Surfski series season off to a good start
A line of 275 of Durban’s eager surfski community tackled the FNB Surfski Challenge on Friday.
THE much anticipated 2016 surfski season on the KwaZulu-Natal coast got underway on Friday evening when 275 of Durban’s eager surfski community tackled the FNB Surfski Challenge, race one of the Varsity College FNB Marine Surfski Series
The clash also saw Matt Bouman and Kyeta Purchase open their accounts with early season race victories. Bouman charged home ahead of former surf lifesaving sensation and ever-improving surfski ace Wade Krieger and Gene Prato, while Jason Ekstrand secured fourth position and grand master flyer Lee McGregor secured yet another remarkable result as he rounded out the top five.
The women’s clash was another display of the extraordinary depth of women’s paddling talent in Durban with the race signaling another significant milestone in the series’ history as the growth in depth in women’s paddling in the region of late saw the series offer a dedicated women’s batch for the first time ever.
Up front, junior sensation Purchase edged out Fenn Kayaks team Jenna Ward for victory while emerging star Hayley Arthur claimed third place ahead of Donna Tutton and Sabina Lawrie while Sharon Armstrong and Lynne Hauptfleisch edged out Kelly Biljoen and Wilma Deysel in the women’s doubles race.
Durban’s legendary doubles racing scene served up yet another tough contest as the mixed crew of Brandon van der Walt, now based in Cape Town, and Ward’s 2016 FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon partner, Vanda Kiszli of Hungary held of the veteran pairs of Linton Hope and Zoog Haynes and Lee Muir and Shaun Burgin.
Van der Walt’s older brother Grant, himself a former Marine Surfski Series top contender, was another familiar face making a welcome return to the mix in the mixed doubles category as he and girlfriend Heidi Bird tackled the 8km challenge, while former surfski stars Daryl and Danica Bartho also enjoyed a share of the action when they tackled the stand up paddleboard (SUP) contest.
The 4km short course also saw some tight racing unfold with Patrick McNeill clinching the win in the singles race, while Bruce and Matthew Pender-Smith were the first double across the line.
The Borland Surfski Challenge presented by Marriott, race two of the 2016 Varsity College FNB Marine Surfski Series, takes place at 5.30pm on Friday, 15 January at Marine Surf Lifesaving Club, Addington Beach. Visit: www.marineseries.co.za
