder round.  The winner of each challenge will be the crew in the next Ocean Thunder Event so it is possible that four different SA Clubs could compete at the four different events.

There are some things that need to be stated up front:

1.     COOPERS was approached by Peter Hickey because of the long term support that the company has given to our surf boat rowers for many years.

2.     Unfortunately there is not enough sponsorship to be able to support a female crew as well just yet, but we will continue to work on getting an equal opportunity for the ladies. In fact if we do the right thing by COOPERS in this first series then we have already flagged to them that we would hope they would look at expanding the sponsorship to include a female crew next year.

3.     In this first year the Club that wins each individual round in SA will have all costs for the transport of their boat (via road), uniforms and accommodation covered). COOPERS will arrange for each boat to be sign-written before departure and then the signage removed upon return to SA.

4.     At the surf boat rowers forum held on Tuesday 4th August Brighton it was unanimously agreed that the SA boat rowing fraternity is right behind the involvement in the Ocean Thunder series.