Durban to host largest-ever Surf Ski World Championships this weekend
Hamish Lovemore, Saskia Hockly and Hank and Pippa McGregor are among a big group of locals vying for medals.
Durban’s surf ski scene will take centre stage this weekend as 700 paddlers from 32 nations compete for world titles and glory.
The 9th International ICF Ocean Canoe Racing World Championship will take place from October 17-19, hosted by the Durban Undersea Club at the Point Water Sports Club.
The event will see 515 athletes in individual races and more than 200 in pairs, the largest field ever assembled for any paddling event.
“South Africa can rightly be called the home of surf ski paddling,” said Hank McGregor, a medal hopeful in the Surf Ski Men Senior (SS1-MS) category and event ambassador.
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“There has never been this many paddlers in any format of paddling – it’s the biggest field ever.”
The championship, launched in 2013 and held annually since 2021, features long-distance surf ski ocean races across senior, junior and masters categories. The SS2 mixed doubles race is the only category offering a world title, which South Africa has yet to win.
North Coast paddlers will be among the stars to watch, including Hank and Pippa McGregor (Salt Rock), two-time women’s junior champion Saskia Hockly (Umdloti), two-time women’s senior champion Michelle Burn (Umhlanga) and Ballito’s Brent Chiazzari and Keegan Vogt.
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“We know the conditions better than anyone because we surf this stretch of ocean all the time, it’s our backyard,” said McGregor, who has earned three ICF medals, including silvers in 2017 and 2022 and a bronze last year.
“I would love to finally put a gold on the mantelpiece.”
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The main race route spans 34km from Durban Undersea Club to Westbrook Beach, with alternate 28km or 25km routes depending on wind conditions.
Prize money includes R26 000 each for the SS1 men’s and women’s winners, plus cash for top U23, junior and mixed-double competitors.
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