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Scottborough to Brighton

Congartulations to Craig van Heerden who finished his first S2B yesterday! Besides a slight detour along the shore, he had a great day out.

Craig at the finish

Craig at the finish

 

Craig and wife Simone at the finish of the S2B

Craig and wife Simone at the finish of the S2B

 

Press Release from Gameplan Media:

Mocke brothers dominate Men’s Health Discovery Scottburgh to Brighton surf ski ultra marathon

Durban – Dawid Mocke brought down the curtain on the winter surf ski series with an emphatic family domination of the tough 46 kilometer Men’s Health Discovery Scottburgh to Brighton surf ski ultra marathon, raced on a dead calm ocean that offered little assistance to the big field that took part.

Mocke and his younger brother Jasper timed their race to perfection, and make their break at the front from the big bunch as they approached the compulsory beach stop at Amanzimtoti.

“I have done this race often enough to know that it is a long way, and that the racing only starts at Toti,” said Dawid Mocke, who has now won the race four times in six outings.

With his younger brother happy to follow his lead Dawid Mocke caught a small wave going into Amanzimtoti that gave the siblings a fifty metre lead. “It was crucial because there can be carnage in the surf when a big bunch comes in together,” said Dawid Mocke.

Only the winner of last weekend’s Dunlop Surf Ski World Cup Clint Pretorius was able to stay with the Mocke brothers, but shortly after that he paid the price for doing most of the pulling on the long leg to Amanzimtoti, and was dropped off the front bunch. “When Clint (Pretorius) blew, he blew pretty spectacularly!”, said Dawid Mocke.

“The brotherly love thing ended about four kilometres from the finish at Brighton,” he added. “From there on it was every man for himself.” Dawid Mocke managed to beach at the finish on the Bluff less than a minute ahead of his brother, with visiting Australian racer Mark Anderson pacing himself well to clinch the last place on the podium.

“I am stoked to be on the podium with my brother,” said Jasper Mocke. “The race was just like our training sessions together. He is always giving me tips and advice, and I am happy to sit on his wave for as long as I can.”

“This race is sadomasochism!” chuckled Dawid Mocke. “You know when you get to the start in the dark and cold at Scottburgh, where the surf is always dodgy, that you are in for a very tough race, no matter what the conditions are like on the day.”

The women’s title fell to the nuggety Amanzimtoti star Tiffany Kruger, revelling in her local waters to post another excellent result ahead of Michelle Eder.

Nigel and Michael Stevens won the double ski race, finishing third overall, with the season’s on-form mixed doubles crew of Sean and Alison Uys crowning a successful winter with the mixed doubles title.

Despite the flat sea conditions, the notorious surf at Amanzimtoti gave the big field a hard time, many of them taking part in a new shorter marathon that ended at Toti. Several paddlers misjudged the surf coming in at Amanzimtoti and ended the race with broken skis.

DISCOVERY MEN’S HEALTH SURF SKI SERIES
Men’s Health Discovery Scottburgh to Brighton
Men
1.Dawid Mocke 3:45.57
2.Jasper Mocke 3:46.46
3.Mark Anderson 3:51.56
4.Bevan Manson 3:54.39
5.Travis Wilkinson 3:55.59
6.Brett Bartho 3:56.07
7.Richard von Wildemann 3:56.11
8.Clint Pretorius 3:58.40
9.Shadrack Mkhize 4:03.41
10.Mark Mulder 4:03.42

Women
1.Tiffany Kruger 4:25.42
2.Michelle Eder 4:40.00

Double ski
1. Nigel Stevens/Michael Stevens 3:51.09
2.Gavin Searle/Quinton Rutherford 3:54.11
3.Brandon van der Walt/Chad Andrews 3:54.23
4.Marc Holtzhauzen/Werner Holtzhauzen 3:56.26
5.Luke Symonds/Neil Evans 3: 57.49

Mixed Double ski
1.Sean Uys/Alison Uys 4:08.55
2.Glen Trueb/Lindy Bradshaw 4:12.20
3.Nathlaie Veckranges/Warren Beuster 4:15.34

Full details of the series can be found at www.surfski.co.za

And Berg Results/press release:

Hank McGregor wins record-equalling sixth  Berg River Canoe Marathon title 

Velddrif – Hank McGregor paddled his way into the canoeing record books when he equalled Robbie Herreveld’s six victories in the Berg River Canoe Marathon by wrapping up the 2009 title in emphatic style, while the enthralling women’s race went the way of nineteen year old debutant Robyn Kime on another day of high drama.

Then outcome of the race was clouded in controversy as the race jury heard several appeals against the use of shortcuts in the river and portages that might have been in conflict with the race rules.

