THE Cape Point Challenge, better known as the most gruelling one day surfski race of the year, always lives up to its reputation. Just ask Durban North paddlers Joe Boy and Peter Manning who recently completed the 50km race from Scarborough to Fish Hoek.

The course took the local paddlers past Olifantsbos, Platboom, The Cape of Good Hope and the dreaded Southwestern Reefs around Cape Point, the South Western most point of the African continent.

For Joe, it was his sixth race overall and his second as K2 partnership.

“It was a gruelling hard-fought race but one I’d happily do again. We were delighted with our results and Peter was fantastic. We put in good miles before the race and we trained really hard. We really gelled as a unit and we were in sync throughout the race,” Joe said.

For Peter it was his first Cape Point Challenge and one to remember.

“I was apprehensive initially because I’m a Durban boy and we don’t like cold water. But like in any discipline, you have to train hard and though it was tough, it was definitely worth it,” he enthused.