The 2012 surfski singles event of The Pennypinchers Easter Surfski Challenge, supported by PPC Cement, got off to a fantastic start with near perfect sea conditions in Plettenberg Bay on Saturday morning. A jovial crowd of spectators gathered on Plett’s Central beach, while in true event tradition, The Plettenberg Bay Field Band led nearly 50 participants to their surfskis, lined up at the waters edge.

Front bunch racing past Central Beach-image by Christy Strever

With most participants taking on the more challenging 5 lap, 20km course, a 3 lap, 11km challenge was also strongly supported. The course proved as grueling as ever and retained its status of being dubbed the best lap course in the world, by Jasper Mocke, a past winner of this event.

Surfski’s tore off from the start, with paddlers digging in hard to gain position. But once round the infamous blind rocks, off Beacon Island, the field spread out, with a pack of 5 paddlers keeping a steady lead pace.

The Keurbooms river mouth proved to be the events’ biggest challenge, with low tides, sand banks and a fair sized break, literally keeping participants on the edge of their seats. Without doubt it was this section of the course, which lead to some interesting position changes during the event.

Race course director Neal Stephenson-image by Christy Strever

Finally it was Dawid Mocke, who snatched first place ahead of younger brother and 2011 winner, Jasper. “The low tide made sandbanks in the river mouth the biggest challenge on the first two laps, but we could eventually paddle over these as the tide came in.” said Dawid after the race.

Second position went to Jasper Mocke, while Richard von Wilderman crossed the line in third place. Kirsten Flanagan took first place in the female entries, followed by Jenna Ward in second and Nicky Russell in third place.

“ With a combination of both long and short courses, this race continues to challenge a wide range of paddling abilities.” Says organiser Wayne Craig. With PPC Cement’s generous contribution and further support from Penny Pinchers Plett, Off The Hook Seafood Café, Hansa and Vitamin Water, this surfski event remains one to be marked on the paddling calendar for years to come.

Press release compiled by: Matthew Covarr

Zaren Courtney racing hard-image by Christy Strever

Results:

I translated this article from Elite kayak, see the original here:

We began 2012 with news of the return of Birgit Fischer at age 50 to try and qualificy for the 2012 London Olympics, as part of the German team, in what would be her seventh Olympics. However, at a press conference held in Duisburg prior to the first German team selection, Fischer announced her resignation due to a cardiac arrhythmia requiring treatment.

Birgit Fischer at the press conference in Duisburg

A routine medical examination during the training revealed the problem. Doctors advised against plans to continue racing. A disgruntled Fischer announced her retirement to the media last Friday.Fischer is one of the greatest Olympic athletes of all time: 6 Olympic Games (which would have been seven without the boycott of the former GDR in Los Angeles in ’84), 8 gold medals (the first at 18 years old, and most recently at 42) and 4 silver, not to mention her numerous world and European titles.

Finally, after a lot of work by the ICF and others, we will have an event that if you win, you can call yourself World Surf Ski Champ!