Starting in a massed start for the 56 kilometre final stage from Zoutkloof to the West Coast fishing town of Velddrif, all McGregor had to do was stay with the front bunch to secure his overall race victory. After a flawless day on a full river, McGregor sprinted away from a six boat bunch in the closing stages to cross the finish line alone where he celebrated his sixth title in style.

“This is such a special race to take part in, let alone to win,” said McGregor. “The obstacles and the sheer distances of each stage makes it the toughest race I have ever done. Ever since I was kid growing up in the Cape I wanted to do this race, and dreamt of possibly winning it.

McGregor also savoured the shared record with “King of the Berg” Robbie Herreveld. “It’s fantastic to share his record,” said McGregor. “Simply to be mentioned in the same sentence as Robbie is an honour and a privilege. Maybe he will make a comeback next year and we can race it together!”

His finish was more dramatic than anticipated, as he saw a five hundred metre lead that he had worked hard for in his solo charge evaporate as the five chasers took a short-cut on the long final loop in the river before Velddrif.

“For the start of the race, this sneak channel was banned,” said a clearly frustrated McGregor. “When I got to Oordraplek I double-checked with the race official, who told me that we had to stay in the main channel, which is what I did. I was very surprised to see the five boat chasing bunch suddenly arrive on my tail a hundred metres behind me at the finish.”

The full river also caused some anxious moments for the front bunch as they charged down the full river and across flooded vlies. “It was a bit nerve racking,” admitted McGregor. “At one stage we got stuck in a fence and had to break the wire to get free. We then ran out of water and had to carry our boats for two hundred metres to get back into the river.”

The second place for King is his best ever paddling result. “I am over the moon,” bubbled the Milnerton ace. “I have paid my dies on this race, taken more than my fair share of wrong channels, and had my share of admin. So to have it all come together like this feels very special.”

The women’s race has captivated the race’s followers for all four days of the ultra-marathon. Pre-race favourite Robyn Kime was on the back foot after a series of disasters on the critical first stage left her nearly five minute adrift of Milnerton star Lindi-May Harmsen. That lead was whittled down to fifty two  seconds by the time the two women started side-by-side in the massed start for the final stage of the race.

Harmsen however made a critical error – her first of the race – by taking a channel that proved to be a long-way around a bend, leaving the door open for Kime to scamper away to claim victory in the women’s race, and to become only the fourth women in the history of the race to win it on debut.

“Obviously I am disappointed,” said Harmsen. “For a while I could see Robyn (Kime) ahead of me after she got a lead when we went over some fences, but them all of a sudden she was gone. But full credit to her, she paddled like a steam train today.”

McGregor and King paved the way for their Team Epic to claim the team prize comfortably, with fellow team mates Pieter-Willem Basson and Heinrich Schloms all finishing in the top five, ensuring victory over Solomon’s Team Roamer Rand.

The end of the race was dogged by some heated debate over the use by some paddlers of a portage at Rietdakhuis that had been disallowed before the days stage started. The very full river also created opportunities for paddlers to leave the river banks and paddle across vlies, often with no guarantee that they would be able to get back into the main flow of the river.

Pierre-Andre Rabie was the first Under 21 paddler to cross the line, finishing in sixth place, while Joseph Williams took the juniors title in 51st place overall.

The race also saw two paddlers race into a unique slice of Berg River Canoe Marathon history when they became the first paddlers to complete forty of these tough ultra-marathons. Andre Collins and Giel van Deventer both completed their fortieth races with hitch free final stages to Velddrif, where they both received heroes welcomes.

“This has got to be one of the best Bergs ever,” enthused Collins. “The weather and water has been magnificent – warm, blue skies and a full river. I had the pleasure paddling with Willem van Riet (who took part in the first ever Berg in 1962) on the third stage and we agreed that this has been one of the best.”

Collins was quick to congratulate Giel van Deventer when he made it to the finish and promised to share a “bottle of great twenty year old” with him after the race.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS
BERG RIVER CANOE MARATHON DAY FOUR
(STAGE TIME) OVERALL RACE TIMES
1.Hank McGregor (1:56.10) 13:22.54
2.Lance King (1:56.45) 13:25.58
3.Graeme Solomon (1:57.02) 13:32.04
4.Pieter-Willem Basson (1:57:00) 13:33.54
5.Heinrich Schloms (1:56.45) 13:37.27
6.Pierre Andre Rabie  (1:57.08) 13:44.43
7.Ernest van Riet (2:15.32) 14:02.05
8.Edgar Boehm Jnr (2:15.32) 14:03.10
9.Andrew Birkett (2:15.33) 14:10.53
10.Cornelius Human (2:15.34) 14:14.05
11.Ryno Armdorf (2:19.39) 14:23.33
12.Nick Longley (2:19.38) 14:23.41
13.Mynhardt Marais (2:19.38) 14:28.44
14.Louw Van Riet (2:20.13) 14:33.06
15.Dane Sanvido (2:20.26) 14:37.28
16.regory Smith (2:23.09) 14:39.41
17.Roland Smith (2:23.08) 14:40.02
18.Daan du Toit (2:27.09) 14:43.37
19.Chris de Waal (2:20.14) 14:44.33
20.Willen van Riet Jnr (2:20.25) 14:54.55
 
