Paddling power couple strike at King of the Bay surf ski race

Hank McGregor has claimed another successful paddling month by finishing off May with a win at the iconic Bay Union King of the Bay surf ski race on Sunday.

The 43-year-old Salt Rock paddler powered away from a class field to win by almost a minute ahead of Matt Bouman, with Gene Prato making up the balance of the podium.

The race, held in tough, blustery conditions off Durban saw bumpy conditions give paddlers a run for their money with good runs on the downwind leg to the uMgeni River mouth.

This was followed by a brutal slog home into the teeth of the strengthening wind, but McGregor took the lead from a big bunch after leaving the mouth of the harbour.

“The wind was building the whole time,” said McGregor. “There were some really nice runs going down to the river mouth, then it was just a hard slog home.”

McGregor has been named in the national team for the surf ski world championships scheduled for Lanzarote in Spain in July, as well as a the national marathon team to Romania in September.

The women’s doubles spoils went to Jordan Peek and Pippa McGregor, with the runner-ups berth secured by the returning-to-form Hayley Nixon and her partner Hilary Bruss.

The winter surf ski series shifts its attention to the Pirates-Umhlanga-Pirates classic in two week’s time.