McGregor triumphs at Surfski Series

Salt Rock resident and triple canoe marathon world champion Hank McGregor regained the lead in the 2014 Varsity College Marine Surfski Series by winning the HiQ Surfski Challenge on Friday.

McGregor made his return to the ocean after being notably absent during the past few weeks as he and Jasper Mocké claimed second place in the Dusi Canoe Marathon, and he and Dusi winner Sbonelo Zondi won the Non-Stop Dusi Canoe Marathon.

“With a couple of canoe races behind me it was great to be back in the ski. It was my first surfski race in a while so it was really great to get another win under my belt,” said McGregor.

“I have also moved on to Epic Kayaks now and this race was the first one in the new craft so it was really nice to be able to pull off the win for the new team,” he added.

McGregor took on his good friend, training partner and doubles companion Grant van der Walt while his father, Lee, Barry Lewin and youngster Kyle Friedenstein all vied for a podium finish.

“After he seconded me in the valley last Friday it was nice that Grant and I could both get back in the ski and we had a nice lap and a half dice before I put the hammer down and managed to open up a bit of a gap,” said McGregor.

Van der Walt finished in second place, Friedenstein claimed third and McGregor’s father, Lee came in fourth despite being a grandmaster competitor.

The women’s race was won by Nikki Russell while the Nisbet bothers won the doubles category.

McGregor needs only to finish tenth in the next race to take home his fifth series title. The final leg is the Varsity College Surfski Challenge this Friday. This could be his fifth series crown to date.