WOMEN:
1.Robyn Kime (2:28.12) 15:26.07
2.Lindi-May Harmsen (2:35.08) 15:32.11 
3.Jemma Hofmeyer (2:28.53) 15:50.08
4.Angie Gafney (2:32.09) 16:15.34
5.Lisa Scott (2:32.56) 16:23.21

More information can be found at www.berg.org.za

Jul 19, 2009 By News, Race reports Leave a Comment

Media Releases for the Durban World Cup-Gameplan Media

Press Releases by Gameplan Media

 

Durban – Olympic star Michèle Eray will start this weekend’s Dunlop Surf Ski World Cup Durban as the overwhelming favourite to win the women’s title, and in the process continue the staggering unbeaten run in domestic and international surf ski races.Eray, who hails from Plettenberg Bay but is currently based in Durban where she is competing in the winter Discovery Men’s Health Surf Ski Series, won the tough Investec Surf Ski World Cup in Mauritius held in difficult big surf conditions off the Indian Ocean Island, racing away from Toti stalwart Michelle Eder in the dying stages of the race.

Racing to a win in Mauritius-photo by Barbara Yendell

Racing to a win in Mauritius-photo by Barbara Yendell

 

 

 

 

 

After a thoroughly successful Beijing Olympic Games where she stroked the South African women’s K4 into the A final, Eray has turned her attention to the discipline of surf ski racing that she loves, and has proved to be unbeatable.

Eray hit global headlines by winning the lucrative Dubai Shamaal in November last year, starting her unbeaten streak that has taken in a number of tough internationals, and all of the domestic series races she has entered.

Apparently carefree in her attitude, the likeable Eastern Cape star is a fiercely determined competitor who often measures her performance against male competitors, while campaigning for improved recognition for elite women’s achievements.“It looks like I will be starting in B Grade and it will be an added incentive if I can win that category as well,” said Eray.

Eray is likely to find her toughest competition coming from the core of elite local surf ski paddlers, including the Amanzimtoti duo of Tiffany Kruger and Michelle Eder, Donna Winter, Nathalie Veckranges and Angelique Mulder, as the defending champion Alexa Cole has not been racing competitively this season.

 

 

 

 

 

The Dunlop Surf Ski World Cup Durban race will be staged on either the Saturday 11 July or Sunday 12 July based on the optimal downwind weather conditions forecast. However race committee head Billy Harker                 has indicated that he is aiming to run the race on Saturday 11 July

Should the weather be coming from the south, the race will repeat last year’s course from uShaka beach in Durban to Westbrook beach outside Tongaat, a distance of 32km.

However should the prevailing weather be coming from the north east, then the race will start at Ushaka beach and finish at Winklespruit, 35km in distance.

Should the World Cup be raced on the Saturday, then a social mixed doubles race will be held from DUC on the Sunday where organisers are encouraging the serious racers to paddle with their spouses, as a thank you for their support.

 

 

 

Charged atmosphere ahead of Dunlop Surf ski World Cup

Durban – Surf ski paddlers will be anxiously watching the ocean and hi-tech weather forecasting models to see if the anticipated weather front arrives on the weekend for the Dunlop Surf Ski World Cup Durban 2009.

With a powerful field of the world’s best surf ski racers assembled for the 35km downwind race, the organisers have stuck to their guns and will wait for the arrival of the frontal system on Sunday to be able to offer the optimal swell and sea conditions for this premier event.With McGregor absent, away in the Western Cape to defend his title in the Berg River Canoe Marathon, the door has been left open to crown a new champion, leaving the classy field of elite surf ski racers decidedly on edge ahead of the race. 

 

Durban surf iron man Matt Bouman has enjoyed prodigious success in the domestic Discovery Men’s Health Surf Ski Series this winter where he is unbeaten, albeit in generally mild ocean conditions, and will start the race as one of the serious contenders to lift the title, and the winners cheque of R40 000.

“It sounds like I can’t handle big downwind conditions, which is absolutely not the case!” said Bouman. “I have not been at my best in a few of the bigger races, like the Mauritius race this past weekend, so I am keen to do well in Durban this weekend.”

