It’s anyone’s game in Surfers 2017
Popular challenge sees most open race in years
TODAY’S 2017 Discovery Surfers Challenge must be the most open race in years in both the men’s and women’s events.
It was made known late this week that the 2015 winner, Luthando Hejana, will not be competing as he is running a standard marathon in Cape Town.
For some that might be a strange decision given that the Hemmingways Buffalo Marathon takes place a week later. Hejana was second to Lusapho April over the half marathon distance last Sunday.
Nkosinathi Nzingo, winner of the 2016 event, would now be favourite, although Bulelani Mgubo, who has been in great form this year, may be tempted to run his first Surfers in a year where the tides are ideal.
Previous winners, Hanlie Botha and Myrette Brink are both out for various reasons, while Stephanie Smith, who registered a great run in winning the Caltex Masters Half last weekend, is also going to sit this one out.
Lauren Ranger who placed second in the half marathon is not in town and her sister Caryn Lategan is running the shorter race from Gonubie.
This means that last year’s third placed runner, Andrea Ranger (no relation to Lauren) should register a first Surfers win, adding to her Tomato Trot victory.
Karen Davis, who ran a personal best at the half marathon and finished fifth ahead of Ranger, is also in the Surfers 17.5km field and should show up well.
The humidity of the past week is likely to intensify while the maximum temperature during the race is now predicted to be 32C.
That puts a strain not only on the runners but the entire race and, in particular, the feeding stations.
The recent high seas have resulted in many more rocks and stones being deposited on the beaches and the entrance at Eastwood Ho has made the beach unrecognisable to some previous years.
That is what makes Surfers unique.
Spectators wanting to get a spot along Oceanway in Gonubie are advised to arrive early as a number of access roads will be closed.
The shortened 11-odd kilometre race starts at Gonubie Hotel at 2pm and those runners will pass by over a relatively short period of time.
Thereafter, there will be a wait of close to an hour for the leaders of the traditional Surfers to come past.
The 17.5km, which starts at Kwelera Mouth, is still the main attraction and produces the real drama of Surfers, especially for the spectators. The race starts at 2.30pm.
The paddlers tackle the Indian Ocean at the same time as the runners take off and can often be seen at Gonubie Point.
The wind is predicted to be a gentle north easterly, changing to the west in late afternoon. This probably means that the men and women on their skis will have tougher conditions than last year.
The 5km Junior Surfers starts at the foot of Blue Lagoon at 2pm and they should all be through by the time the other runners finish.
Buses to Kwelera depart the Nutting Hall at 12pm.