The 2009 edition of the world’s biggest surf ski series gets under way in Durban this weekend amidst forecasts of the ideal winter paddling conditions that have made KwaZulu-Natal a globally recognised destination for surf ski racers.
The ten leg Discovery Men’s Health Surf Ski series has become synonymous with the balmy Durban winters where the regular warm and calm sea conditions are complimented by South Westerly swells that make for exciting downwind racing conditions.
The series opening New Balance grading race at Marine Surf Lifesaving clubhouse at uShaka Beach on Sunday will offer the massive field – regularly the year’s biggest field assembled for a surf ski race worldwide – a sheltered start and finish point at the extreme southern end of Durban’s Golden Mile.
However with a South Westerly swell expected to hit the coastline on Friday and Saturday, the paddlers can look forward to some exciting downwind racing conditions on each lap as they push out into the bay.
The race is traditionally very well supported as surf ski paddlers will be graded for the rest of the season based on their performance at the grading race.
Defending series champion Matt Bouman will be back to contest most of the series races again this year, fresh from his victory in the European surf ski championship race in Spain. He will be hard pressed by the likes of Hank McGregor, Barry Lewin, teenager Grant van der Walt and Clint Pretorius, who is recovering from a hand injury.
The women’s racing should be intriguing, as Plettenberg based Michele Eray, clearly the best all round female paddler in the country will pit herself against the two Toti stars who have dominated the series last year.
“Durban is recognised worldwide as the capital of surf ski racing,” said Series organiser Billy Harker. “This is not only because of the sheer numbers of active surf ski paddlers here but because the weather, sea and coastline combine to offer magnificent conditions for surf ski paddling.”
The series starts with shorter races, often with the shelter of Durban’s Bay, and then gradually offers longer races taking in the trickier conditions on the upper South Coast as the paddlers built towards the two major events that form the climax of the season.
The Durban Surf Ski World Cup will once again attract the world’s best paddlers for the World Series rated 30km downwind that has developed a formidable reputation in recent years.
The season ends with the 46km Men’s Health Scottburgh to Brighton marathon, the oldest ultra distance surf ski race in the world.
“The sport has been growing incredibly in recent years, and the series is designed to cater for paddlers of all abilities, allowing them to race against themselves and others of similar abilities,” said Harker at the series launch.
The launch included the popular annual Media Challenge Surf Ski Race that was won by East Coast Radio’s MD Trish Taylor.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
10 May New balance Grading race, Marine SLC
17 May Powerade Dairy Bach race, Durban
24 May McCarthy Toyota King of the Bay, Durban
31 May Hansa Five Beach, Umkomaas to Toti
7 June Discovery Winklespruit race, Winklespruit
14 June HiQ Marine race, Durban
20 Scottburgh Winter Solstice Cyclelab race, Scottburgh
28 June CMH Toyota Pirates Umhlanga Pirates, Durban
5 June KZN Awnings Downwind, Amanzimtoti
11 June Durban Surf Ski World Cup, Durban
18 June Men’s Health Scottburgh to Brighton
Full details of the series can be found at www.surfski.co.za
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