Bouman made it clear that young Durban star Clint “Laaitie” Pretorius presents the biggest challenge to the title. “I can get the better of him in a training paddle every time, but when there is a cheque waiting at the end it is a different story,”
said Bouman.

Pretorius narrowly lost the Investec Mauritius Ocean Challenge title to Hank McGregor in big swells on the weekend, and is due another big international result after his sensational victory in the 2006 Molokai Challenge.

 

 

Race boss Billy Harker             told a gathering of sponsors, media and elite paddlers that he was planning to start the race at the Durban Underwater Club at Ushaka Beach at midday on Sunday, as the weekends balmy windless weather will give way to the arrival of a South Westerly front mid morning on Sunday.

That will pave the way for a repeat of last years 32km course from Durban to Westbrook beach outside Tongaat, though the winds and swell will be less severe that those experienced last year when Hank McGregor raced away in three and a half metre swells to claim the title.

However the race organising committee are still open to changing the venue – and the day – of the race to take advantage of moderate Easterly winds on Saturday that will offer a race from Durban to Winklespruit. The final decision will be relayed to all participants by SMS and at the pre-race briefing.

 

Another elite icon Dawid Mocke             from the Western Cape agrees, and was quick to debunk Pretorius’ apparently lackadaisical approach, pointing out that the Durban North youngster had come storming through the field to claim second in last years Durban Surf Ski World Cup, and then repeated his come-from-behind charges in the Hong Kong Dragon Run, the Dubai Shamaal and last weekend’s international in Mauritius.

“Watch your back!” was his clear message. “There is a very clear strategy to (Pretorius’) race, and it is working well for him at the moment,” said Mocke.

2007 winner and current surfski.info world series champion Oscar Chalupsky stressed that the extent to which the arrival of the weather whips up the swell would profoundly determine the outcome of the race and the likely title contenders.

“If there is a bump out there, then the experienced guys like myself and (his younger brother) Herman (Chalupsky) will be there, but if it is flat like it has been all week, then the younger sprinters will come to the fore. Make no mistake 35 kilometres is a long way if the conditions are tough.”

He also looked to the largely unheralded international contingent to perform, particularly if the conditions are not as big as last year. Mark Anderson will fly the flag for Australia, and will race for a place in the prizemoney with Frenchman Yannick Laousse.

His Brittany compatriots Gaetan Sene and Martin Gunda and have both been forced to withdraw due to injuries suffered in the build-up to the race.

The women’s race sees Australian Lara Taylor eager to mix it with the classy field of locals headed up by the apparently invincible Michèle Eray, and the likes of Tiffany Kruger, Danica Vorster, Michelle Eder, Nathalie Veckranges and Donna Winter.

Eray was in superb form winning in Mauritius, a title that will sit alongside her trophies from the Dubai Shamaal, Hong Kong Dragon Run, Eurochallenge, the Cape Point Challenge, the SA Single Ski Champs and the 2009 Drak Challenge canoe marathon.

The sprightly twenty-something Plettenberg Bay star who stroked the SA women’s K4 to the A final in the Beijing Olympic Games last year has had the measure of all her challengers in the past year, and hasn’t tasted defeat in a ski race in that time.

The event will provide a great opportunity for ski enthusiasts to follow the race live on a big screen at the Durban Underwater Club on Sunday afternoon, as fifty boats will be fitted with GPS tracking devices, allowing for real time monitoring of the positions of every contenders in each of the categories.

With over R120 000 in prizemoney spread between the various classes and age groups in single and double skis, the three star event on the surfski.info world series remains one of the most prestigious titles on the global calendar.

“That’s what attracted us to this event,” said

Georg Schramm, Head Sales and Marketing at Dunlop Tyres. “This race represents a lifestyle that and a search for excellence that we can identify with.

Jul 11, 2009 By News Leave a Comment

Marathon SA Champs & Mauritius

Marathon Champs & Mauritius

Photo by Owen Middleton

Photo by Owen Middleton

Organising and competing are two things that shouldn’t be mixed. I actually think that organising could be harder than racing! The storm that hit Plett was unbelievable. Hail, snow on the mountains, gale-force winds! 2 trailors rolled on the drive down. Exciting stuff. Racing went well, next stop Portugal! Congrats to Dave Rissik on his first SA Marathon Champs event. He finished in 8th position in his category.

Now in Mauritius, raced the a warm up race today, INSIDE the reef because the surf was too big. Wasn’t elated to be doing more flatwater after the 50km’s of flat on the weekend, but it was the safest choice for the day. I managed to get away from Michelle Eder across the river mouth by some clever wave catching. I ended up 1st, Michelle 2nd and Carol Joyce 3rd.

Saturday’s prediction is looking good, the surf is dropping and there should still be wind. Can’t wait for a downwind!

Jul 2, 2009 By News Leave a Comment