Battle of the paddles

Light winds, tricky swell conditions and a humpback whale greeted paddlers on Saturday at the start of the My Gas/Citadel Dolphin Coast Challenge and KZN Surfski Champs.

Paddlers competed for the singles title on Saturday from Salt Rock to Zinkwazi, while the doubles race started in Zinkwazi down to Salt Rock on Sunday.

Competitors had to take part in both the singles and doubles races to be crowned as the Dolphin Coast Challenge winners.

A handful of men and women struggled to get through the rough shorebreak at the start of the singles race on Saturday and got thrown around a few times before they could pick up the pace and head north.

A total of 71 paddlers completed the 33km from Salt Rock Beach to Zinkwazi Beach.

Salt Rock’s world champion Hank McGregor comfortably finished the race in 2:04:23, with Barry Lewin behind him in 2:05:45 and Adam Nisbet in third in 2:05:59.

The first women home was Michelle Burn in 2:24:06.

Anton Fouché said the My Gas/Citadel Dolphin Coast Challenge is always a great event.

“We always have a good turnout and with the KZN Surfski Champs there are different age groups competing for the single and double title,” said Fouché who also competed in the singles, finishing in 16th position.

On Sunday, the doubles race left Zinkwazi late morning and it was the team of Steve Woods and Kyle Friedenstein who made it home first in a time of 2:12:58 with James and Adam Nisbet close behind in 2:13:40.

“It was hard work the whole way,” said the tired, but smiling Friedenstein.

Woods added that it was a very tactical race, as it was all about staying on the right line.

The duo moved from East London to Durban three months ago and love paddling on the North Coast, although Friedenstein is still getting used to the waves.

“The waves here are scary, but the sea life is great and it is a beautiful area,” he said.

These two teams also finished overall first and second respectively in the My Gas/Citadel Dolphin Coast Challenge with Wade Krieger and Gene Prato in third.