All eyes on the women’s masterclass in the Marlin chase
A TERRIFIC race should be in store when the annual Pete Marlin 23km downwind Surfski race gets under way tomorrow morning in East London.
Some of the country’s best surfskiers will be in action, going all out for the coveted title, while the event is once again a World Series title race and will host the SA champs for a third time, which all adds up to what should be a cracking race.
On the women’s front born and bred local paddling star, Nikki Russell, will be looking to defend her title once again and make it three wins in a row.
Durban-based Russell has enjoyed considerable success in her home race over the last few years, winning four titles over five years, with just her runner-up finish in 2014 having broken her series of wins.
However, a strong women’s field is on the cards this year, so she will have to be in top form if she is to repeat again, with 2016 world champ Michelle Burn set to give her a serious challenge and Spainbased Chloe Bunnett bringing an international flavour to the race.
Also adding excitement to the women’s side is for the first time the prize-money will be the same as the men’s, with R90 000 in total up for grabs across the divisions.
On the men’s side a number of top paddlers should be in the running for the title.
With last year’s winner Hank McGregor not back to defend his title and 2014 and 2015 champ Dawid Mocke and his brother Jasper (another former winner) not taking part it should be quite an open field.
Previous race winners, Barry Lewin and Matt Bouman, will most likely head the field, with other contenders such as Steve Woods and Kyle Friedenstein in the mix.
A strong contingent from Durban is also heading down and should be in for some top 10 placings.
Local paddlers who will be in with a shot in their respective age groups include Bevan Manson in the 30-40-year category, although he could also challenge overall after finishing seventh last year.
Duncan Boyd and Andre Wood in the 40-50-year category, Brendon Thompson, Hennie Roos and Andrew Carter in the 50-60 and Gary Atkinson and Ian Russell in the 60+ age group should also all be contenders in their respective divisions.
On the junior front home talents Josh Fenn, Matt Fenn, Tayne Thompson and Zara Wood will all be battling it out for junior podium finishes.
In all close to 200 paddlers are expected to take part in the race, with 165 already confirmed and a number of late entries expected.
Paddlers will be coming down from Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and other places, so it should be a festival atmosphere.
The start and finish of the race will only be communicated to the paddlers tonight as organisers decide where the perfect spot to set off from will be.
The possible start/finish points are Orient Beach, Nahoon Beach and Yellow Sands.
“At this stage a south-westerly wind is forecast. If this holds it would make for a great race in that we start at the Orient Beach which is safe and sheltered from any big swell that may be around,” said event organiser Charl van Wyk.
“As always, local paddlers have opened their homes to host some of the paddlers from out of town to lessen the financial burden.
“A character trait of this event is the warmth shown by the EL paddling fraternity.”
Also adding excitement to this year’s race is that it will be recorded for a delayed broadcast on SuperSport.
The singles and doubles races will take place tomorrow and Sunday.