Local paddlers aim for podium finishes
uMgeni Park Hayley Nixon and Durban North's Sabina Lawrie have been chosen to represent SA at the ICF Ocean Racing World Championships.
WHILE the ICF Ocean Racing World Championships in France only takes place in September, two local paddlers’ preparations have begun in earnest for the champs. uMgeni Park Hayley Nixon and Durban North’s Sabina Lawrie are part of 24-man South African squad competing at the event.
Lawrie and Nixon are both former world champions at the event which were held in Hong Kong in 2017.
“I think there’s a little bit of pressure for this year’s event. The last time I was in the U18 category and this year I move up to the U23 level so the competition will be a lot tougher. I think the big difference the last time was there were no expectations and this time around I do feel there is an expectation for me to do well and secure a podium finish.
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“On the positive side I’ve had the best training partner in Hayley. We’ve been spending more time paddling and training in the ocean so I have gain more knowledge out on the water. I couldn’t ask for a better training partner than the best in the world and in a way that has helped ramp up my excitement ahead of the champs. We do have a few more months before heading to France so preparation is key now. At the end of the day, I just have to focus on my own race,” she said.
Her comments were echoed by Nixon who won the 2017 world champs in the senior women.
“Like Sabina, there are similar, expectations for me. I feel there’s a target on my back but that’s okay. It’s an honorable position to be in. I just have to keep increasing my levels and take it one race at a time leading up to the champs,” Nixon explained.
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She now heads to Hawaii for the Maui Jim Molokai Challenge before competing in two other international events.
“Last year I burned out quite badly, I did seven international events back to back and it took its toll. This year my aim is to do fewer of the international events and once I complete my next three events overseas I will take time to train and focus on the upcoming champs. We aren’t too sure about the conditions in France and we are going a couple days in advance just to acclimatize to the conditions. What’s nice is this will be a new course for everyone,” she said.
The duo will be joined by La Luica’s Kyeta Purchase who was also selected for the U23 squad.
The championships will be held in the north-west of France, at Saint-Pierre Quiberon in Brittany. It will be the first time the World Championships are held in this region, and the first time in France.
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